New Britain herald., 1929-09-18

like an explosion brought her out of her house in time to see a burst of flame in the woods. Realizing what must have happened and fear ing for the safety of the aviator, Mrs. Collins telcphoned 10 the Her ald office, her first tHought being 10 get help to the unfortunate flyer. Within a few minutes crowds were driving and walking to the scene, but the aviator was beyond human help.
 Flames 100 Feet High
 Alexander Bruce today supplied n graphic picture of the crash. He said that he heard the crash and a mo- ment later the airplane gasoline tank blew up, shooting flames 100 feet into the air. When he and Bartram and Harold Bruce reached the wrecllaee, they were kept at q dis tancc by the intense heat of the burning plane, but by working their way around to the lee side, they were able to get within about six feet of the pyre.
 "The woods were illuminated for a distance of 100 feet" said Mir. Bruce today. "Wc were not able 10 stay in the immediate vicinity very long because someone said there was another tank of gasoline which might explode"
 Perilous Ascent of Mountain
 Police, newspapermen and others climbed the slippery eide of Mount Lamentation in the rain to reach the scene of the death plunge, Through marshy land and a zone Of bushes, they reached the precipitous side of the hill. Sliding back one step for every two taken forward. they slow ly made their way over a carpet of loose stones which made the footing trcacherous.
 Far ahead through the wall of saplinGs and larger trees could be seen the glow of the burning air plane. At the end of the pcrilous trail lay the body of the airman who had winged his way into the fcG blanketed night a short time before. Flames were rapidly consuming all that was left of the ship, leaving only the metal skeleton of the man tree top was part of the fuselage, ripped off as. the airplane fkimmed the forest growth. A path of broken branches showed the direction the plane had taken before ending its flight on the rock covered soil far from human habitation.
 Kam,nsky on Scene
 State Policeman Joseph Kaminsky Of this city was among the early ar rivals at the spot. state Aviation Commissioner C. M. Knox came 10 investigate the accident and John Wheeler, district manager for the Colonial line, made a separate tnves- tigation for his company.
 Every night between S:30 and 9 o'clock, Policeman Cyrus l., Schoon- maker, on duty at Willow Brook park, blin5s his flashlight pointed skyward as the mail planes skim over New Britain. Answering blinks come from the pilots whose loneli- ness is choered by these friendly messa ges from the earth. Last night Policeman Schoonmaker missed his unknown friend of the upper air. He did not know that death had stilled the heart of one who was not afraid of the clements.
 Prevents Cremation
 John Wessman, q Meriden taxi driver, is credited with saving Tall mans body from cremation. Wess- man is reported to have pulled stones out of the earth and to have Gcoopcd up dirt with his hands, throwing lt on the body.
 Tallman was identified soon after the crash when a wallet containing his flicr's license and photograph was picked up by Charles Polumb, of 112 F'airvicw street, this ity, pro prietor of the Silver Lake fillin! station on the Berlin Meridcn high way.
 Load Considered Too Heavy
 Pilots who viewed the wreckage are said 10 have remarked that the load of mail carried was too heavy for the type of plane, One offered to take part of the load when Tall man was about to leave BrainarG field but the aviator declined the Of fer of assistance.
 After Tallman left Hartford, air port officials attempted to trace his progress by telephone, inquirinf from persons along the route whether they had heard his motor The plane was flying low as i' passed over the Peat Works pond ir Berlin.
 The airplane crash last night wa' the innocent cause of the arrest O. Gerald J. Hayes, of Sylvan road Wellesley Farms Mass. He saw the crowd and the lineup of automo piles along the road. He wandered and accostcd Constable Georg' Kanupka of the lccal constabular! who was on traffic duty at the time Shay" he is reported to have said 'is the bridge lmpassabie /! Cpol learning that it wasn't bridge, ant after catching the gleam from thu constable's badge, he strolled dowr to ascertain for himself. But his gait aroused the constables suspicious He called the man back. Have must answer to the charge 0 drunkenness in the Berlin towl court next Tuesday night
 stolen Car Recovered
 While on duty this morning ol the pike near the scene of the ac cident last night, Constable Browl noticed a sedan. The driver. ap peared uneasy and ran away. Browl caught up with his man at Flaw thornn Inn. but in the darkness tn man got away, leaving only his ha