New Britain herald., 1930-08-20
Noted Air Enthusiast

Noted Air Enthusiast
 Baltimore, August 20 {UP)-Tan Lear Black, Baltimore publisher and financier who fell from the deck of his yacht and disappeared, has been widely known for several years as an air enthusiast.
 Beginning in 1927 Black who started his career as bank clerk here. instituted series of flights which took him more than 125,o00 miles. At the time of Monday nights accident en route here from New York, he was understood to have been contemplating an early flight around South America.
 Because of his interest in aviation and the wide notice given his long, distance flights, Black became bet ter known than he was as a publish CT and capitalist although he had been a leading figure here for many years and was reputed to be the wealthiest man in Maryland.
 Born in Cumberland, Md, in 1875, the son Of prominent family Black came here with his parents when seven years old. After com pleting his education, he began his career as a clerk in the offices of the Fidelity Trust Se Deposit Com pany. In 1920 he became president of the company.
 Black was director of numerous financial concerns, being widely known for his versatility and his energy in business. He retired sev- cIal years ago from many of these connections. but retained his post as chairman of the board of tho company which publishes the Balti- more Sun.
 Aviation first caught his fancy many years ago, but he did not be- gin his extended flights until 1927 when he flew from London to Cairo with two Dutch pilots. The three ! flew together almost constantly thereafter and the publisher was decorated by Queen Wilhelmina of Holland after his ship had flown 10000 miles from Amsterdam to the Dutch East Indies and back in 1882 flying hours.
 The publisher was married in 1899 to Miss Jennie Gary. daughter 0. the late Postmaster General James A. Gary. Five children sur vive.
 Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. friend of Mir. Black, requested that everything possible be done to promote the quest. The only possi- bility that he may be found alive rested in the fact that he was . good swimmer and may have kept himself afloat until picked up by some small ship.
 Last Seen Sitting on Rail
 Mir Black was last seen shortly after o'clock Monday night 1s miles south of Ambrose channel, sitting on the stern rail of his yacht, his legs entwined around the guard rails and one hand gra.ping a stanchion. He was smoking cigarette. That day he had flown to Newport to see his twin grandchil- dren, just born to his daughter. wife Of Lieut.. Albert J. Bolton. He had boarded the yacht at the wharf Of the New York Yacht club, foot of 18th street, about 6 o'clock, ap- parently delighted.
 Shortly after 10 o'clock. hi. valet went on deck to consult him. Mir. Black could not be found. Alarmed, the valet informed the captain. John w. Kelley.
 Kelley ordered the yacht stop- ped and played searchlights on tho water.
 Seeing nothing" Kelley said, I've started her again and put about. For hours we cruised. But we could find no trace of MT. Black. There was nothing to do but give up and put back again into Gravesend Bay. The only thing we found was Mir. Blacks Handkerchief near the rail of the aft deck. That told me what probably happened"
 The captain said he had warned Mir. Black many times that his habit of sitting on the rail was dangerous and that he was apt to be thrown overheard if the yacht gave a sud- den lurch in swell.
 There were 1s persons aboard tho yacht at the time and none saw MT. Black fall. Te had eaten dinner on the yacht with Mrs. J. Walter Lord of Baltimore, his cousin. The yacht was bound for Chesapeake Bay.
 Paul Patterson, president Of tho Baltimore Sun Publishing company, was informed of the accident by telephone and came from Baltimore to direct the search. He said the hunt would be continued on an even