Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24
Propeller Blade Snapped, Ma
chine Was Overturned and
Occupants Fell Out.
LIEUT.. SlLFRIDGE KILLED
Never Recovered consciousness nftcr
striking Ground-Orville Wright
IInd Left Thigh and Several
Ribs FractWrcd-Expcctcd
lie VIII Recover.

WASHINGTON Sept 17--After having
drawn the attention of the world to
his acroplane flights at Fort Myer and
having established new worlds records
for heavier-than-air Tying machines. Or
willie Wright to-day met with tragical
mishap while making a two man flight.
The aeroplanist was accompanied by
Lieut., Thomas T.. Sclfridgc. of the sig
nal corps Of tho army. Lieut.. SefridEe
was fatally injured ana died at $40
o'clock to-nirht. Mr. Wright was ser-
ously injured. bat Is expected to recov
While the machine was "ncircling the
drill grounds a propeller blade snapped
off and hitting some other part of the
intricate mechanism. caused 1t to over
turn In the air and fall to the ground.
envelopiuG the occupants In the deb
rie
Soldiers and spectators ran across the
field to where the acroplanc had fallen
and assisted In lifting MIR. Wright and
Lieut.. Sclfrilsc from under the tangled
mass Of machinery rods. wires and
shreds Of muslin Mr.. Wright was con-
scious and said:
"Oh. hurry and lift tho motor" Lieut..
Selfridge was unconscious and had APP
parontly struck the ground with great
force. His head was covered with blood
and lie was choking when the soldiers
rxtricatod him from under the machine.
Dr. Waters. New York physician,
was one OF the first 10 reach the spot
and rendered first aid TO the injured
men. When their wounds had been
handaEod Mr.. Wright and Lieut.. Self
ridge wcr" taken to the Fort Myer hos
pital at the other end Of the field Mr..
Wright had lapscd into n state OF semi
consciousness by the time he reached
the hospital. while Lieut. SelfridEe did
not regain consciousness at all He was
suffering from fracture at the base of
the skull nd was In a critical condi-
ton.
After n hurried surgical examination
Il was announced that Mr. Wright was
not dangerously injured. He is suffering
from fracture Of his left thigh and sew
eral ribs on the right side fractured
Both men received deep cuts about the
head Mr., Wright regained consciousness:
ut the hospital and dictated n cablegran
to his brother ut IeA1ins. France ant
requested that the same message he gent
70 his sister and father nj Dayton
Ohio, assuring them that he was al
right.
Although there have been but hand
ful OF people at the aeronautical testing
grounds at Fort A,ycr during the past
few days. fully ZOO had gathered 10y
40 this afternoon
SELFRIDGE GLAD TO MAKE TRIP.
Mr.. Wright announced several days
ago that he would take Lieut.. Selfr!dg,
who is secretary OF the Aerial Expert
ment association and an aeropalnist him
self. In his next flight. The yount
officer was delighted to have an op
portunlty to ny Y the aeroplano. HI
was 20 leave Saturday for St Joseph
Mo, whore he was to assist Lieut.
Foulos in operating the Baldwin air
ship
After Mr. Wright told Lieut.. Selfridg
70 got IN the machine Lieut.. Selfridg
took off his coat and hat and took hi
place In the extra seat next to that oc
cupied by Mr. Wright The latte
started the motor by means Of storag
battery his assistants Taylor and Fur
mass turning the propellcrs to get thel
going At 5:l+ the aeroplane was release
and It was noticed that It did not rise o
quickly from the ground as on previou
two man flights Lieut.. SelfridEe weighe
about l75 pounds. making the weigh
greater than the machine had ever cal
r,cd before.
MACHINE DID NOT ACT WE'LL.
After gliding over the ground on II
runners for 80 feet the machine ros
gradually ana had gained height Of