Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-26
FLYER IS HURT
WHEN HIS PLANE
FALLS TO EARTH
Lieut.. w. D. Coney Has En-
CINE Trouble and Machine
Crashes Into a Tree Near
CroWviIIe, La.

Monroe, La March 25.-Badly
injured when he fell with his air.
plane after striking a tree on the
Nose Lanier farm near Grow
vile, in the swampy section of
Franklin parish, northeast Louisi-
ana, Lieut.. w. d. Coney, trans
continental flyer, late today was
en- route to NatcheZ, where he will
be given medical attention, and
the extent of his injuries ascer-
tanned.
lieutenant Coney, who was at
tempting return flight from
jacksonville, Fla, to San Diego,
Calf, attempted to land near
Crowville when engine trouble de-
veloped, and in doing so crashed
into a tree. He fell about seventy
five feet. Whether the indirect
cause Of the fall was a new pro-
peller installed for the return
flight has not been asCertaincd to-
day. The lieutenant attributed the
cause to engine trouble.
Crowville, eleven miles from a
railroad and in the midst Of a
sparsely settled, 5wampy section,
gave every assistance to the flyer
The two village physicians rem
dered first aid soon after he was
pulled from the wreckage by '
farm hand. Although not pre-
pared to state definitely, the doc
tors expressed the belief that his
spine was either broken or severe
ly injured. An N-ray examination
will be necessary to examine aC-
curately, they stated.
The village general storekeeper
possessor of an automobile, des-
pite the bad condition of the roads
and the serious injuries of the pa
tient, volunteered to make the tlF
10 Winnsboro, from where the
train was taken for Natchez.
In talking with physicians, Coney
said he would yet make the trans
continental flight if death does not
stop him. He expressed the con-
viction that he would have done sc
this time, if it had not been for
the fog banks.
81 had fair flight until
struck the fog banks along the
river" he said, land then l lost
my way to some extent and from
the Mississippi river until | hi
the ground | was flying low.
was preparing to make a landing
because of engine trouble when
struck u tree and went down.
do not remember much about what
occurred after l struck the tree
until | found myself in the arms OF
Nose Lanier and his good wife, who
conveyed me to their home.
guess it is all over"
Doctors c. M. Darrell and j. w
VIM, who attended the young
flyer throughout the day were moi
prepared to say tonight as tc
whether he would live or die.
May Be Crippled.
IF he doesn't die" said DR.. Oar
rell, Il fear he will be crippled OF
paralyzed for life. OF course there
is hope, and | would not say de-
finitely he will not recover the use
of his limbs, but the chances are
against him"
The physicians late today issued
the following report as to his con-
ditiOn:
Lieutenant Coney is paraIyZej
in his lower extremities, where
there is loss of sensation and mo-
ton. His temperature Is 1924
pulse 100, respiration 26. Lieuten-
ant Coney is conscious and cheer
full, but does not talk much"
Sends Telegram.
The injured man late this after
noon sent a telegram to Miss Mary
Modgan, San Diego, Calf, said to
be his fiance. The message was
brief, merely stated MY plane fell
this morning and my spine was ser
iously injured" The lieutenant's
mother made frantic effort to get
in touch with her son by telephone
this afternoon, but was unsuccess-
full. Mrs. Coney was at Brunswick,
Ga, where she went from Jackson
Vile this morning after witnessing
the lieutenant's hop-off