The Hope pioneer., 1922-09-14
AIRmEN FALL IN
CASUAL VENTURES
Tragedy Of Captain Hamilton
Adds to AppallingIy Long
List Of Victims.
CAREFUL OR DARING, THEY GO
10 Il Luck, Aviatorsv AsIs, or Are They
Hssdiess Of Minor Dangers Since
the War Dlstineulshsd
Names In List.

Names In List.
Washington.-After facing death q
thousand times with the marines at
Chateau Thierry, st. Mihiel. Bellesu
Wood and In the two Meuse-Argonne
offensives, Capt. George D. Hamilton
returned to this country and peace
times to die few days ago while pi-
loting an airplane In sham battle in
Gettysburg. His machine crashed to
earth from q height Of 400 feet above
the historic battlefield.
In France Captain Hamilton's rec.
ord for daring and for hairbreadth es-
capss was not surpassed by that Of
any one In the 4 b. #. he received
the Distinguished Service Gross from
his own government, and was dec
grated twice by the French for gal
lantry. A thrilling war painting com.
memorates one Of his deeds. It de-
picts him, at that time major, lead
ing q battalion Of marines across a
pontoon bridge over the Meuse un.
der the heavy artillery and machine
gun fire In an effort to establish q
bridgehead.
Uninjured BY enemy bullet, gas. or
high explosive shell, Captain Hamil-
ton was mustered out Of the service
after the armistice. He rejoined, how.
ever, q few months later, and en-.
tered the aviation corps In the air
the former Soldier Of the sea" dis
played the same courage and audacity
for which he had been known at the
front. These qualities, combined with
skill and q natural aptitude for fly.
ing, soon put him in the forerank Of
cur airlnen.
Then came the end. With 4 mum.
Der Of others Of his corps Captain
Hamilton was sent to take part in
the maneuvers at Gettysburg where
his old comrades. the marines, were
playing at war. While scouting ahead
Of tho Fifth regiment Of marines
something went wrong" and death
claimed q life that had seemed
charmed against all mishap.
The passing Of Captain Hamilton
adds another name to the already
dreadfully long list Of airmen who
dared every peril In war or in epoch
making fights across land and sea
and uved-only to perish in some cas-
ual enterprise that hardly seemed
4 venture. To compile the appalling
record. 1t 10 necessary to 60 back tc
the days Of pioneer aviation. wher
men like Arch Hoxey, Ralph John
stone, John B. Noisant and others met
death in their rudimentary machines
The history Of the air since the wal
brought aircraft to q high degree Of
perfection, has caused it to become
their best may win a hundred oddson
CANDLES with the grim reaper and then
lose when everything seemed in theil
favor.
Ne country has been exempt. Eng
land, France, America, Italy. In fact
every nation where flying is com
mon has furnished its quota Of vic
Tins.
caristrem's Care Of Nc Avail.
Seven years ego Victor Carlstrom
was regarded as one Of the great air
men in America. He was already 9
holder Of three American records wher
in 1919 he attempted 4 nonstop flight
from Chicago to New York, for the
New York Times. He was unsuccess
full In this, being forced to land al
Erie, Pa, and Hammondsport, N. Y
When he finally got out Of his plane
on Governors island, Carlstrom said
II shall never be killed by taking
chances, because I do not believe ir
taking chances. But some day my ma
chine will collapse, and I will get it
Just 40 80 many other aviators have
gotten It,"
His prophecy came true. on May 8
1917, while flying at Newport News
Va, O. an Instructor lieutenant In the
United States army air service. hii
machine crumpled $500 feet above
the earth, and Carlstrom, together with
q pupil pilot. Cary B. Epes. "got it."
Another American who thus met his
fate after coming unscratched through
all sorts Of dangers was Hobart T. h
Baker. better known as "Hobey'
Baker. the Princeton athlete. Baker
had q splendid war record. with q
number Of enemy planes to his credit
On one occasion he attacked German
Aghting machine, 10000 feet up. Ir
this battle above the clouds Baker fol
lowed his adversary down almost to
the ground, before q well-directed sho'
from his machine gun gave the fina
coup dc grace.
After the armistice, In December
Baker left the Second army and start
ed home BY way Of Paris. His fight
ing days were over, and he looked for
ward to peace and to college reunion'
and q promising career in business.
While waiting for transportation. h'
notored cut to Toul one day to lool
over his old spad. He decided to g