A. S. Hallam

HALLAM

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

6 May 1915 - The Clinton Advertiser page 8

A. S. HALLAM FALLS TO DEATH FROM AIR-SHIP
Former Lyons Man Dies in 5,000 Foot Plunge Into Waters of Puget Sound
NEWS OF FATE JUST COMES
Had Mounted High in Air and Performed Daring "Stunts" Before Machine Fell to Sound.
A. S. Hallman, who formerly lived in Lyons and was engaged in the feather business here, plunged to his death from an aeroplane into the waters of Puget Sound recently. Hallam fel 5,000 feet.

The news comes from F. F. Reap of Everett, Washington, who encloses a clipping from an Everett paper telling of the tragic death of the daring "birdman." Mr. Hallam was formerly a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

One of the most horrible casualties to occur in the Northwest happened yesterday, when A. S. Hallam, a well known "feather founder," met death in Puget Sound a short distance from this city.

Full details of the accident could not be learned, as the trial of the new machine was a quiet one, and but few knew of its being pulled off. In fact only the inventor knew of the accident and when he telephoned the life-saving station of the affair, the news quickly spread about town. A reporter of the Advocate hastened to the water front and all the information he was able to obtain was that the venturesome air-pilot made an ascension in the early hours of the morning. That the machine worked well until it was about 5,000 feet in the air. While soaring above the clouds which hung over the bay like a pall, only occasional drifts making it possible to see the plane, one of the engine braces broke, causing the engine to tilt, thus throwing the machine out of balance and causing to plunge swiftly to the water.

This was the first report, but later our reporter learned from several men who were on their way to work, that it seemed as though Hallam went out for an altitude record. The plane left the water like a bird and swiftly wended its way to the ethereal zone, where the aviator proceeded to emulate all the capers cut by well known followers of the craft. He looped the loop, cut figure eights, flew head downward, reversed the engine and skirted along backward--a feat never before attempted by any air-man. Those who saw him say the sight was entrancing--such variations of travel, such daring swoop from cloud to near the surface of the water never having been attempted. Like an eagle soring over the mountain tops in all his majesty, so did Hallam perform. It seemed as though the machine was possessed of human attributes. Obeying the slightest touch of the steering wheel, it cavorted about like a snake, and again soaring to the clouds, and anon shooting downward as though determined to allow the cool waters of the bay to encompass it.

But the pleasure of the daring man was short-lived. Without warning a brace snapped, and in an incredibly short time that which was so shortly endowed with life was a piece of clay, having found its last resting place on the ground at the bottom of the Sound.

But little is known of the antecedents of Mr. Hallam. By some it has been said that he came from a prominent Southern family; others claim that he was an itinerant umbrella tinker, and still others claim he was the son of a prominent New York banker. Be these reports as they may, the fact remains that he was an intrepid man, fearing nothing, and met his fate as a result of furthering science.