The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-11
MYSTERY SURROUNDS
CRASH OF ship And
TERRIFIC. EXPLOSION
Only Pieces Remain Of Huge
Craft Which Had Speed Of
Three Miles a Minute
FARMERS SEE VICTIMS DIE
Many Were Trapped in Cabin
and Unable to Escape
Spreading Flames

Chesterton, Ind. Oct. 11.-(R-The
scattered pieces Of q big twin-motor
transport plane-one Of its massive
wheels suspended from a tree-were
Ill that remained Wednesday OF q
New York-to-C Chicago ship Of the
United States Air Lines that carried
seven persons to flaming death.
Just what happened when the ALL
metal ship with top speed Of more
than three miles minute crashed to
earth In flames shortly after 8 O'Clock
Tuesday night about five miles south
east OF here, probably never will be
known, but witnesses said they heard
terrific explosion.
Five of the bodies were recovered
Tuesday night. but none was taken
nut alive as the heat of the flames
kept farmers who flocked to the scene
back. They said they saw the victims
milling around on the inside OF the
cabin, unable to save themselves.
Due to the complete breakup Of
the plane and the wide area over
which the wreckage was strewn. any
attempt to discover the cause OF the
tragedy probably will be difficult.
Fell About 1000 Feet
Witnesses estimated the ship was
about 1000 feet up and one witness
said he could hear the throbbing Of
the motor as 1t fell like q plummet.
leading officials to believe that one
# the motors or gasoline tanks may
have exploded and that the pilot was
attempting desperately to make a
landing. His body was thrown about
SO feet from the main part Of the
plane and his face was badly burned.
Some Of the other bodies were
charred almost beyond recognition
and It was almost impossible to
identify them. Among the ruins was
found badly burned log book, which
officials held for the formal investi-
cation.
After an hours search Wednesday
morning the remaining two bodies
were found. Either they had been
thrown clear Of the wreckage or had
jumped. as they were about $50 yards
to the west Of the tail Of the plane
which was considerably removed from
the main part Of the ship.
Both were partly buried In the soft
ground.
Records Of the air lines showed tho
following were aboard:
D. M. Dwyer, q woman, Arlington,
Mass.
E, smitt, Chicago.
C.. F. or Fred Schoendorff, Chicago.
N. r. Tarrant, Oak Park, H.. the
pilot.
H. r. Burris. Columbus, O., radio
operator in the employ Of the COM
pany.
A. T. Ruby, Chicago, co-pilot.
Miss Alice scribner. Chicago,
stewardess.
Doubt Explosion Story
United Air Lines officials doubted
the accuracy Of reports of. some wit
nesses that the plane first exploded
In, air, then zoomed 1000 feet to earth
with one motor still humming. It was
their belief. after inspecting the
ruins, that the ship drove into a hill
side and then exploded. The major
portion of the wreck was found burn
ing on the side Of hill near q road.
It was the first accident fatal to
passengers since United Air Lines
adopted multi-motored planes five
years ago and the first in 10000, 900
miles of q flight with this type Of
ship. officials said.
Miss Dryer was on her way from her
Massachusetts, home to Reno, New.
where she was to have been married
Wednesday afternoon to Theodore
Baldwin, former Boston stock market
operator.