The Topeka state journal., 1919-10-27
VIII Arrest Slayers of Two U. S.
AviatOrs in Mexico.
murdererS of Lieuts. Connolly
and WaterhOuse Are Known.
LOWER CALIFORNIA GIVES AID
Inflated Airmen's Sufferings
Too Tragic To Print.
Scratched Messages on Plane
Bodies Brought Back to U. s.

San Diego, Cal, Oct 27-Plans
were put in operation today in Lower
California, Mexico, as well as at
washington looking to the arrest of
the two Mexican fishermen accused of
numbering Lieuts. Cecil H. Connolly
and Frederick Waterhouse, American
aViators, who flew into Mexico August
p, and subsequently lost their lives.
Know Flyers Slaycrs.
The identity of the accused men is
known both to Mexican and American
officials, it was announced officially
last night when the aviators' bodies
were brought here on the destroyer
Aaron Ward, after resting some days
in shallow graves near Bahia Los An
geles, Lower California, and. because
of the friendly relations existing be-
tween the American government and
Governor Esteban Cantu, Lower Cali
fornia, comparatively little difficulty
was anticipated in apprehending them
The aViators' records of their SUI
ferings scratched on the wings ana
fusilage of their plane, had not been
given out in full by army officers to-
day. Their nature was such that re-
quests were made of the press that
descriptions of them be not published
out of consideration for the dead Of
ficcrs' families. Brief descriptions OIL
now they lost their way III d ram
storm and of some of their efforts TO
catch fish for food and to reach sate-
ty, however, were given out. From
Joe Allen Richards. a mining engineer
who first reported discovery of the
bodies. copies of their last messages
to their mothers were obained-
Fntc stayed With Them.
Mai. r. s. Bratton, head of the mil
itary relief party, said that the TWO
aviators had gone nineteen days with
out food or at least without mucn 10
sustain them. The fate that drew
them from the air path remained with
them until the very last. Mai Theo-
dore MacAuley, in one of his flights 10
find them, flew within sixty miles OF
the spot where they stood guarding
their plane. Later. on the afternoon
of September 6. they were landed from
Il canoe on the SPORES OF Bahla Los
Angeles by the same fishermen VINO
are accused of having killed them 1lve
days later. and at that time were ohly
twelve miles from Los Flores silver
mine. where they might have received
protection and food.
one of their MESA ges. scratched on
the airplane fusilaGe, with khiIe or
nail. gave details of how the aVlators
lost their way. The message said they
remained in the air four hours ana
five minutes; that they ran INTO q ram
storm and lost their sense or dlrectlon-
When they sighted the Gulf OF CALI
fornia. they thought they were flying
M the coast. instead OF southwaro
along the east coast of the Gulf OF
California.
Drank Water From radiator.
Another message traced on the
wings and fusilaEe, told how, when
their supply of. water became exhaust
ed they drank the water from the
radiator of their plane. This proved
sufficient to allay their thirst up 10
the time they we're taken TO bahla lsl,,oos nos
the plane landed by the flsnermen-
The party which left San Diego on
october 16 included besides MAJOR
Rratton. who is attached to the 25th
infantrv at Nogales. Ariz., two other
army officers and several officers ana
soldiers of the northern district OF
lower California, and Joe Allen Rich
ards miping engineer VINO IiFsI re-
ported finding the bodies.
Full. Military HOnOrs To Dead.
ruu military honors were accorded
tho airmen as the caskets, draped
With the Stars and Stripes, were car
ried from the deck of the destroyer
to the municipal pier. Parents OF
both Waterhouse and ConneHy were
at the dock to meet the destroyer
when she docked. The body of Wa
terhouse will be shipped to Weiser
today for interment. Conneily VIII
be buried with military honors IN the
most cemetery on Point Iona, Tues
Three brother airmen flew over
head in battle formation while the
Aaron Ward steamed up the bay:
Joe Allen Richards, member of the
searching party, gave out what ne
said were copies of letters scratched
by Lieutenants Connolly and Water
house on their airplane. That written
by Connolly read in part:
Dearest Mother-My time to die
is here God knows it will be well
come enough after our suffering
from hunger and thirst. Try to for
get my fate What 1 have is yours
Use it for your comfort and happi-
ness I tried to live a good life and
do not fear death. Please do not
wear mourning for me.
Love to you, Dad, Nora, Hazel
and Ethel.
God bless you all. CECIL
The following Is Richards's copy OF
Lieutenant Warehouses; note to his
mother:
Dearest Mother-We have been
here now ten days. No signs of any
help and our water nearly gone, so
1 thought would write a short let
ter while 1 had the strength.
don't want you to grieve for me. 1
want you to have everything which
is not much. All my love to you
nd Dad