Advertisement

Helen Elizabeth Haggart

Advertisement

Helen Elizabeth Haggart

Birth
Saint Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, USA
Death
18 Oct 1919 (aged 22)
Saint Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, USA
Burial
Saint Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, USA Add to Map
Plot
196
Memorial ID
View Source
Unmarried died in an aircraft accident October 1919 St Paul, Howard Co, Nebraska

Two Killed When a Plane Crashes Down in St. Paul – Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Attorney J. A. Haggart of St. Paul, and Lieut. Wright, in charge of the control station at St. Paul, are dead and Rex Randall of Gibbon, a pilot, is severely injured as a result of an aeroplane crash near the aviation field north of St. Paul last Thursday evening. Miss Haggart died early Saturday morning. Lieut. Wright was killed instantly. The plane fell a distance of ninety feet in the field just east of the control station. Just what cause the plane to fall is not known. County Judge Scott, who was in St. Paul, Saturday, said the machine was probably damaged beyond repair. The machine belonged to Gibbon business men and was assembled in Grand Island just five days before the accident occurred. – Greeley Citizen
Wolbach Messenger, Wolbach, Nebraska, Thursday, October 23, 1919

From the St. Paul, Nebraska Phonograph October 23, 1919, page 1:

Two Meet Death in Airplane Flight --
Lieutenant Cameron Wright, attached as commander of the control stop in this city in the transcontinental airplane endurance test, and Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Haggart, were killed in an airplane accident Friday afternoon at about 3:30, when the 150 hp Oreole airplane owned by the Gibbon aero company took a nose spin and struck the ground about one mile east of the landing field.....Miss Haggart expired at 3:30 Saturday morning and never gained consciousness.....Miss Haggart had remarked to a number of her lady friends that she would like to take a trip into the air, the remark was inspired by the passage of the plane in which she met her death an hour later....(much more about the rescue efforts, etc.)

Obituary -
As stated elsewhere in this issue, Miss Helen Haggart took a ride in an airplane last Friday afternoon and in some manner unknown to any one, the plane fell to the ground and the result was Miss Haggart was so severely injured that she died at 3:30 Saturday morning, having never regained consciousness.

Helen Haggart was born in this city on August 20th, 1897, being at the time of her death a trifle over 22 years of age. She resided here almost all of her life. The only time she was absent from home was one year, which she spent at the state university after graduating from the local high school. She also attended the local college for a time.

Miss Haggart was a fine young girl. She was well liked by all her associates, and her friends were measured by the number of her acquaintances. Her tragic death was a shock to them and to the entire community. It is almost beyond belief that a young lady such as she, strong, healthy, in the very bloom of life, could pass away in such an incredibly short time. Since finishing her schoolwork she has been assisting her father in his law and abstract office and he feels her loss very keenly as she was with him constantly each day. Helen Haggart will be long remembered as one of the fairest young ladies of our city, and her death will be universaly mourned.

She was the first lady in the state to pay the supreme price in an airplane smash-up. There have been a number of men who were killed by falling planes, but this is the fist time on record where a woman, passenger or pilot, has met death.

Miss Helen was not only a member of the Presbyterian church, but she was an active, aggressive Christian worker. Also her enthusiasm for doing good lead her to enlist in many of the best civic and religious bodies, especially in the work of the Red Cross.

She leaves to mourn her sudden and untimely death her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Haggart, three sisters, Ethel, Clarice and Fannie, and three brothers, Fred, Ralph and Virgil, all of whom were here to attend the funeral.

The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon at 2:00, Rev. C. A. Kircher, assisted by Rev. Long, having charge of the services. The large church was crowded to the limit by friends and sympathizers who were there to attest to the high esteem in which she was held. It was a sad funeral when one considered the fact that this young lady, just in the prime of life, should lose her life in the manner she did. After the services were concluded the remains were conveyed to Elmwood cemetery wehre they were laid to rest.

The Phonograph desires to extend sympathy to the bereaved family in their sudden and dark sorrow. May they be given the required strength to bear their loss.


Fatal Accident at St. Paul --

That flying is a very dangerous pastime was demonstrated to the people of St. Paul in a dramatic and pathetic manner last Friday.

When the field was established at St. Paul, Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arch Haggart volunteered her services to assist in the work at the canteen, and of course she became much interested in aviation.

The field was in charge of Lieut Cameron Wright, who was a great favorite with the flyers as well as with the local people.

Last Friday, Rex Rendall of Gibbon bought an aeroplane at Grand Island and flew up to St. Paul. Lieutenant Wright asked Miss Haggart to go with him for a spin in the new plane. She consented and the flight began. They had flown nearly a mile but had reached a height of only about 250 feet when the plane made a sudden turn and shot to the ground. Wright was killed instantly. Miss Haggart was terribly mangled but lived until the next morning at 3:30 when she passed away.

The Palmer Journal, October 23, 1919, page 4, transcribed by Linda Berney


Grand Island Daily Independent Monday 3 Nov 1919 p. 4
Miss Helen Haggard (sic) of St. Paul who succumbed as the result of injuries received in an airplane accident in that city, is the first woman in Nebraska to meet death while flying.
Unmarried died in an aircraft accident October 1919 St Paul, Howard Co, Nebraska

Two Killed When a Plane Crashes Down in St. Paul – Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Attorney J. A. Haggart of St. Paul, and Lieut. Wright, in charge of the control station at St. Paul, are dead and Rex Randall of Gibbon, a pilot, is severely injured as a result of an aeroplane crash near the aviation field north of St. Paul last Thursday evening. Miss Haggart died early Saturday morning. Lieut. Wright was killed instantly. The plane fell a distance of ninety feet in the field just east of the control station. Just what cause the plane to fall is not known. County Judge Scott, who was in St. Paul, Saturday, said the machine was probably damaged beyond repair. The machine belonged to Gibbon business men and was assembled in Grand Island just five days before the accident occurred. – Greeley Citizen
Wolbach Messenger, Wolbach, Nebraska, Thursday, October 23, 1919

From the St. Paul, Nebraska Phonograph October 23, 1919, page 1:

Two Meet Death in Airplane Flight --
Lieutenant Cameron Wright, attached as commander of the control stop in this city in the transcontinental airplane endurance test, and Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Haggart, were killed in an airplane accident Friday afternoon at about 3:30, when the 150 hp Oreole airplane owned by the Gibbon aero company took a nose spin and struck the ground about one mile east of the landing field.....Miss Haggart expired at 3:30 Saturday morning and never gained consciousness.....Miss Haggart had remarked to a number of her lady friends that she would like to take a trip into the air, the remark was inspired by the passage of the plane in which she met her death an hour later....(much more about the rescue efforts, etc.)

Obituary -
As stated elsewhere in this issue, Miss Helen Haggart took a ride in an airplane last Friday afternoon and in some manner unknown to any one, the plane fell to the ground and the result was Miss Haggart was so severely injured that she died at 3:30 Saturday morning, having never regained consciousness.

Helen Haggart was born in this city on August 20th, 1897, being at the time of her death a trifle over 22 years of age. She resided here almost all of her life. The only time she was absent from home was one year, which she spent at the state university after graduating from the local high school. She also attended the local college for a time.

Miss Haggart was a fine young girl. She was well liked by all her associates, and her friends were measured by the number of her acquaintances. Her tragic death was a shock to them and to the entire community. It is almost beyond belief that a young lady such as she, strong, healthy, in the very bloom of life, could pass away in such an incredibly short time. Since finishing her schoolwork she has been assisting her father in his law and abstract office and he feels her loss very keenly as she was with him constantly each day. Helen Haggart will be long remembered as one of the fairest young ladies of our city, and her death will be universaly mourned.

She was the first lady in the state to pay the supreme price in an airplane smash-up. There have been a number of men who were killed by falling planes, but this is the fist time on record where a woman, passenger or pilot, has met death.

Miss Helen was not only a member of the Presbyterian church, but she was an active, aggressive Christian worker. Also her enthusiasm for doing good lead her to enlist in many of the best civic and religious bodies, especially in the work of the Red Cross.

She leaves to mourn her sudden and untimely death her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Haggart, three sisters, Ethel, Clarice and Fannie, and three brothers, Fred, Ralph and Virgil, all of whom were here to attend the funeral.

The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon at 2:00, Rev. C. A. Kircher, assisted by Rev. Long, having charge of the services. The large church was crowded to the limit by friends and sympathizers who were there to attest to the high esteem in which she was held. It was a sad funeral when one considered the fact that this young lady, just in the prime of life, should lose her life in the manner she did. After the services were concluded the remains were conveyed to Elmwood cemetery wehre they were laid to rest.

The Phonograph desires to extend sympathy to the bereaved family in their sudden and dark sorrow. May they be given the required strength to bear their loss.


Fatal Accident at St. Paul --

That flying is a very dangerous pastime was demonstrated to the people of St. Paul in a dramatic and pathetic manner last Friday.

When the field was established at St. Paul, Miss Helen Haggart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arch Haggart volunteered her services to assist in the work at the canteen, and of course she became much interested in aviation.

The field was in charge of Lieut Cameron Wright, who was a great favorite with the flyers as well as with the local people.

Last Friday, Rex Rendall of Gibbon bought an aeroplane at Grand Island and flew up to St. Paul. Lieutenant Wright asked Miss Haggart to go with him for a spin in the new plane. She consented and the flight began. They had flown nearly a mile but had reached a height of only about 250 feet when the plane made a sudden turn and shot to the ground. Wright was killed instantly. Miss Haggart was terribly mangled but lived until the next morning at 3:30 when she passed away.

The Palmer Journal, October 23, 1919, page 4, transcribed by Linda Berney


Grand Island Daily Independent Monday 3 Nov 1919 p. 4
Miss Helen Haggard (sic) of St. Paul who succumbed as the result of injuries received in an airplane accident in that city, is the first woman in Nebraska to meet death while flying.


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement