Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-07-23
CLEO MILLER KILLED
WHEN SEAPLANE FALLS
Continued from first page)

existed" and Pullman never had a
more promising citizen, are tributes
which came from hundreds of lips
when news of the fatal accident be-
came general. He was man of
sterling qualities, honest, industrious
and conscientious. 1t is doubtful if
young man could be found who is
held in higher esteem by his asso-
ciates and acquaintance than was
Cleo Miller.
Ensign Miller was prominent
member of Maynard-Price post of
the American Legion, and had just
closed a successful term as adjutant
of the post when the fatal accident
befell him.
The tragic death of the Pullman
man cast pail of gloom over the
entire community. Old-timers who
had known Miller since he was
child in arms and have watched his
development into a highly desirable
citizen, mourn his death as keenly
almost as if he were their SON. He
was associated with his brothe~,
Earl c. Miller, in Millers' Jewelry
Store, the pioneer jewelry establish
ment of the city, which was found
ed by the father, now deceased,
many years ago. At the outbreak of
the war the two young men closed
the doors of the business and gave
their services to their country, re
opening the store upon their dis
charge.
Ensign Miller entered the service
of his country on August IA, 1917,
as a member of the Spokane Naval
Band. He was assigned to the U.
S. S. st. Louis and made several trips
across the ocean with Uncle Sam S
troops, later transferring to the
naval aviation corps, in which he re-
ceived his first training at the avia-
ton school of the Massachusetts In
stitute of Technology. He also
trained at Key West and Pensacola,
Florida, and at the completion of his
training was assigned to convoy duty
on the st. Louis, attaining the rank
of ensign aviation. He attained
high degree of proficiency as an avi-
ator and upon his discharge from the
service in May of 1919 had 100 hours
of actual flying to his credit.
A few months ago Ensign Miller,
with George A. Tozer, purchased
Curtiss airplane from the Russell
company in Spokane, for the purpose
of making commercial flights The
machine was damaged by wind while
landing in the George McCroskey
field near Pullman and was shipped
to Spokane for repairs. While wait
ing for the repairs Mr.. Miller &C
copied a contract as pilot on the
seaplane, which was operated on a
commercial basis by a corporation
OF Occur d'Alene and Spokane men.
The fatal flight of last Sunday was
the third for that day.
Deceased was a member of Sigma
NJ fraternity of the State College,
and a prominent member of Whit
man Lodge No. 40, F. & A. NJ. He
is survived by his mother, Mrs. L.
B. Miller, one brother, Earl c. Mil
Ter, and a sister, Mrs. H. II. Haskell
Funeral services for Ensign Miller
were held Tuesday afternoon from
the family home on High street.
Services at the residence were con-
Quoted by the Rev. c. N. Curtis of
the Federated churches, while at the
grave the services were in charge of
whitman Lodge No. 40, F. & A. NJ,
and Maynard-Price post of the Amer
lean Legion. The pail bearers were
young men who are both Legion men
and Masons. and all of whom were
born in this vicinity and raised with
the victim of the tragedy. All or
the pail bearers were in service uni
form. They were Reade NJ. Young.
Robert Moss. owen McCroskey, Har-
old Henry, Ernest Henry and Glenn
Glover.
The funeral cortage was one OF
the largest in the history of the city
and was headed by a firing squad
from the Legion post. followed by A
large group of service men and Ma
sons. Over 80 automobiles were In