Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-18

l
set two ribs.
Both of the injured men sustained
severe scalp wounds in addition TO
their other injuries. The surgeons
took Lieutenant Seliridgr to the OPP
Grating room, and removed the part
OF the broken skull over the left eye
which was causing commissions,
Lieutenant Died at Eight Ten.
At ten minutes after eight O'Clock
Lieutenant Selfridge died. He had
not regained consciousness.
He was expecting his mother. who
Ilved In San Francisco. to arrive In
Washin gton this month
He is nephew OF Admiral Sci
fridge. and has a brother. who IL
an officer in the navy.
ijeutenant's Death Announced.
DR.. Howard H. Bailey mad" the
first announcement Of Lieutenant
Selsridge's death. just after the lieu.
I. nant had passed away. the doctor
cam. from the room and to thos"
awaiting in the hall h said: III" Is
dead"
His DEATH" said the doctor. was
due to a compound fracture at the
base of the skull He II YER r"gainci
consciousness from III" moment hel
struck the ground. drspit" the heroic
remedies which wtr" admin ''cr"d
There was absolutely 10 response 'ol
the treatment given him. He passed
away peacefully. Major Squier ad-
viscd the family OF the lieutenant 81
death ana some word Is expected
hourly as to whether they will come
hrre or have the body sent to the
Pacific coast for irtrrmrn,.''
Mr.. Wright yesterday rep.aced tn"
lpropellcrs which he had been using
with another pair. the blades of which
arr six inches longer. They were
used for the first time in today's dis !
astrous flight.
Only this morning Mr.. Wright had
been asked what the result would be
If one OF his propcllcrs broke while
the machine was In flight.
THE other propeller would tend TO
turn the machine around" he said.
but would stop the motor and glide
to earth"
The belief was expressed by 4 ser
geant of the signal corps that the
aeroplane had been tempered with
previous to its fight. but this is i'm
probable. because the machin" mas
been closely guarded while at the
fort. 1t was housed in a specially
constructed shed, and guard kept
strangers away both day and night.
The suggestion OF foul play is dis
credited by all those acquainted with
the methods of safeguarding the ma
chine.
Charles White, CT White AMI Mid |
dleton. Baltimore. Md. mechanical
expert, gave this description of the
accident to Messrs. Wright and Self
ridge:
Il witnessed the flying OF the aero |
pane and it was performing bsauti-
fully for six or seven minutes. when
suddenly one OF the propellers broke
near the END. This caused the ma
chine to become SO thoroughly out
of balance through centrifugal force
as to make II unmanageable, and II |
made a dart to the ground while stu
under operation of the right propel-
Ter. causing II to strike the ground
with a great deal more force than 1t
would have done by gravity. l 40
not feel that this Is any serious de-
feet in the machine. but m rely
want of better construction in the
propellers. Therefore I do moi teel
that the machine should be condemn
ed beyond this point / should mag
inc that when the machine made the
dart for the ground II fell at the rate
Of twenty miles an hour. ! saw the
niece that few from the propeller fail
70 the earth. Before the fight OF
the machine I examined 1t thorough
" and saw nothing to be criticised
,utside of the wood construction OF
the propellers.
Lieutenant SeifridQe . Californian.
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL Sept. III
Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge. U. ).
Ia was son of T. E. Sefridgr. oil
Ithis CITY. a retired merchant. Lfr
Tenant Selfridge received his appoint
meut to WIes, Point from this state
md had been stationed at the Preside
ibefore going to Washington, where Nc
was engaged for special duty with inc
signal corps.
Lieutenant Selfriigc had for years
,eyo.ed himself TO the study OF acre
| ,au,ics Lieut. nnant Selfrid2e vas
held 10 DR. Bell to he one Of the heS'
x,op IN tho country on aero