Northwest History. Alaska. Aviation Crashes & Wreckage Missing Planes.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1930
• Subjects: Rev. Father Philip J. Delon S. J.; Father Michael Walsh; Ralph Wien; Marquette Wreck; Gonzaga university; Kotzebue mission; Alaska aviator; France; native; DeSmet; Idaho; Tekoa; Missonia; Mont.; Jesuit missions; California; New York; municipal airport; Holy Cross; Yukon river; Roosevelt field; the Coast; San Francisco; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Alaska; Delon; Pacific; Yukon; Nome
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/89963

Mission Plane Crash Kills Three: Ex-Spokane Priest Dies In Alaskan Tragedy./Here In August./The Rev. Father Philip J. Delon S. J., Once On Gonzaga Staff./Feltes Is Safe./Father Michael Walsh And Ralph Wien, Pilot, Also Victims In Marguette Wreck. Ex-Spokane Priest Dies in Alaskan Tragedy. Here In August. The Rev. Father Philip J. Delon S. J., Once on Gonzaga Staff. Feltes Is Safe. Father Michael Walsh and Ralph Wien, Pilot, Also Victims in Marquette Wreck. The Rev. Father Philip J. Delon, S. J., former instructor in mathematics at Gonzaga univerity, was instantly killed Sunday at Kotzebue, Alaska, when the mission plane Marquette crashed. Father William F. Walsh of the Kotzebue mission and Ralph Wien, noted Alaska aviator, piloting the plane also met instant death. The tragic accident came to tThe Spokesman-Review in an Associated Press dispatch from Kotzebue, 200 miles north of Nome on Kotzebue sound. Pilot Wien had made a test flight before taking up the two priests. The crash came while the plane was circling the field. Spectators said the motor of the plane seemd to stall and the ship dived to the ground, burying the nose of the plane in the frozen earth. Brother George J. Feltes, S. J., a former engineer at St. Michael's acholasticate, copilot of the plane, was not aboard. Father Delon was well known in this city. A native of France, he came to this country in 1891 and for a time was in charge of the mission at DeSmet, Idaho, about 12 miles north of Tekoa. Later he was instructor in mathematics at Gongaga for about 12 years. He left there for California, but shortly afterward went to Missoula, Mont., where he was pastour four or five years. With Ship Here. Father Delon had been superior of the Jesuit missions in Alaska since about 1914. He was in the States about two months during the summer and joined the Marquette party shortly before the ship was here August 21. The plane, an eight-passenger Bellanca, was equipped with a Diesel engine. It was piloted here from New York by way of California by Brother Feltes. Because it was the first of its kinds to visit this city, it was a center of interest for aviators at the municipal airport. Gift of Marquette League. The Marguettee was donated by the Marquette league and was to be used by Jesuit priests in visiting their missions in the interior of Alaska. It had only recently reached Alaska and was to have been stationed at Holy Cross, 300 miles up the Yukon river from Kotzebue. Before starting on its long flight the ship was christened at Roosevelt field, New York, by the Rt. Rev. Joseph R. Crimont, bishop of Alaska. Father Walsh has not a Jeasuit, it was stated at St. Michael's but was well known on the Coast, having been at San Francisco.