R. Frederick Dayton, 29, farmer, died saving William Kilpatrick, 33, farmer, from suffocation, Viking, Alberta, May 8, 1912. Six hours after having burnt kerosene?soaked chips in a well, Kilpatrick descended to make repairs. After he had worked 15 minutes, he was overcome and fell to the bottom, where he lay in water about 24 inches deep. A man at the surface summoned Dayton, who ran 900 feet, partly over plowed land, to the scene. Dayton knew of the chips and oil having been burned in the well and remarked about Kilpatrick having entered the well under the circumstances. He had himself lowered into the well with a rope around his leg although he had suffered from grippe for several days. His wife and the man who had summoned him were the only persons at hand to render assistance. Dayton tied a rope securely around Kilpatrick, and the man at the top began to hoist him. Having been in the well three minutes, Dayton called somewhat excitedly to be drawn up. Those at the surface intended to hoist Dayton first, but in their excitement they hoisted Kilpatrick first. When they were hoisting Dayton, the rope slipped off his leg, and he fell to the bottom. He was dead when taken from the well several hours later. Kilpatrick revived. 9402-823
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9402-823Obituary
R. Frederick Dayton, 29, of Minburn, Alta., died on May 8, 1912, after being lowered into a well to help a 33-year-old farmer who was in danger of suffocation in Viking, Alta.
Dayton, a farmer, was born on Dec. 1, 1882, to Lemuel and Clara (McPherson) Dayton. In October 1913, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission posthumously awarded him the Carnegie Medal.
Dayton was buried at Viking Cemetery in Viking.
(Edited from information provided by the family.)