New-York tribune., 1911-11-16
ADMITS SUICIDAL intent
Edqar W. Mix's Letter to Cap.
tain Tells Desire to End Life.
MENTAL DEPRESSION GREAT

MeN Al UefhcoSiOW onCH'
Sisters in Lynn, Mass, Refuse TO
Believe Aeronaut Dead and
Tell of Bitter Enemies.
Paris. Nov i5-No doubt is now enrr-
tanned that Edgar W. Mix. the American
engineer and aeronaut, committed suicide
by jumping from a mail boat during tho
passage from Dover TO Calais on Sunday
night Mr.. Mix's secretary. Pierre Habli-
zg arrived here tonight and had 10 he'i-
tation in identifying the handwriting Of
the letter addressed TO the captain OF the
steamer as .Mix's.
The text OF the letter is az follows:
st Ermin's Hotel. London. Nov. T., 1911
Dear Sir: please excuse me for troubling
YOU 10 have the letters I'm my oyercoat pocket
posted on arrival I'm Calais. They announce
10 interested ~qrties tho fact that on ac-
count of my great mental depression ana
the feeling that 7 am losing my mind
have jumped overheard from this steamer
since II left the English Coast on this trip,
and am undoubtedly drowned before YOU
see this letter
Please also send my ovorcoat to my ad-
dress iu Paris, No. l. Boulevard des In
valides Nv other baggage has neen
checked through 70 Paris and the baggage
check sent to my secretary. Pierre Ran
liZig. Yours very truly, +. W. MlN'
The two letters mentioned in the note to
the captain were duly posted as requested.
but tho captain has no recollection OF the
addresses. He believes that one OF the
letters was addressed to a firm Of lawyers
I'm London. and the other to some one In
New York
II was when tho steamer was little
moro than half way across the Channel
that the hoatswsin. in going the rounds
observed an overcoat lying on the AFTER
deck close to the steering gear. 1t was
placed I'm such a manner as 10 attract at
tention Going nearer. the boatswain per-
ceived a visiting card pinned TO the gar
ment Startled, ho hurried with the coat
TO the captain, who searched tue pochetS
and found. in addition to the letters men
toned. several photographs. The gang
nIank men closely scrutinized each pas
senger az hn landed at Calais. but no one
resembling the photographs went ashore
ynn Mass. Nov. i5-Not yet convinced
that their brother, Edgar ". Mix. vas
suicide. Mrs. Henry r French and Mrs.
Jessie Holder both Of this city. have caoied
to Paris asking for 2 full investigation.
Mrs. French to-day said: II am sure he
never committed suicide. He was not OF a
norose disposition or the type Of man VINO
v ould end his life. His business ana oa'-
Icon career have given him no cause TOT
worry. I can imagine nothing wnicA "ould
lead him TO such an act. have heard nm
saw frequently. however. that he had some
hitter enemies among foreign aeronauts.
The sisters said they had been I'm constant
communication with Mr.. Mix. and that ne
appeared TO be perfectly happy and IN good
spirits.
Boston Nov. 15.-Believing there was
foul play connected with Edgar w MIX
death. Henry r. French Of Lynn, Mr.. MIX
brother-in-law. to-day called the matter 70
the attention Of the state Department AZ
washington. He asks that the government
;nstit,te a thorough investigation OF the
case.
New York friends Of Edgar w. Mix re-
fused 10 admit Yesterday that it vas he VINO
committed suicide on Sunday night. They
,.otcad tho opinion that some impostor had
taken the fatal jump. assuming NJ. MIX
name for unknown reasons. and that the
aeronaut himself would shortly turn up
alive and we'll.
There IS a great deal OF mystery about
tho case" said Henry A. Wise Wood. a
governor of the Aero Club Of America
which Mix was TO have represented at the
International Aviation Federation In Rome
on November p. He was not i'll so far
a. his friends know and had no reason for
committing such an act.
cone serious aspect OF the case. n The
report is true. from the point OF view of
the Aero Club Is that he had in his pos
session all our original documents in the
dispute over the award Of the prize for the
Statue of Liberty fight .ast year. When a
thing ike this happens In France, you
know. they seal the rooms OF the man for
a certain length OF time, which would be
rather inconvenient for u II the papers
bappenod TO be inside. However. he may
have sent them on to Rome already. or his
secretary may nave them. We have cablcd
IN Hart O. Borg. our other delegate, to try
10 obtain them.
"G +. Campbell Wood. secretary TO the
board Of governors left on the kronprn-
zessir Cecilic yesterday with additional
facts in the dispute We informed him of
the matter last night by wireless. and he
has fulI authority to act IN Mr. Mixs
place
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