Morse aeroplane capsized (LOC)

    Bain News Service,, publisher.

    Morse aeroplane capsized

    [between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915]

    1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.

    Notes:
     Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards.
    Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).

    Format: Glass negatives.

    Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.

    Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

    General information about the Bain Collection is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.ggbain

    Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.19546

    Call Number: LC-B2- 3547-8

    Comments and faves

    1. ★

      georgia n california and Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) added this photo to their favorites.

    2. B-59 (3 weeks ago | reply)

      This must be a seaplane built by the firm Thomas-Morse (PS: but it's not, see below)
      www.aviation-history.com/thomas/scout.html

    3. artolog (3 weeks ago | reply)

      Cropped version here:
      Wrecked Morse aero-boat (LOC)

    4. Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) (3 weeks ago | reply)

      The Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer, until it was taken over by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in 1929.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas-Morse_Aircraft

    5. artolog (3 weeks ago | reply)

      I'm certain the location of this shot is the Hudson River, at about 131st Street. Conron Bros. Poultry Co. had a Manhattanville cold storage plant at 131st and 12th Avenue. The tall building at left is probably part of that.
      books.google.com/books?id=Tp9OAAAAYAAJ&dq =conron%20br...
      In the background, with the spectators on the roadway watching the recovery, is the Riverside Drive Viaduct, running above 12th Avenue in West Harlem between 120th St. (St. Clair Place) and 134th Street, and built in 1900. To the far right of what can be seen of the viaduct is the wider steel sheathing under the roadway that marks the 125th Street arch, the especially wide arch needed to span that intersection at 12th Avenue.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_Drive_Viaduct
      September 2011 Google Street View from the Henry Hudson Parkway
      maps.google.com/maps?q=brook+avenue,+nyc+map& hl=en&am...

      This site is now West Harlem Piers Park.
      Here is an undated photo showing the now-demolished piers along this stretch of the Hudson, along with river ferries. The Conron Bros. building is in the center of the photo in front of the huge storage tank.
      c1038.r38.cf3.rackcdn.com/group1/building3963 /media/fig7a...

    6. Eric K. Washington (3 weeks ago | reply)

      Wow, terrific! I've never seen this shot, and knew nothing about the Morse plane. It's most definitely along the Manhattanville docks. Thanks for the heads-up!

    7. artolog (3 weeks ago | reply)

      Finally found some news accounts. This was not a Morse airplane, but an airplane carrying a Morse, Erwin A. Morse, son of Charles W. Morse, New York financier and shipbuilder. Edwin Morse intended to start air service between Albany and New York at the 132d Street Pier. On the first day of service, July 11, 1915, he and his pilot hit a log or railroad tie floating in the North/Hudson River, and the plane flipped over. Neither was seriously hurt.
      The New York Tribune ran a flippant account, accompanied by a picture of the wreckage being towed to the dock by a rowboat. The "flying boat" was made by The Wright Co. in Dayton, Ohio, for the Hudson=Wright Aero Company.
      chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/19 15-07-12/ed-...
      The company had also announced in June that their flying school was opening at the 132d street pier.
      books.google.com/books?id=st1LAAAAYAAJ&lp g=PA566&...

      Here is the account from the New York Evening Telegram:
      "AEROPLANE UPSETS IN
      RIVER: TWO RESCUED
      -••-
      Erwin A. Morse and A. B. Gaines Have Narrow Escapes When Machine Strikes Log and Turns Turtle on First Albany to New York Passenger Trip.

      In the sight of thousands of persons along the North River to-day, a hydro-aeroplane In which were A. B. Gaines and Erwin A. Morse," son of Charles W. Morse, was disabled and turned turtle In the middle of the stream. Both men were rescued by boats which put out quickly
      from the shore, and the machine, which did not sink, was towed in to a pier.
      The accident marred what was intended to be the inauguration of a regular hydroaeroplane passenger service between this city and Albany. Mr. Morse, who is manager of the
      Hudson Navigation Company, is interested in the new project and went in the aero-plane as a passenger. The machine was piloted by Mr. Gaines. They intended to fly to Albany and left the hangar at the foot of West 132d street at eight o'clock.
      Mr. Gaines had previously made a short flight to test the machine and had found
      everything all right. When he left the water for the long flight the pilot sent the
      machine up about thirty feet, then started off at a sixty mile an hour speed. After
      going a short distance at this height, Mr. Gaines decided to come down within five or six feet of the water. In makingthe dip the bow of the hydroaeroplane struck a log. The keel of the machine was split and a wing broken and it immediately turned over in the water.

      Mr. Morse was thrown into the river and started to swim for shore, but Mr.Gaines clung to the wreckage. The machine was then about in the middle of tne river. Crowds that had gathered to watch the flight saw the accident and there was great excitement. Dozens of launches and
      rowboats from the yacht clubs along the shore put out to the rescue. A launch
      from a private yacht that was anchored well out in the stream was the first to
      reach the men and take them aboard. The victims of the mishap were landed
      at West 132d street and the machine was towed to a point a short distance away.
      Just at this time the steamboat Rensselaer, of the Hudson Navigation Company,came along on its trip from Albany and the two men got aboard and went down to pier No. 32, where Mr. Morse has living quarters.

      After a change of clothing the two men had breakfast. Mr. Morse took his experience
      as a minor mishap and said he would start again as soon as the machine was repaired."

      fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%206/New%20York%2 0NY%20Evenin...

    8. B-59 (2 weeks ago | reply)

      Good find, artolog, thanks!

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