The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17


Grief for the two men far
transcribed their intimate circles
of family and friends. President
Roosevelt. former President Hoover,
members Of Congress. leading bust
ness men and industrialists. rulers
Of many countries world statesmen.
all expressed their sorrow. IN
London. in Paris, Berlin. Madrid.
Toxic, the accident that had taken
two beloved characters was a sub
Ject Of intense interest.
u. :. Buys Winnie Mae
The movies had made the lovable
personality of the Oklahoma COW
boy. who for years had pointed out
human frailties in high places in
his inimitable manner Mr.. Post,
hero Of two flights around the
world. was universally regarded as
one Of the worlds greatest fliers
A few hours after a shocked world
learned Of the accident. the United
States Senate pa ssed a resolution
calling for government purchase of
tie Winnie Mae, and soon after
ward the House gave its approval
The plane, which carried Mr.. Post
on both his famous fig is, will be
placed in the Smithsonian InStitu-
ton. In St. Louis the Spirit of St
Louis medal for outstanding cOntrl-
buttons to aviation was awarded
pOsthumouslv to MI Rogers by the
Aeronautics Division Of the Amer
lean Society of Mechanical Engi-
neers
Experimenting Going On
Death cut Mr.. Post down in the
midst Of his newest efforts TO ad-
vance aviation. He was expert
menting with flights in the sub
stratosphere. hoping to develop a
technique and equipment that would
shorten the air time between East
and West coasts Of the United
States to seven hours. His new
plane had been purchased especially
for the experiments after four fail
ures in the Winnie Mae.
Mr.. Rogers was believed to have
left an estate valued at between
s5.OO0.OO0 and s6OOOOOO Through
insurance and other assets he was
said to have established a trust
fund of 100000 for each of his
three children.
Mr.. Post was believed to have died
practically pennilesS. outside his
ownership of the wrecked plane and
the Winnie Mae. He earned great
sums. but everything went back into
airplanes and aviation. His widow
will Deceive $4,000 for the Winnie
Mae. the sum Congress appropri-
ated
The world recalled the exploits
of Mr.. Post-his dash around the
world with Harold Gatty in eight
DAYS. Is hours. 81 minutes in 1881
his one-man flight over the same
route in 1888 in seven days, 1e
hours, 40 minutes.
Composed Own Epitaph
OF Mr.. Rogers. it recalled only a
lovable character who usually ap-
peared on the stage in chaps and
sombrerO. to twlrl rope and
philosophise in an authentic plains
mans drawl. and in the movies as
rough-handed and full-hearted.
Neither Mr.. Post nor Mr.. Rogers
had the least fear of death. Mr..
Post dared It again and again. Mr..
Rogers composed his own eptaph
When ! die. my epitaph. or what
ever YOU call those signs on grave
stones. is going TO read:
Y joked about every prominent
man OF my time. but l never met
man I didn't like
I am proud of that. can hardly
wait to die so it can be carved.
And when you come around my
grave. You'll find me SITTING there,
proudly reading it."
Scene Is Described
Mr.. Rogers said that in Boston
in 1880.
Mr.. CrOSson brought has Arctic
plane into this hamlet OF 10 white
and $50 EskimoS to find it intense
with shock and grief. A native
runner arrived Thursday. all but eX-
hausted from Is miles of fast travel
over a rough terrain Of boys and
lakes. snuuting eXcitedly that the
bird men we're dead.
He gave his news to this cor
respondent and staff Sergeant
Stanley Morgan OF the United
states Army Signal Corps They
didn't believe him at first. but after
he had jabbered his story twice.
Sergt. Morgan manned a whale boat
with a native crew and he and
set out for the scene.
We didn't believe the runner
fully. Surely there must be Soris
mistake. We thought. Rogers and
Post can't be dead.
We sighted the plane when We
we're about 440 yards away on the
same stream in which II lay. The
Eskimos who had witnessed the
crash already had taken Mr.. Rogers
body from the water and had COW
cred 1t with a sleeping bag.
Mr.. Posts body was still pinned
in the debris. We attached ropes 10
the plane and tried to pull it over.
The first time the ropes broke. Fin
ally we pulled the plane apart far
enough TO bring out the body, which
we placed in a sleeping bag.
Papers Scattered Around
There we're papers. maps and per-
sonal affects scattered all around.
Most of them were Soggy with salt.
mud and water.
Mr.. Rogers dollar watch was still
running.
Wills glasses. so familiar to all
who had seen him on the stage and
screen or in newspaper photographs.
also were unbroken.
The watch said It was $50 a. m.
alaskan time).
Although one Of the ESkimos said
there had been an explosion. We
couldn't find any evidence Of It.
We believe the ship Just failed 70