AIR TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1920, Page 5

AIR TRAGEDY.

THE TOWN IN MOURNING* THE FUNERALS TO-MORROW. CIVIC AND MILITARY CEREMONY. New Plymouth was filled with mourning for the dead yesterday, the community being deeply shaken by the flying disaster. No tragedy has ever caused such profound mourning, and the grief has been shared in every home, by the friends of the deceased and the strangers alike. There were many silent thoughts for the dead airman far away from home, and arrangements have been made for many wreaths as a last tribute, while a military funeral to be held to-morrow, is being arranged by the R.S.A. The war made empty places in thousands of homes, and every day was crowded with personal tragedy, but not until now has a town truly gone into mourning, so that business men have been restless at their daily tasks, strong men have wept, and the homes of ail have been filled with an atmosphere suggestive of deep personal loss. A lot of people did not know the Mayor and Miss Warnock, and more still did not know the fresh-coinplexionc.d boyhe seeded little more—who a few years before his death was fighting ' over the German lines, but everyone is today filled with an overpowering ?ense of the Joss. The crepe ribands at the entrance to the municipal offices, and the. half-masted flag wero simple outward tokens of the bereavement in the loss of the chief citizen of the town.

A special meeting of the New Ply mouth Borough Council yesterday morning passed a resolution expressing profound Borrow at Thursday's tragedy and rendering the Council's deepest sympathy to the. Mayoress and, family. Resolutions of condolence with the relatives of the late Miss Warnock and the late Captain Russell were also passed by the Council.

DOMINION-WIDE SYMPATHY. That the mourning is not only provincial, hut also Dominion wide,"is indicated by the large numbers of messages received from all parts. His Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicoe) has telegraphed to the Mayoress as follows: "Deeply grieve to hear of the sad accident. We sympathise most sincerely with you in your sorrow."

The Hon. ,T. 0. Coatos (PostmasterGeneral) telegraphed: "Please accept, my deepest sympathy in the great loss you have sustained. It has been a most unfortunate accident, an,d has caused a great shock throughout New Zealand."

The following was from Mr. Leo Walsh: "The principals and staff of the Now Zealand Flying School tender their most heartfelt sympathies in your sad bereavement."

Others who sent messages of sympathy to Mrs. Clarke were Messrs! S. (1. Smith and MeCaHnm. members for Taranaki and Wairau respectively, Mr. Chas. H. Burgess (Mr. Clarke's predecessor in office), and the Mayors of the following towns: Hastings', Wnitara, Napier, and Whakatane, and Mr. G. T. Murray (on behalf of the Public Works Department). In addition to the above mentioned, there were about one hundred private communications.

The General Manager of the New Plymouth Borough Council received telegrams from the Hon. 0. Samuel, and the Mayors of Hawcra, Manaia, Eltham, Pukekohe, and Hastings. Mr. V. (.:. Walsh has been the recipient of many messages of sympathy from all parts of New Zealand. A telegram from the Hon. J. G. Coates read: "Greatly shocked to learn of your great misfortune and of the loss of such a fine fellow as Captain Russell. Accept my extreme regret and sincere sympathy."

Among those well-known in the aviation world who sent messages ufrre: the Hon. Wigram, M.L.C., chairman of the Canterbury Aviation Company, Captain Dulin and Mr. Hewlitt, officials of the company, and Mr. Wigley (Timaru Aviation Company), Captain Isitt (officer in charge of the Government machines at Christchurch), and Captain Wilkes (secretary to the Air Board). In communications to Mr. Walsh, old pupils of the school figured prominently, and one telegram was signed by six who were associated with Captain Russell during his training period at Kohi marama. Many other friends in places included in the tour sent condolences.

At a meeting of the New Plymouth executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association last night, a resolution of sympathy with the Mayoress and relatives of the late Captain Russell was carried by members.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. The funeral of the late Miss Warnock will take place this morning, the interment being private. The funeral of the late Mayor is to be held to-morrow at 2 p.m., and will be a civic one, at which it is hoped leprcsentatives of the various local bodies, Ratepayers' Associations, and oilier Taranaki Councils will be present in their official capacity. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan) and tho members of the Borough Council will be present. Wreaths are being sent by the Mayor and councillors, and by the citizens Of Stratford.

Relatives of Captaiii Russell will not be able to attend the funeral. It is hoped to arrange the late airman's funeral in conjunction with the civic one. Pall bearers will be six e?. 1 - officers of the Expeditonary Force, and ■the R.S.A. will also provide a firing party. In (his connection all returned soldiers in possession of uniforms arc requested to attend at the Coronation Hall at 10 a.m. to-morrow to rehearse the ceremony. As the R.S.A. executive have had to make arrangements at very short notice the co-operation of returned men is earnestly desired. All returned men ape also requested to attend the funeral.

A parade 'is being called of A. Coy. Xlth Regiment, High School, Technical College, and No. FlO Coy. Senior Cadets 1 . They are to assemble at the Drill Hall at 1 p.m. to attend the funeral. Veterans. Legion of Frontiersmen, South African veterans, and Rifle Club members are also to parade. The Citizens' Band will assemble at the bandroom at 1.15 to-morrow to attend the funerals. They should parade in uniform, but without' belts. Owing to the largo number of motor cars expected at the funeral, it has been thought advisable to make suggestion* to the public to facilitate the

marshalling of the cortege. Private cars are requested to enter Wallace Place, via Morley Street, while the cars of local bodies will approach, Via Bar' rett "Street. Local bodies' ears should have a piece of white paper about 'Gin. square gummed to the windscreens. Horse vehicles should assemble in single line in Bnlteel Street, and be ready to take up their allotted positions. Those proceeding on foot should form up in column of fours and join the funeral immediately behind ilhe cars of the local bodies. Those not taking part in the funeral are requested not to assemble in the streets above named, but to line the route along Devon Street. On arrival at the cemetery gates, all cars will be parked in Lemon and Pukenui Street.

SOME FURTHER DETAILS. FIRST SCENE OF THE DISASTER. It would seem that Miss Warnock was thrown from her seat—the rear onecither in descending or when the machine struck the ground, for her body was thrown clear of the remains of the machine. The pilot and Mr. Clarke were extricated from the debris, the pilot being still on his ssaty or what was left of it. Mr. Clarke was evidently killed instanteously, judging from the nature of his injuries. Captain Russell, who was terribly crushed tried to speak, and then expired. He lived probably'seven minutes only after the accident.

Mr. H. Noy, Inspector of Machinery, resides quite close to the paddock, and with his wife (who is an ex-nurse), and Mr. Murphy, on whose property the machine fell, was first on the scene Mr 9. Noy rendered valuable service in many respects. '

Tlio crowd surged through- from the school grounds and the racecourse in thousands. Some school prefects, who soon secured vantage positions, with good judgment ordered back the school boys, who obeyed the. commands without demur. Tiie crowds raced over the grounds of the private houses in the vicinity, doing not a little damage in the process, and taking no heed of the wishes of the owners. Within three minutes from the time of the crash there were hundreds in the paddock and m its immediate vicinity. Very soon a cordon was established, and the crowd pushed back to the fences, leaving those in authority to do what could, be done in the circumstances, which, unfortunately, w as vcr y ljttle Thg bodies were soon covered, and taken away by coyered-in motors, the hospital ambulance being just now out of commission.

PLUCK OF THE PILOT.

There is an impression in some quarters that had the pilot not re-started the •ngme just before the end came, the crash would not have been as severe as »t was and that the occupants mav have escaped with their lives. Mr Walsh says this is an erroneous belief The weight of ,th. machine itself gave 5™V, hßt „ Conld " 0t ~ave celerated by the re-starting of the enThe late Captain Russell was an inrepid airman. This was proved by hL cent exploit in crossing from Mastertou to Palmerston North L W DL lovr, l g a gale at the tin >*. K the pilot went up and faced it onlv tr, <; baulked. Nothing daunt hj, fri d nnce more, but again failed. He e ■;rned a third time to the task,\d this, time succeeded in conquering dS2L" d r klins *»!■*•&?, who saw i,, A ? .experienced airman « 10 saw he exploit says it was one of things he had ever seen . Bight up to dusk* on Thursday even--8 streams of people, son/ others , n cars or on bicycles, winded their way to the scene of the accident Before seven o'clock yesterday norrin. people were there, and right ~I afternoon. At one time there mu fc trstSLr'br tycar3parkedi ' 1 J}'- ***** stfl te.d that quite a few Parle of the machine were\ndamage especially the controls and back paTt ' Thew were teke„ off yesterday, and wil be shipped to Auckland. The rest of burned, so that now nothing remains of

TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN RUSSELL. HIGHEST HONoFfrom PRANCE. Yesterday's Wellington Times, commenting on the disaster, .says:— After a period of strenuous, distinguished, and most dangerous service in the air m war, a brave soldier has met his death flying on ft day of profound peace; and, by an unfortunate occurrence, on the anniversary of the last day of the war. Captaiii Russell served through tho fateful days of 1918 From the great break of'the British line, through all the fighting spread from Bruges to Soissons, to the very end of the great strategy that brought down the German power, he was to the fore as a valiant fighter, and lie ended his service in the triumphant march to Cologne. In that service he earned high decorations, among them tho highest that France can bestow on valor, the famous Croix de Guerre, with the special distinction of the Palm. Ho brought down several enemies in the single combats which are the' special privilege of the Air Service He was wounded several times, and many times he crashed, escaping death by his presence of mind and ready skill. As Flight Commander he was distinguished in bombing attacks on the enemy's masses and the vital work of reconnaissance. He returned to his own country—he was a native of New Zealand—with the reputation of a bravo soldier and resourceful aviator, one of the gallant band of heroic men who made the name of New Zealand honored throughout the world. As such his memory will bo honored for all time, and the gratitude of his countrymen will be ever strong. Since his return ho devoted himself to his profession of aviation, and by his skilful, earnest, brave work, advanced it considerably. The universal hope for him, founded nn his successful brilliant flighls, was of a career to (he public advantage, and many went up with him in the certainty of safety with so good a pilot. But (he air has not yet been mastered. It still has dangers unrevealed, and through one of these calamity overtook him. with the' two companions of his last flight. The sorrow for tho fate of the brave soldier and his companions is universal in (heir country, and all New Zealand offers its deepest sympathy to the family and the betrothed of the brave soldier who is no more, and to the relatives Of his eomsMiUmi in ahlortusti ,

SIR KEITH SMITH'S VIEWS. THE'DANGERS OP LANDING. Sir Keith Smith, well-known ns a participant in the pioneer flight from England to Australia, is at present in Wellington. He was grieved to hear of the death of a brother flying man, but observed that it was the fate which faced them all. Some airmen were mora fortunate than others, but the danger of a crash was over present in their minds. He gathered from the reports of the fatality that Captain Russell's machine stalled when making a landing. That was a thing that often happened It was not so dangerous at a good height, for then there was a chance of recovery, but it was fatal near the ground. Captain Russell apparently lost flying speed, the machine dropped line a stone, nose down, and before he should regain control and .re-start his, engine, the crash occurred. "I have seen many men killed that way," said Sir Keith Smith. "It is one of the dangers of landing." Speaking of the Avro type of machine such as Captain Russell used, Sir Keith Smith said it was one of the best machines for instructional and-joy-riding purposes. It was regarded as perfectly safe. -

He hoped the public . would not be unduly alarmed by this fatality, and get the idea that flying was a most dangerous pastime! As a matter of fact, an aeroplane was no more dangerous than a motor-car when under proper control. Motoring accidents occurred frequently, but that did not deter people from riding in motor-cars. Then why should an aviation fatality shake public confidence in aeroplanes?

WANGANUI'S TRIBUTE. There are many people in Waneanui who will learn with dee]) sorrow of the tragic death of Captain B. Russell, D.F.C. (says yesterday's Chronicle). A few weeks ago he was a familiar iigiire here. Quiet and unassuming, he had a charming personality, and lie was genuinely esteemed by th.e;J»ftny Wunganui residents who splendid pilot, asjtiis fini war record proved, and the masterly way he could handle his maclMe inspired the greatest confidence, ,71$•■'only With the many local residents': Who flew 'With him, but also with,tlie.ijthqusanfls of people who visited the aviation ground at Westmere. . \ .;■/; ; Justr. btefore leaving Wangaijnl ;to fly over to Baatifigs,'Captain Rußsejl said to a pressman that he jibped to return to W'ftnganuii,;lle had thfc.jjieatc.Bi affection : i'or-.liii ¥ ''old bus," % hje termed bis machine, Ho was a very fine type of young New Zealandor; 3 a,nd Ills' passing will he sincerely moUred, •'.._ The Chronicle, writing editorially, says: Barely lias an accident occasioned such widespread regret as that which occurred at New ■ Plymouth yesterday afternoon, resulting in the death of Captain Russell, the well-known aviator, and two _ passengers. To the people of Wanganui, in particular, the news came as a painful shock, for the fine airman had so recently been flying and gambolling in the blue heights' above Tne town. The Avro and its pilot had in a strafe way worked themselves into the affections of the people of the town. In some ways, the affection was a species of fascination. The fact that the machine flew across the town so lately as -Monday had renewed interest in both it and its pilot. And now nil is over! The tragedy of it comes with the reflection that Captain Russell, greathearted as lie was modest and likeable, should have passed scathlcss through the perils of aerial warfare to die while making sport for people in a quiet corner of peaceful New Zealand. All who had the privilege of knowing Captain Russell will deplore his death. Sincere sympathy will be extended to his relatives and to those of the other victims of the tragedy. Much sympathy will also be extended to Messrs Walsh Bros., who have, done so much for aviation in New Zealand^