The Washington times., 1922-05-06
ASTN MEASURES GRADUALLY CURBING DRUG EVIL in u
Defective Propeller Blamed for Air Crash
Which Brougt Death to TlUo Naval Men
Navy Will Stage Inquiry to
Determine Exact Cause OF
Plane Crash Over Ciesboro
Point.

Point.
Examination of the pro-
peller of the ill-fated hydro
plane which collided in mid
air yesterday with another
hydroplane, resulting in the
death of two naval aviators.
will be made today by the
special board appointed to in
vestigate the crash of the
two navy planes.
The propeller, a new one, is
thought to have been the direct
cause of the accident. Lieut.
Harold F. (Buny) Selden, the
pilot, of this city. and Ensign
Frank Miller, Of Hydesboro, Md,
who were testing the new pro-
peller, were drowned, while Lieut..
Commander c. V. Johnston and
Machinist Charles Jacobs, who
were in the other plane, were
rescued from the river by a row
boat.
Crash at 500 Feet.
The collision occurred over the 20
tomac river near the Steel plant.
about o'clock yesterday Both
planes were maneuvering 500 feet
in the air. each travelling at consid.
erable speed
Il didn't see the other plane, didn';
even know il was near me-" said
L.
describing the crash. "All OF a sud
den | heard a noise. My engine vol
bled. Then il went dead. and | was
forced to land. | dropped in the river
not many yards from the shore
was strapped in my plane. but man
aged to get loose. Jacobs also man.
aged to extricate himself. and We
got into the water. A row boat res,
sued U.S."
After the collision the two planes
separated Commander Johnston :
plane dropped in the water about
100 yards from the other plane
Johnston Immediately went to the
rescue of his fellow officers.
But there was nothing We
could do when we reached the side
OF the plane" he said. One parr Of
II was sticking out of the water. but
the two men were pinned in their
seats many feet under water"
A call to the Navy Yard brought
diving crew. The police boat
was also summoned 4 navy lighter
boat from Alexandria was called.
After about four hours. work the
plane was lifted out Of the water
with the aid Of the navy lighter
The plane was put on deck and the
two men, still strapped in, were
taken out. The bodies were taken
to the Naval dispensary.
Hundreds Of tourists on the speed.
way viewed the crash. The collision
occurred about a mile below Hams
point. just outside Of the steel plant
A deadening report. like the ex-
plosion Of a cannon, accompanied
the crash. eyewttnesses declare.
Yesterdays crash Is the second
Of it's kind within six weeks. Re
Gently two airplanes met in mid-air
near Quantico. Three men were
killed.
Selden a ID. E. Boy.
Lieutenant Selden was a Washing.
ton man. He was the son Of George
r. Selden. lumber merchant, and
was graduated from Central High
School. At the high school he was
prominently identified with school
athletics. His speciality was tennis.
and he won the District junior cham
pionship for two consecutive years.
/ Ensign Miller lived with his wife
and three children at Hydesboro,
Md, and had been in the naval serv.
ice for five years, coming to Wash
ington from California. Ensign
Miller was assigned to the Bureau
of Aeronautics.
Lieutenant Selden planned to leave
the air service next month. 1t was
only several days ago that he re.
marked to a friend that he was not
making any flights at present. fear.
ing that an accident might occur"