Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-28
Com. Rogers Dies
Continued from Page One)

agreed 1t was between 80 and $50 feet
as he was gliding to make a landing.
A naval board of inquest was call
ed and 1t was announced that no
public statement would be made until
a report was presented to the secre-
tary of the navy and Rear Admiral
w. A. Moffatt, chief Of the bureau OF
aerOnautics.
1.-THE cause Of death so far as navy
surgeons could determine tonight
were hemorrhages due to broken
ribs puncturing vital organs. Many
Of the ribs on one side We're crushed
in. One of his egs was broken in
two places and cut open"
The famous commander suffered
great pain and was unconscious at
intervals, but he was able in the true
navy fashion to give fragments OF
information to naval officers as his
life ebbed away.
Commander Rodgers was just end
ing a flight from the Anacostia Field,
Washington, d. c., to inspect at the
aircraft factory in the navy yard
some new planes of the type used on
the historic croSs-Pacific flight. HIS
coming here was known only to the
immediate officers at the yard con-
cerned in his movements. and many
of the officers and sailors who nap
pened to be near the river front OF
the navy yard did not know it was
the intrepid Rodgers that was gong
to his death as the plane fell.
Every resource of the big yard was
brought into play in the rescue. The
commander was pinned in the COCK
pit of the machine for nearly an hour
and suffered untold agony as officers
and sailors worked up TO their necks
in water to free him.
go easy boys" he said. u m
caught somewhere"
No further time was lost ana the
fuselage of the ship was literally torn
apart to get the navy officer out.
When he was freed and a brief eX-
animation made it was announced he
had suffered only a broken leg ana
a sigh Of relief went up. Later II
was cautiously stated that he was
suffering greatly from shock and thal
a more thorough examination might
show more serious injuries. No
further word came from the hosplta.
until the announcement that he hau
died. At first it was not believed, but
naval surgeons sadly confirmed the
news.
Recently II was announced Commah-
der Rodgers would fly across the con-
tinent with picked squadron OF navy
airmen and that he would engage IN
nractice in California preparatory TO
making another dash to the Ha"a'l"h
Islands.
Today the commander flew land
plane of the We type. He followed the
historic Delaware River on his way to
the navy yard after crossing the state
Of Delaware. The Philadelphia navy
wards landing field stretches along the
river for some distance. and when the
commander was sighted he was de-
scending to make landing on the
broad stretch of grassy ground.
A few officers and men watched the
arrival and saw the plane so into
slow glide. 1t was over the river ana
pointed toward the field. Suddenly 1t
was noticed that something was wrong
and before anyone could realize 1t the
plane shot downward into about three
and a half feet of water and approx
imately 100 feet from shore.
Commander Rodgers and Schultz,
strapped in their seats. were unable
to save themselves. When 1t settled
in the river the cockpit of the plane
was Just above water. The shock of
the fall broke the propeller. Water
WelleQ INTO lHe PIT, pul loi tuHhtSAS
Commander Rodgers and his compan-
ion were sitting high enough to keep
their heads above the surface of the
river and save themselves from
drowning.
Officers, sailors and marines leaped
into the water and foundered out to
the rescue. Others tumbled into 20
foot navy barge and pulled out to the
wreckage The first effort to lift the
commander out of the plane was un-
availing, according to eye-witnesses. |
The commander and his mechanician |
were conscious, but their faces show |
ed they were in great pain.
easy, boys" Rodgers said as they |
tried to lift him. I'm caught some |
where: go easy"
1t was discovered that the engine of |
the plane was partly lodged against |
Rodgers chest. While stalwart sail |
ors and marines tugged and pulled as
best they could in the water to free |
the comma nder. tools were hurriedly !
sent for, and the men worked frantic |
ally with wrenches and saws. Despite |
their best efforts it took fully SO min
utes of labor to move the engine and |
release the wreckage from the COM
mander's leg.
lifted from the wreckage and was |
taken to the hospital.
A special stretcher used for airplane |
accidents was brought alongside the !
wreckage and sailors lifted him in !,
their arms and placed him on it. A |
naval ambulance was waiting when !
Commander Rodgers was brought |
ashore. He was conscious thanks to
stimulants given him by members of |
the medical corps who rowed out to |
him.
Suffering intense agony. the COM |
mander wrung his hands and his face |
took on the hue of death but he pull !
ed himself together and directed his /
rescuers how to carry him to ease |
his pain.
Easy, boys; go easy" he said. He
spoke in low voice. A guard was |
thrown around the hospital and no |
one was allowed to intrude Some |
time after the commanders admis- |
sion 1t was given out that he suffered |
a broken leg and some minor injur-
les. This assurance that Commander