McDames Creek, July 16. (Special to The Star) - While taking off from
McDames Creek, scene of the recent gold strike, on Saturday last, Capt. W. Strong's Fokker amphibian plane failed to gain altitude, with disastrous results to party and plane. The plane ploughed a hundred yards through the timber bordering the lake to crash in a swamp lying between two bodies of water.
The machine was totally demolished. Howard McDonald, pilot, received a fractured pelvis, ribs and the side of his face and cheek bone were smashed, with a possibility of internal injuries.
Ray Arnold, mechanic, suffered extreme face wounds and a possible fractured leg. Lynch Callison, a passenger, suffered a fractured arm and nose, and is suffering from shock. C. Cushwa, mining engineer, received a shoulder injury and fractured ribs. Although badly shaken up and cut, and with a leg probably fractured, Mechanic Ray Arnold made a gallant effort to remove the injured from the plane in order to make them as comfortable as possible until help arrived.
Joe Jackson, the "Millionaire Kid," well known miner of the Dease River
district, was an eye witness of the crash, taking movies and "stills" until the plane struck the timber, when he dropped his camera and jumped into McDames Creek and attempted to swim to the aid of the injured. He was swept rapidly down stream by the swift current for a half-mile, suffering five broken ribs when he was hurled against a stump.
New laurels were gained by the famous Northern pilot, Everett Wasson.
Less than two hours after receiving word in Carcross that the amphibian had crashed, he landed at Whitehorse, picked up Dr. A. C. Duncan, and was on his way to the scene of the disaster, the time being approximately 10:40 a.m. Monday. He returned with the first load of injured at 6 a.m. the following morning and left immediately to bring in the second load at 10:30 a.m. of the same day after less than four hours sleep between the two flights.
Latest advices from the Whitehorse General Hospital report all patients
resting easily and recovering from the harrowing experience as well as can be expected.
