The people of this community were deeply shocked yesterday morning to hear of the death by accident of Lieut. Wellington W. Smith of this place, while instructing in aviation at Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois. No details have been received up to time of going to press, simply a telegram stating he had been killed accidentally while instructing a cadet at 5 o'clock the evening before. There being no night office here the telegram was sent to his brother, Dr. F. L. Smith in Chicago. Dr. Smith at once started for Paw Paw accompanied by his wife and her mother, Mrs. S. E. Smith, arriving here about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, bringing the sad news to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Smith.

In the death of Lieut. Smith the horrors of war are brought home for the first time, he being the first one of the home boys to meet death. It comes as a hard blow as no doubt others will come from time to time as long as the war lasts. Lieut. Smith had made fine progress in his work and on receiving his commission, instead of being sent to France, which he much desired, his ability as an aviator being recognized by his superiors, he was held in this country and made an instructor at Scott Field. Lieut. Smith had a promising future. He was a fine, clean young man and admired by all for his manliness. His loss is deeply felt by all as well as his immediate relatives. Further details next week.

This entire community was saddened and deeply grieved on last Wednesday morning when it became known that Lieut. Wellington Smith had been killed in the service. Wellington was greatly admired by all his friends (and they were legions.) He was a young man with high ideals and saw only the good in his fellow men. When he told us less than a year ago that he felt he must do something for his country, we felt proud of him but sorry to see him go. We well knew he would make a name for himself and that those that came in contact with would be better for knowing him, but little did we think this bright young man scarcely in the prime of youth would be cut down so soon. We think sacrifices such as his can only be compared to that supreme sacrifice on Calvary, for what more could he have done than to lay down his life for us. The family have the sympathy of each and every one of us in this hour of their great loss.

"While the casket bearing the body of Lieut. W. W. Smith of Paw Paw, Ill., rested on the platform of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot at Belleville at 7 o'clock last night, surrounded by hundreds of his fighting brothers, an army plane glided into sight from Scott Field, and circling "bombed" the casket with roses.

Lieut. Smith was killed at the field Tuesday when his plane made a nose glide of 500 feet, crashing to the earth. Lieut. Kern of Newark, N. J., who was in the plane with Lieut. Smith, was critically injured. A few minutes before the arrival of the train the buzz and whirring of an airplane motor was heard in the sky above. Huge bouquets of beautiful blossoms dropped, one after another, about the casket, which was surrounded by an honor cordon of officers and men from the flying field. The hundreds of persons who had gathered to pay tribute to the dead aviator stood with bared head and tearful eyes, and witnessed the impressive scene. The "bombs" were dropped by H. C. Cook, a comrade of the dead lieutenant. It was said at the field last night that Lieut. Kern was still in serious condition, but that he probably would recover."

Taken from the St. Louis Globe Democrat

The following letter from the commanding officer at Scott Field explains the accident as definitely as possible.

War Department Scott Field
Belleville, Illinois
May 7, 1918.
My Dear Mr. Smith:

I regret to inform you that your son, 2nd Lieut. William W. Smith, Sig. R. C., A. S., met his death as a result of an Airplane accident about one-half mile from this field at 5:00 p.m. this date. The exact cause of the accident at the present time is unknown; but the most creditable eye witness examined at the point of writing states it looked as though the pilot attempted to loop but did not get over the high point and came down in a tail slide, which resulted in a nose dive, machine striking ground with terrific force. The Airplane in question was a Curtiss JN 4 Dual Control Machine and your son was in the front seat, 2nd Lieut. Frederick M. Kern, Sig. R. C. A. S. being the other occupant, who was slightly injured. He is at present suffering from the shock, and it is impossible to get coherent details of the accident from him.

Please accept my sincerest sympathy in this your hour of greatest sorrow. I trust, however, that you and you family will find comfort in the fact that your son died in the line of duty, and that his sacrifice is as great as though he met his death over the battle line of France. If there is anything I can do, please command me.

Very respectfully yours,
John B. Brooks
Major J. M. A., S. C.