New-York tribune., 1921-03-26
Coney's Back
Broken Under
Wrecked Plane
Cross-Country Flyer Smashes
Into Tree in Fog Bank
and Falls Into Swamp;,
One Chance in Ten to Live
Still Hopes to Fly Again
Wires Girl in San Diego;
Mother Tries Vainly to Get
to Hospital; Saw His Start

NATCHEZ, Miss, March 25. = An
X-ray examination Of Lieutenant W.
D. Coney, the transcontinental aviator
who crashed near Crowville, La, to-
day, disclosed tonight that his back
was fractured and that, according to
physicians attending him, he has about
one chance in ten of recovering. He
wes brought to hospital here tonight
and is conscious and cheerful. Physi-
clans said, however. that fever was
developing.
The following bulletin was issued at
the hospital:,
Lieutenant Coney is suffering from
lumbar vertebrae He is paralyzed
from the chest down. Temperature,
103. We regard his condition as very
serious"
MONROE, La, March 25.--Licuten-
ant W. d. Coney, transcontinental flyer,
was severely injured to-day when the
plane in which he was making re-
turn flight from Jacksonville, Fla, to
San Diego, Calf, struck tree on the
Nose Lanier farm, near Crowville, in
the swampy section of northeast
Louisiana and crashed rs feet to the
ground.
Wants to Fly Again
In talking with physicians, Coney
said he would yet make the transcon-
tinental flight if death does not stop
him. He expressed the conviction that
he would have done so this time if it
had not been for the fog banks.
D., ~
fog banks along the river" he said,
tent, and from the Mississippi River
until hit the ground I was flying low.
| was preparing to make a landing be-
cause of engine trouble when I struck
a tree and went down. I do not re-
member much about what occurred
after I struck the tree until I 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. NJ Darrell and j. W.
Winn, who attended the flyer, were
not prepared to say tonight whether
he would live or die. "If he does not
die" said DR.. Darrell, II fear that he
will be paralyzed for life. Of course
there is hope, and / would not say
definitely he will not recover the use
Of his limbs, but the chances are
against him" The physicians issued
the following report:
"Lieutenant Coney is paralyzed in
his lower extremities. There is loss
of sensation and motion in the lower
extremities. His temperature is 102 " ,
pulse 100, respiration 26. Lieutenant
Coney Is conscious and cheerful, but
does not talk much"
Sends Wire to Girl
The injured flyer sent telegram
to Miss Mary Morgan, San Diego, said
to be his hancee. The message said:
"My plane fells this morning and my
spine was seriously injured"
The village general store keeper, pos
SCISSOR. Of an automobile, despite the
bad conditions of the roads and the
serious injuries of the patient, volun-
teered to make the trip to Winnsboro,
where the train was taken for Natchez.
The lieutenant's mother made frantic
efforts to get IN touch with her son
by telephone this afternoon, but was
unsuccessful. Mrs. Coney was at
Brunswick, Ga, where she went from
Jacksonville this morning after wit
Messing the Heutenant's "hop off,"
SACRAMENTO, Calf, March 25.--
Lieutenant w. D. Coney, 91st Aero
Squadron, has been stationed at Mather
field. East Sacramento, since February,
1920. Only yesterday it was announced
that he had just been promoted to a