New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-18
acquainted with the methods of safeguarding
the machine.
DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT.

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT.
Charles White, of White & Middleton Balti-
| more mechanical expert. gave this descrip-
! ton of the accident to Messrs Wright and Sell
fridge:
! ct witnessed the flying Of the aeroplane, and
| 1t was performing beautifully for six seven
| minutes, when suddenly of the propelers
| broke near the end. This caused the machine
TO become so thoroughly out Of balance through
| centrifugal force as to make it unmanageable,
and it made dart to the ground while still
under operation OF the right propeller, causing
| 1t to strike the ground with great deal more
| force than ii would have done by gravity. do
| not feel that this is any serious defect in the
machine but merely want of better construction
In the propelers. Therefore I do not feel that
the machine should be condemned beyond this
point. I should imagine that when the machine
made the dart for the ground 1t fell at the rate
of twenty miles hour. saw the piece that
flew from the propeller fall TO the earth.
Before the flight OF the machine he con-
tinued "I examined It thoroughly and saw
nothing to be criticised outside of the wood con-
struction of the propellers Before the machine
made the flight I remarked that the wood pro
pellers were not of the proper construction
Three seconds after the accident happened the
big machine appeared like bird with broken
wing. The forward side of the machine struck
the ground first. Wright and Selfridge were In
their usual position the seats when they
landed. They were not thrown out AL the
mechanical devices remained intact though the
braces and canvas work were wrecked The ac-
cidept was due entirely to the defective pro
peller. The aeroplape under perfect con
troll, and the accident certainly not due TO
any fault Of operation"
WRIGHT REALIZED DANGER
Orville Wright had confidently hoped and ex-
pected to meet all the requirements without
serious flaw developing IN the machine He
realized, however. the danger to which the
work subjected him.
Only few days ago he said the greatest
danger which he had to face was his own in
experience and the possibility that we may do
something wrong in making the flights"
He commented on the change in the methods
Of operating the levers as compared with his
previous machines, and pointed out that, where
the movements in the old machine were in
stinctive with him. the same was not the case
in the last machine, and that with. the latter
the operator had ito think, which is dangerous
account Of the possibility of not thinking
fast enough
Mr. Wright exercised what he believed to be
extreme caution :n starting his fights Time
and again he planned to make flight, but when
the hour he had tentatively fixed arrived he re-
fused to take out his machine because OF I'M |
Favorable conditions. He had been out in q |
twelve-Ine wind in previous aights but an |
eleven mile breeze day or two go served 10 |
deter him In the first fight at Fort Myer |
Wright made of the mistakes he had feared |
and pulled lever In the wrong direction but |
fortunately the machine descended without |
damage.
II have flown IN n .wenty-nli breeze" he |
said. and expect to DO so aagin. but not until |
get acquainted with the arrangement of seats
and levers"
One Of the most unfortunate features Of the |
affair is that Mr.. Wright intended tomorrow
TO make his first official test tr the effort TO
comply with part of the government require
mcnts. which. If fulAlled. would insure him at
least S25.0c0 after more than ten years of com
psrative poverty and unrewarded work on this
invention.
General Luke z. Wright. Secretary of War.
said tonight: 1T is very sad happening and
one TO be deeply regretted. see no reason why
this accident should give any serious setback to
the experiments I'm aeronautics being made by
the army. When Mr. Wright RECEIVERS. If he de-
sires to try again 10 fulfil the contract the on
portunity will be open to him. As l under
stand the accident due to CONSTITUTIONAL
flaw and not 20 . faulty principle. but this is
something which viii be cleared up after an In
yestigation and report is made
Lieutenant Thomas e. Selfridge. the son Of
a prominent business In San Francisco
was born IN 1882 He was educated in the
public schools of that city and entered West