Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24

FRACTURE AT BASE OF SKULL.
After surgical examination It was |
announced at the hospital that Lieut.
tenant Sofrdgc was in n serious con-
dition having suffered a fracture at the
base of the skull II was said then
that Mr.. Wright was not severely In
jurcd.
At TAO o'clock Major Crosby, Major
McCaw. Major ireland and Captain
Bailey. the army surgeons attending
tho injured men, Y"ve out the follow
ing statement:
"Mr Wright has fractures Of the
left thigh and several ribs on the right
side. He was much shocked but has
reacted we'll Lieutenant selfridge
received fracture Of tho base OF the
skull. His condition is extremely crit
teal"
Mr. Wright's log was set by Or. y.
l.. Waters of New York and Surgeon
Bailey of the army. They also set two
ribs.
Both Of the injured men sustained
severe scalp wounds in addition to
their other injuries. The surgeons
took Lictcnant Sclfridgc to the oper-
ating room and removed the part of
the broken skull over the left eye
which was causing commissions.
DIED AT $40 LAST NIGHT.
At ton minutes after eight o'clock
Lieut. Sofridge died. He had not re-
gained consciousness. ! was expecting
his mother who lives in San Francisco
to arrive in Washington this morning
lie Is n nephew of Admiral Sclfrdge
and has brother who is an officer. In
the navy. Glenn II. Curtis Of the Aerial
Expcrimcn: association called up by
long distance telephone as soon as he
heard of the accident He notified Lieut..
Solfrdgc's family I'm san Francisco.
PRppEILERS WERE NEW.
Mr. Wright Yesterday replaced tho
propcllors which he has been using with
another pair, the blades of which are
six inches longer. They were used for
the first time In to-day's disastrous flight
and many who have witnessed Mr.
Wright's flights Mt Fort Mycr believe the
change of propellcrs causel tho &C
cldcnt hd examination Of the broken
blade showed that It had been snapped
off at point one-fourth Of the distance
from the hub. a deep indentat ton OF the
broken piece indicated that It had struck
some other part of the acroplane.
Octave Chanute. the father OF aeronau-
tics in America. who came to Washing
ton several days ago for the purpose
Of seeing Orville Wright's flights. OK
amined the Wrcckage. He said that II
the Wright's had used ono propeller In
stead OF two the result would have been
Mt least as serious Only this morning
Mr.. Wright had been asked what the
result would be II ono Of his propellcrs
broke while the machine was in flight,
The other propeller would tend TO turn
the machine around he said but I
would stop the motor and glide to the
earth"
WANTS TO KNOW THE CAUSE.
At the hospital Mr.. Wrights remarks
to those about him indicated that the
shock which tho news OF the accident
would cause his family was his chief
concern. He was evidently also endeav-
oring to determine tho cause OF the &C.
| cdcnt.
| while the surgeons were at work set-
ting Mr. Wright's leg. he asked an at
tendant 10 carry word TO his assistant
Mr.. Taylor. to ask him to examine the
wrecked machine 10 ascertain II there
was anything wrong with the transmits
| sion. Mr.. Taylor after examining the
wreck. stated that he did not think there
was anything wrong with the trans
mission.
WILL NOT ABANDON THE FLIGHTS
! Among the eye witnesses was Mr.
| Charles r. Flint. OF New York. inter
national representative of the Wrigh
| brothers. Mr.. Flint came over from
New York to-day 10 see the flight
and was accompanied to Fort Myc1
by Admiral and Mrs. Bronson. Mr.
Flint said tonight that the mishal
would not cause the Fort Mye,
flights to be abandoned. They will b,
resumed, he said as soon as Mr.
| Wright has recovered and the machin,
repaired. Officers of the Signal corps
and other enthusiasts at Fort Mye
were incline to express the belle
that to days accident was not due t,
a faulty principle but to defect II
the propeller. which was made o
spruce. One of the members Of tn
signal corps who had been conduct
ing the Fort Myer tests said.
"Of course, this Is no time to discus
such matters. but the resumption OF tn
aeroplane trial Will depend on the lengtI
Of time which II will take Mr. Wrgh
, to recover from his injuries This acct
dent will OF course seriously hamper tn
possibility OF securing appropriation
from Congress for the aeronautical wor
OF tho signal corps The Wright broth
ers however have even more advance
@ ideas In regard TO aerial flight, and
. they continues their work It Is very prob
q able that the effect OF this one accidcn
will be overcome"
FOUL PLAY SUGGESTED
Tho belief was expressed by ser
gcant of tho signal corps that tn
aeroplane had been tampered wit
previous to It's flight but this IL i'm
= probable because the machine ha
, been closely guarded while at the for
=, 1t was housed In specially construct
ed shed and guard kept stranger
= away both day ana night The sug
gestion of foul play Is discrodited y
all those acquainted With the method
. Of safeguarding the machine.
WAS ENTHUSIASTIC OVER AERO
@ NACTICS.
: Washington. Sept, l1--Lieut. Thos
= SelfridRe WAS one Of the most enthusia,