The Washington times., 1908-09-18
Orville Wright Believes He
Gould Have Caught Ma
chine on Long Fall.
BEGAN TO RESPOND
JUST TOO LATE
Army Officers Think Aerial Naviga-
ton Will Only Be Delayed
for Short Time.
Continued from First Page)


A little group Of sOlemn-v -visagcd men,
members Of the Signal Corps board. this
afternOpn began an official investigation
into the causes of the accident that
hurled the aeroplane seventy-flve feet
10 the earth at Fort Myer.
In q nearby hospital, overlooking the
tent where his fellow-enthusiasts Of
yesterday are sOrrOwing QuestiOnerS Of
today lies OrvlLe Wright, the world s
most famous aviator, pain raclKed in
body, depressed, but undaunted in spirit
Yet realizing that the Tuldllment Of his
dream OF the conquest Of the air again
must be delayed.
In the distance, Wright may see the
wooden shed in which the maugled ma
chine. the product OF his kill, has been
viewed all morning by the scientists,
who dejeCtedly shake their heads and
can talk Of nothing save yesterdays
tragedy.
Every member of the Signal Corps
Dcard was on the ground early this
morning, and with Mr.. Wrights first
assistant, 9. Z. Taylor, spent an hour
examining the wreckage Of the aero
plane
This morning. the body Of Lieutenant
Selfrldge was removed from the room
across the hall from Wright, the little
cortGge moving about quietly here and
there TO keep the fact from the man
next door who continued to talk, in his
brighter moments, Of ''Selfridge and the
machine"
Signal Corps officers and those inter
ested IN aerOnauucs who have watched
Wright in his successes were there maxi
Ing anxious inquiries now that tragedy
had overtaken the man. but only the
favored few were admitted TO the suf-
1erer's room Mr.. Chauute and Mr..
Taylor. with interests In common, and
who regret the accident as much as the
disappointed inventor, were among
these.
Taylor Cannot Explain.
Beyond the all important fact that the
propeller broke, Mr.. Taylor was unable
10 explain this morning the technical
cause of the disaster There is one
theory that the officials are now iuvesti-
BaunS that would indicate that the pro-
peller, on account OF its added length
may have struck a wire connected with
the supports of the framework The
other theory IS that the propeller, which
is made Of pieces Of birch. was inse-
Curely bound.
Second Assistant Furness TO-DAY dis
PEELED the idea that the new prOpellers,
used Lor the first time yesterday had
Deen snpPed from Dayton especially for
TINS "Trip These propellers, he said. were
OI the original length used In the first
trials OF the Wright aeropIane and for
Ihls reason, he doubted that added
length could have caused yesterday s
mishap. The prOpellers had been
brought here with Wright a month ago
especially for this trip. and had been
used during one short test "Wednesday
Orviile Wright must indeed ICqf a
CHaIIned ire, according TO ore who is
FAMILIAR with the disasters which have
DeIaIIen the two brothers since they
began their secret experiments nearly
ten years ago. An aronautic Cypert
said today:
1t is not generally known that Or
yille Wright has sustained In the past
Two falls that came near resulting a.
dlsastrOuSly as this. Only providence
saved him, In both instances, as / see
It. These falls occurred several years
ago at Dayton when the brothers were
experimenting in secret. In both in
stances the spar came near falling m
on Wright and breaking his neck The
9au was high one as in tEis instance
Especially do l recall that he once was
saved because the heavy upper portion
OF the machine was held on his body
by a couple OF mounds OF earth be-
tween which he fel."
Mr.. Taylor today commented .Ilpon the
remarkable presence of mind shown by
Wright IN shutting off his motor as soon
as the propeller broke. He might have
guided the machine into the trees. Mr..
Taylor thinks. had the one remaining
propeller continued to work.
He could do nothing but go round
and round" said Mr.. Taylor. There
fore. he did the right thing IN shutting
or the engine he intended to land as
usual and the pity Of II IS that the dis
tance wasn't little greater The en-
tire affair would have been averted. 1
beIeve' as ne says, as strange as the
Statement may SEEM I am as vet un-
able to explain just why the propeller
broke."
Mr.. Taylor and Mt. Furness were
IN doubt as to whether an attempt
would be made to rebuild the machine
here or IN Dayton. Parts could be
shipped here and the machine built
within three weeks. Mr.. Furness said.
although the impression is that Wright
will return to Dayton after his recovery
and abandon his plans for the winter