New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-19
tWRIGHTS CHANCESG00D
EXPECTED TO RECOVER.
HeropIane Tests To Be Continued
by Government Despite accident.

Washington. Sept. 1s-Fort Myer the scene of
yesterdays aeroplane disaster which resulted in
the death of Lieutenant Thomas r. Selfridge. OF
the signal corps, and serious injury or OrN1ie
Wright the inventor, who seemed TO have con-
ouered the air. presented cherries aspect 10
.5av The cir OF gloom that pervaded the army
most was in marked contrast 10 the scene OF
hustle and excitement that had attended the Hight
of Wrishts aeropiane yesterday afternoon, Win
its dramatic climax. This gloom reflected in
the faces OF the brother officers Of the untortu-
nate lieutenant when they met at the fort TINS
morning TO make an official investigation OF the
accident in the manner In which the usual morn
ing cavalry drill gone through over the very
ground upon which the fated aerepIahe was
wrecked and in the words OF appreciation spoken
hv members OF the signal corps balloon squad,
which had been under the direct charge OF Lieu
tenant Selfridge-
Mr. wright's condition such to-day that no
fears for his recovery are felt although his in
5uries are both serious and painful.
Lieutenant selfridge's body removed to-day
from the hospital at Fort Myer to undertakers s.
where il will remain until the arrival of the young
officers father. who telegraphed to-day from san
Francisco that he would like to have his son
buried either Arlington West Point The
funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
hut a military funeral will be held. and burial
will probably be at the Arlington National Gene
terry Professor Alexander Graham Bell presl-
dent of the Aerial Experiment Association. of
come from Nova Scotia to attend the funeral
The signal corps viii proceed with fits aeronaut-
cal work and il is understood that the Wright
brothers Will be permitted make their official
trials whenever they ready. without endan-
ering their chance OF receiving the contract price
of $4,000 for their aeroplane.
Mr.. wrights assistants, Taylor and Furness.
took with them TO The hospital to-day two Of
the broken parts OF the aeroplane-the piece of
the propeller which gave the first indication 10 the
had T-a5 and
attachment which held one Of the controlling wires
fast TO the rudder. They showed these 20 Mr.
Wright who said TO Taylor: The machine was
already recovering its balance when it struck.
and I am sure tf we had twenty-five feet further
TO 20 we would have landed the skds without
serious damage"
Speaking for Mr. Wright. Mr.. Taylor said later:
1.-The accident was caused by extraordinary vi
hration Of one of the wires running from the main
planes the upper steel fitting Of the rudder
This vibration was great that Il got in range
Of the propeller and was struck by the blade cut
ting deep cash in the edge of the propeller blade
about four inches from the end This caused the
blade TO break. The other blade Of TIE propeller
few around and IN turn struck the same wire.
breaking IL
This made Mr. Wright lose control Of his rudder
entirely and the loss of both blades of the pro
peller and the breaking Of the wire caused him 10
lose control of the planes He realized that some
thing had happened. and thought his trouble was
with the transmission gearing. which is cross
chain drive steel casing. Shutting off power
10 stop the remaining propeller which tended to
swing the machine in circular direction toward
the left he steadied the machine somewhat. but
the distance TO the ground was not great enough
to restore the equilibrium.
Octave Chanute, after examination Of the
wrecked aeroplane. gave this explanation as to
the cause of the accident:
I believe that the accident WAS caused by the
breaking of the guide wire running from the upper
rudder and fitting TO the main planes. This swung
out in the way of the propeller blade and caused
IT 10 break. While defect is shown in the
propeller il seems TO it made of over
seasoned wood. At first ] thought the centrifugal
force had been so strong to break the blade,
hut on making computations found that the pro
peIle- was not subjected TO more than % pounds
the square inch whereas Il would stand much
than that.
Numerous teleg-ams of sympathy were received
at the Fort Myer Hospital to-day, but they were
withheld from Nj Wright.
Major George Squier. acting chief signal officer
OF the army. convened the board OF signal officers
to-day for the purpose of making official in
curry into the death Lieutenant Selfridge. Major
Charles NICK. Saltzrnan acted as chairman and
Captain Charles S. Wallace and Lieutenant Frank
p Lahm were the other members present. Lieu
tenant Sweet of the navy. and Lieutenant Richard
Crreecy Of the Marine Corps detailed TO the Fort
Myer aeronautical tests, assisted the board in its
work.
The wreckage Of the aeroplane had been placed
:
OF the board. accompanied by Octave Chanute ana
Professor Albert Zalln. of the Catholic University,
both OF whom are authorities aeronauucs, IN
srected the tangled mass. II found that tbs
broken piece of the propeller was indented as
though il had come in contact with a wire
During the inquiry several eyewitnesses were
questioned among them being DR.. Spratt, who was
present during the earlier experiments OF the
Wright brothers in North Cardinal; Sergeant
Sweeney OF the artillery corps; Sergeant Downey,
of the signal corps. and others of the artillery
cavalry and signal corps who were among the first
on the scene
Major Squier. as acting chief signal officer re-
viewed the findings OF the court after the meeting
which was in the nature OF coroner's hearing
The finding of the board Of inquiry was given
out by Major Squier as follows:
The board finds that the accident, which oc-
CURED in an unofficial flight made at Fort MY yer
Virginia. at about SIS p m on September H.
1908 was due the accidental breaking OF 4
rropeller blade and consequent unavoidable loss
~ control which resulted in the machine falling
10 the ground from a height OF about seventy-hNe
feet ,,,-
Z Seifridge, Field Artillery attached TO the
signal corps by War Department orders and as
Wright by authority. the aeroplane, for the