The Washington times., 1908-08-13
Viii Make Second Effort Be
fore Official Board This
Afternoon.
is NOT DISMAYED
BY FIRST FAILURE
Balloon Not Injured by Yesterdays
Accident, Which Cost In
Ventor Initial Chance.

Uudismayed by the accident which in
terrupted the flight yesterday, or by the
decision of the official board Of the
signal Corps having jurisdiction over
the experiments that the flight must
count as one Of the three speed tests,
Captain Baldwin said today that his
NdlrigibIe again was IN excellent shape.
and would atone this afternoon for yes
terdays mishap.
The second official speed test Will take
place at Fort Myer between the hours
OF and o'clock. Captain Baldwin and
engineer Curtiss early this morning
Yemedied the defect in the wiring which
interrupted yesterdays partly success
ful flight
Conference Held.
The official board held conference
this morning at the War Department
after which il was announced that yes
terday's attempt would be considered
as one Of the three speed tests allowed.
AT this conference the accident to the
dirigible was thoroughly discussed.
The official time Of the fight, before
The accident, has not been announced,
but will be made public this afternoon
Captain Baldwin said this morning
that the accident was such as might
occur 10 the engine of any dirigibIe
balloon.
The average speed made by the bal
loon during the flight was fifteen and a
half miles an hour The test this
afternoon VIII take place over the Of
flcial course Both Captain Baldwin
and Mr.. Curtlss were confident that
the test today would be fully up TO
Government requirements.
The First Accident.
Captain Baldwin met with his first
accident yesterday afternoon. due, ac=
Cording TO Glen H Curtiss. engineer OF
the dirigible, to the carelessness Of an
assistant. When the machine left the
balloon tent it was Captain Baldwin s
intention to make ali official fight
which wCdld Justify all the claims he
had made for his invention.
The cigar-shaped machine was taken
out OF the tent shortly after 6 o'clock,
and as soon as the propeller was work
ing in good shape the Signal Corps men
Jet so and Captain Baldwin headed for
The turning fag, two and one quarter
miles away. Although the upper air
currents were troublesome. the aviator
negotiated the distance b--ween The
parade grounds and Ballstou.
Shortly aIteT turning the mark how
ever, IL was seen that the balloon was
IN trouble, and finally Baldwin threw
a rope and asked some farm hands be-
low TO haul on 1t. The machine. with
us motor stopped, then began to de
Fcend TO the ground
Trouble With Engine.
Glen II. Curtiss. the manufacturer OF
The engine, explained that the accident
was caused by the displacement Of the
secondary wire on the motor. making
IL impossible TO remain in the air with
out taking chances on being carried
away by the strong wind.
ShortIy after starting from the parade
grounds, Mr.. Curtiss said, a wire had
broken and with some difficulty ne
succeeded in repairing il. Some time
lateT the secondary wire, leading 10 the
high tension distributor, broke, thus
rendering the whole mechanism help
Il needed a bit of cord" said Mr.,
.Curtiss, and had 20 cut piece with a
dull knife from the side of the net
work only three cylinders were work
ing, and in my efforts 10 readjust the
broken wire L was repeatedly shocked
once the balloon plunged earJhWard and
my face and shoulders were thrown
forward onto he engine and / received
several painful shocks.
Tomorrow evening the engine will be
in perfect order and repetition of to-
days accident viii be guarded against
in the future. 1t is certainly unfOr-
tunate that the first serious accident
should occur on he day we had select
ed for our official flight"
Repairs Are Made.
It took Mr.. Curtlss nearly half an
hour TO repair the engine. Once started
again, IT was an easy matter 10 com
plete the return trip to Fort ~AIyer,
where the balloon landed at 7:21 o'clock.
The last mile was made in six minutes,
or at the rate of ten miles an hour.
The army officers who have been
watching Baldwin's experiments will
have an opportunity to see the much
talked of Wright brothers machine
next week. Word was received today
that the famous aerOplane would ar
rive at the Fort next Monday OTVille
Wright viii leave his home at Dayton,
Ohio, on Saturday to superlntend the
unpaclling Of his machine. 1t is not
Yet known how soon he will begin his
eXperimental flights