Clearfield County PA Archives - Newspaper: Dore, Raymond killed in plane crash, Jul 1924

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Steve Fisher, <stevef.genealogy@att.net>, Feb 2009

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http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/news/dore-raymond-crash.txt

Transcribed from the Clearfield Progress, Clearfield PA, Monday, 21 Jul 1924:
Page 1

JANESVILLE AVIATORS BURNED TO DEATH

Close and Dorr, Amateur Flyers, Fall 200 Feet in Flaming Machine

Dorr Bought Machine a Week Ago and Made Number of Successful Flights about
County.

Close Passenger

That aeronautics have not progressed to the point in this country where
amateur flyers can afford to take a chance without attendant grave danger and
the taking of a dangerous chance, was demonstrated near Janesville, this
county, Sunday evening about 5 o'clock, when the recently purchased airplane
of Ray Dorr, a popular Janesville boy, caught fire when but about two hundred
feet in the air and plumped to the ground, near the farm home of H. E.
Fulkson.  The plane was being driven by Ray Dorr, who had William Close, aged
24, and chauaffeur for Mrs. E. J. Mountz, with him as a passanger.  Both men
were killed.
     Young Dorr, who is about 26 years of age, is a nephew of Mrs. E. J.
Mountz, the Gulich township coal operator.  Before acquiring the machine the
young man went to the school flying field maintained by the Glenn Curtis
Corporation and received a six month course in aeronautics and returned for a
three month course just previous to the delivery of the machine.  The
machine, said to be a Curtis standard, made for army service, was purchased
at a cost of $2,100, we are informed, and was delivered to Dorr at Janesville
by a Curtis demonstrator about two weeks ago.
     Saturday afternoon young Dorr was up in the machine and flew over
Houtzdale.  While flying over that town and when several hundred feet in the
air spectators say the machine dipped and volplaned down to within one
hundred feet of the ground, when the engine, which had apparently shut off,
was heard to start again and the machine glided up and off through the air.
     Those who witnessed the stunt give it as their opinion now, that there
was something wrong with the plane or the pilot's handling of the same.
      Sunday evening young Dorr arranged to give his friend R. L.O'Donnell,
former Clearfielder a trip through the air, but when O'Donnell, who was
detained at his home [illegible] arrive at the flying field on the
Mountsbaugh farm at the appointed time, Close was given the opportunity to
make the trip.  [He] was strapped into the seat behind the pilot and right up
against the gasoline tank, while Dorr took his place as pilot.
      Within a few seconds after the plane took the air, it was seen to be
afire and according to the story of Pilot Dorr, who lived about one hour
after the accident, Close seized the rear or safety control and turned the
machine's nose toward the ground as the (Continued on Page Two)

****************************************************************************

Page 2

Janesville Aviators
(Continued from Page One)

gas [fire] blazed up.  The flames enveloped Close on the instant and when it
was [illegible] to remove his remains from the wrecked machine it was found
his head, legs and arms had been burned completely off.  Dorr was thrown or
alighted about twenty feet from the burning plane and was conscious for a
time following his experience.  He was badly burned in addition to the
injuries received in the fall from the machine.
     He was picked up at once and hurried to the Cottage State hospital at
Philipsburg, but his death occurred about the time the hospital was reached.
     The accident has caused a pall of [genuine sorrow] to settle over the
Janesville country, where both victims of the horrible accident were born and
raised and numbered the whole community as their warm [illegible].
     Dorr was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dorr, the father being a brother
of Mrs. Mountz, while Close was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Close.  The
young men were particularly close and real friends.  Funeral arrangements
have not been completed thus far.
     The unfortunate occurance, in addition to being a heart-crushing blow
to the families of both young men, was also a doubly sad blow to Mrs. Mountz.
Ray Dorr was her favorite [nephew], while Close, whom she had known from
childhood, had been her chauaffer for some time and drove her car to
Cleveland at the time of the Republican national convention.  She opposed the
buying of the plane and on Saturday cautioned Close against risking his life
in it.
     [illegible] also said that young Dorr's sister saw the accident in a
dream on Saturday evening and that both the sister and his mother prevailed
upon him not to attempt the fatal flight Sunday evening, but he laughed at
their fears and gaily embarked on the trip which ended so quickly and so
disastrously.