The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1921-07-20
w. A. Keddie and J. A.
Frost Killed in Plane Fall
Fall of 100 Feet Eko Aviation Field Resulted in Instant
Death to Popular Fallon Business Man and his
Pilot--Mr. keddes Remains Buried Yesterday

W iAtaAhA ~ tAia 1AtQdACf ca
state senator from this county and a
resident of this city from whence he
directed the widespread business ac-
tivities of the Williams Estate Com
pany of which he was president and
general manager. and his aviator.
John Austin Frost, an Ely young
man who only recently completed
his studies at the Nevada State Uni
versity, we're instantly killed at the
Elko aviation field Sunday evening
when the two were attempting to
take the air in a new aeroplane
plane recently purchased and assem-
bled by Senator Keddie's direction.
The fall to the ground was from
a height of 100 feet and the impact
was quickly followed by a conflag-
ration which destroyed the plane and
badly burned the men pinned under
meath.
Word Reached Falion Quickly
Word of the tragedy reached Fal-
Ion through the Associated Press
within few minutes following. It's
receipt here was followed by gener.
al expressions of sorrow over the un-
happy passing of popular and bril-
liant man and sympathy for the sur
viving members of his family.
1t is said that Mr.. keddie recently
bought the parts for a Lincoln plane
and superintended their assembling
at the Elk field. He proposed using
the aeroplane between the ranches
belonging to his company. 1t had
been his practice to effect transit
for the past year between widely
scattered land and stock holdings by
means of the air and he had come
to be an enthusiastic aviator Dur
ing late months he varied with his
pilots in driving through the clouds
and replying to an admonition put
forward by friend in this city he
said:
Il know air travel is dangerous.
yet 1t forms my single recreation.
spend long hours daily in superin-
tending my company's business and
flights to and from ranches consti-
tute my only diversion.
Following the assembling Of the
new plane. Mr. Keddie named
the ship, Miss Nevada" and en-
gagged in several flights to test its
stability. Its airworthiness had been
seemingly proven in advance of the
attempted flight Sunday evening.
Described by Eye Witnesses
Reports by eye witnesses of the
tragedy at Elko assert that the plane
took off in the usual manner and
that Pilot Frost attempted to bank
the machine to the right when a
height of about 100 feet had been
reached. The plane went out of con
troll Immediately and dived to the
ground, the gas tank exploding and
bursting into flames with the impact
1t is said that the pilot was still alive
when he hit the ground and could be
seen waving his arms but the heat
from the burning plane was so in
tense that the bystanders could not
render aid Mr. Keddie was found
lying with his feet underneath the
gas tank and his back TO the landing
gear. Pilot Frost was few feet
from the motor with his right arm
wrapped around the stump of a sage
brush. The machine was totally de-
molished.
Plane Built at Elko
The plane was assembled at Elko
by Chick Thomas, we'll known Fal-
Ion man who is in the employ of the
Williams Estate Company as me-
chanic. The motor was furnished
by Mr.. Keddie and the wings and
fusilage by ]. F. Snelson, of Elko
The machine had made four flights
and performed we'll The second
flight was featured by a number Of
stunts by the pilot in charge The
plane was ehristened on last We'd
nesday by Mayor Hesson. Of Elko.
in the presence of a large crowd Of
Elko residents.
Believe Wing Gave Way
Mr.. Keddie had flown in the ma
chine on two business trips. The
fifth and fatal trip Sunday was
planned that he might go to the
Williams Estate Ranch on Gold
Greek. A stiff breeze was blowing
when the men left the field and Elko
people are of the opinion that one of
the wings of the machine gave way
while the bank was being made Mr.
Keddie's watch, picked up after the
accident, was running and gave the
time as GIG o'clock
Hon. William Arthur Keddie
Mr. Keddie was Al years of age
and was known to many people as
art" He was lovable to his friends
and approachable by all and the I'M
usual measure of business success
which came to him as a result Of un-
firing effort and extraordinary abil-
ity never turned his head. He
worked to purpose and always held
the rights of others in high regard.
and in return he was held in high es-
TEEN by all who knew him
His entire life was spent in Plu-
mas county, Calf. where he grew II
manhood, and in this county where
he located following his graduation
from the Nevada state university.
He held a responsible engineering
position with the reclamation SER
vice UP to the time of his marriage
to Ada B. Williams. eldest daughter
80 A. - w ~ Ny;flfop,c - fo4a