Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-14

Faris Of No. 8, Yorkville; Lieutenant
G. Watt Suggs of Camp Merritt, N. J..
and Mr.. A. M. Suggs of Spencer, N. c.
Lieutenant Nelson's letter follows:
by the time this letter reaches you
I suppose you will have heard Of the
sad news about Henry. In spite OF tho
censorship regulations will endeavor
to give you all the details Of the acci-
dent.
Saturday morning about 10 o'clock
Mig and Lieutenant Ryan left the
ground for an infantry liaison problem
near the field. They were In Liberty
motor. Several pilots and observers
were watching their ship during the
problem. In banking we noticed the
ship 60 into two short tail-spins, but
the pilot came out Of these all right.
Just about the time the problem end
ed they went into another tail-sptn
from which they never recovered. At
ter the crash the ship caught fire. They
fell approximately 1000 feet. Another
pilot and observer saw their ship going
down, so. they landed near them and
die. their best to save then Lieutenant
Reddington was able to Set Mig out,
but 1t was useless to save the pilot, be-
cause the crash probably killed him
instantly. Mig was rushed to the hos
pital at once in an ambulance. This
was about 1880 in the morning, and
he was in a semi-conscious state. l
went over to the hospital about one
o'clock, and he seemed to be resting as
easily as could be expected. He knew
me and I talked to him. said Mig ,
do you know me-. He replied: Sure,
asked him II there was anything l
could do for him, and he answered I:
Come over and see me every day. !
left him about 2 o'clock and returned
to camp. believing there was chance
for his recovery. The Great One above
though, saw fit to relieve him OF his
misery about 3:45 p. m. The nurse
told me he was the 'grittiest' man she
had ever seen. He was conscious up
to the time he passed away, and said
within five minutes Of his death that
he was not going to die. At the last
minute he said he would pass away,
and he did, very peacefully. Both of
his hands were badly burned, as well
as his legs from his knees down. His
leg had q compound fracture and ne
also seemed to have lick upon his
head. Taking all these things into
consideration, I really believe he would
have desired to go to the Great Beyond
had he realized his condition.
This afternoon at 1 O'Clock we gave
them a double military funeral. Aero
planes hovered in the skies during the
service. The cemetery Is located about
four kilometers from the city Of Toul.
Raoul Lufberry, the famous American
ace, is also buried in this American
cemetry. Within the next few days l
will fly over the cemetry and make
some pictures, which will bring back
home for you.
".'Nig' and myself came to the S5th
squadron from Chatillon December 8.
feel and know, as many others do, that
I have lost one of my best friends.
Tears came to many eyes as the bugler
sounded taps over the graves OF two
more true Americans who made the
supreme sacrifice that liberty and JUS
tice might prevail throughout the
world.
IT will see that all his baggage is
carefully packed up and turned over to
the quartermaster, who will ship 1t
home. If at any time may be of any
service to you, kindly let me know.
1.-THE S5th squadron feels the loss OF
one of it's most worthy members. and
the entire squadron joins me in heart
felt sympathy in your verv great De-
reavement."