Arizona republican., 1921-03-26
CROSS COUNTRY. AVIATOR SUFFERS.
 SEVERE INJURIES. WHEN FORCED ID LAND IN SWAN|PS
Lieutenant Coney N e ar Death When His Plane Crashes Into Tree While Fog Obscures Flight
BULLETIN

NATcHEZ. Miss, March 25.-An x-ray examination of Lieutenant w. D. Coney, transcontinental aviator who crashed near Crowville, La, today, dis closed toniuht that his back was frao- tured and that. according to physicians attendina him, he has about one chance in ten of recovering. He was brought here tonight and is conscious and cheerful. Physicians said, however, that fever was developing.
 MONROE. La, March 25.-Badly in iured when he fell with his airplane after striking tree on the Nose Lanier farm near Crowville, in the swampy section of Franklin parish. northeast Louisiana Lieut.. w. D. Coney. transcontinental flyer, late to- day was en route to Natchez. where he will be given medical attention. and the extent of his injuries ascertained.
 Lieutenant Coney, who was attempt ing a return flight from Jacksonville, Fla. to San Diego. Calif., attempted to land near Crowville when engine trouble developed and in so doing crashed into a tree. He fell about 75 feet Whether the indirect cause of the fall was a new propeller installed for the return flight has not been as- certained The Lieutenant attributed the cause to engine trouble. Crow vile, II miles from a railroad and in the midst of sparsely settled, swampy section, gave every assistance | to the flier. The village physicians rendered first aid soon after he was l pulled from the wreckage by farm hand. Although not prepared to state l definitely. the doctors expressed the
 belief that his spine was either broken or severely injured. An X-ray exam l ination will be necessary to determine accurately, they stated.
 l The village general storekeeper pos sessor of an automobile, despite the l bad condition of the roads, and the serious injuries of the patient. volun- teered to make the trip to Winnsboro l from where the train was taken for 1 Natchez
 l said he would yet make the trans l continental flight if death did not stop him. He expressed the conviction
 that he would have done so this time if it had not been for the fog banks 'I had a fair flight until I struck the fog banks along the river.' he said
 and then I lost my way to some ex-
 tent and from the Mississippi and until hit the ground I was flying low
 I was preparing to make landing be cause of engine trouble when I struck & tree and went down. I do not re- member much about what occurred
 after l struck the tree until I found myself in the arms of Nose Lanier ant
 his good wife who conveyed me tt their home. I guess it is all over
 Doctors C. M. Darrell and ]. W. winn who attended the young flier through,
 out the day were not prepared to sa, tonight as to whether he would liv, or die.
 "If he doesn't die" said pr. Darrell II fear he will be crippled or paralyze. for life. Of course there is hope an, ] l would not say definitely he will no
 recover the use Of his limbs. but tn f chances are against him" The physi clans late today issued a report as t
 his condition:
 q Lieutenant Coney is psralyzed in hi t lower extremities where there is los : or sensation and motion His temper 5 ature is 100, respiration 26 Lieutenan I Coney is conscious and cheerful bu , does not talk much"
 The injured man late this afternoo
 sent telegram to Miss Mary Morgan
 pan Dlego, Cal, said to be his fiance, ! Ihe message was brief merely saving
 My plane fell this morning and m \ spine was seriously injured" Tn neutenonts mother made frantic ef
 forts to get in touch with her son b l telephone this afternoon but was un
 successful. Mrs. Coney was at Bruns
 WICK, Ga, where she went from Jack soh'iite this morning after witnessin s ene neutenant's hop off