CLOSE FRIENDS OF GEO. BEACH TELLS ACCIDENT DETAILS Planes WHich Clashed Were Only Ones in Air at Time, He Says

The foIlowing soldier letter trom Lieut P. MacGilvary of the Avation Corps in Italy gives the best account of the death of the lamented George Beach of this city, that we have seen. lt was published in the Wisconsin State Journal, at Madison Feb. 27.      Following is a letter from Lieut.Paton MacGilvary, with the American aviation detachment in Italy, to his mother, Mrs. E. B. MacGilvary, 1920 Arlington place:                      January 25. 1918. Dear Mother:-      It has been some time since I have written-about eight or nine days I believe,. but, this time I have had a very legitimate excuse.      I have received a new bllet since I last wrote, for I was one of the three men picked out to be sent to officer the new camp they are starting here, known as Campo Ovest (West Camp). It is indeed a great opportunity for it gives me a chance to command men, to get into the inside army matters and regulations, and above all to get in an extra amount of flying, for our commandant has arranged for two machines for the three of us, and we can get in two or three hours of flying apiece every day. Friend Killed in Crash      The fuss of getting started was keeping me busy when on the second day of the camp the two other officers were tragically killed in a collision with a machine from the other camp. While they were in the air, a thick fog settled and and attempting to land they collided with a machine just leaving the ground. The driver of the other machine was on of m best friends here, George Beach, a wonderful boy,

connected with the family of "Scotty" Robertson, whom you will remember as a Delt of my college days. All three were killed instantly, and their machines hurled to the ground utter wrecks. It is, to say the least, a lamentable occurrence, that two machines in the air, the only ones up at the time, should happen to come together in the same point, at the same time--it hardly seems possible that such a thing could occur, for there was the whole out-doors and the two camps are some three kilometers apart.      However, strange things happen, and we must expect our friends to drop off gradually from now on --especially as they are going to the front before long. George was my best friend next to Jack Seery; the three of us have chummed around since July. Honored by Italy      All Italy paid tribute to the fallen aviators who were given an Italian funeral of the highest honor. There were present all ranks of officials, including two generals and the flowers were beautiful.      At this new camp we are more comfortable than I had thought possible-we have each two little two-by-four rooms-literally six feet by eight-connected with each other, one of which is a bedroom and the other a living room. They are lighted by electricity, and have a small kerosene stove. We have an Italian orderly who makes the bed, sweeps the room, carries water, shines the shoes, and tries to help us turn around. I am deucedly awkward with him. I don't know what to do with him-he tries to help me dress! and I have the devil of a time shaking him.

 

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