Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-18
PROPELLER BLADE SNAPPED OFF
Wriaht's AeropIane Falls seventy'hve
Fdet In Two-Man Fli9ht-Army
Officer Dies Of injuries-'nve@or
Has Fractures Of Thigh and Ribs
Eye Witness Story.
(Ry Associated PresS.)

After having drawn the attention OF
the world to his aeroplane flights at
Fort Meyer, and having establishea
new world records for heavier than
air flying machines. Orville wright
TO-DAY met with a tragical mishap
while making a two-man flight. Inc
aeroplanist was accompanied by Lieu
tenant Thomas f. Seltridge, OF tn
signal corps Of the army.
Lieutenant Selfridge was fatally IN
tured and died at $40 o'clock to-
night.
Mr.. Wright was seriously injured.
but is expected to recover.
Propeller Blade Snapped.
While the machine was encirclins
the drill grounds a propeller BLADE
snapped OF, and, hitting some other
mart of the intricate mechanism
caused it to overturn in the air anu
fall to the ground, enveioping the
two occupants in the debris.
Soldiers and spectators ran across
the field to whore the aeroplane ma"
fallen and assisted in Hitting MI.
Wright and Lieutenant Selfridge from
under the tangled mass OF machin-
cry, rods, wires and shreds OF mus
lin.
Mr.. Wright was conscious ana said:
"Oh, hurry and lift the motor. Lieu
tenant Selfridge was unconscious and
had apparently struck the ground
with great force. His head was COW
cred with blood and he was chok-
ing when the soldiers extricated him
from under the machine.
DIR. Waters, a New York physi'
clan vas one of the first to reach
the spot and rendered first aid 10
the injured msn.
When their wounds had been ban
dased, Mr.. Wright and Lieutenant
selfridee were taken to the army
bospital at the other end OF the
aeld It was feared that Mr.. Wright
was suffering from internal INJURIES
seifridse Never Conscious. >,
He had lapsed into q state OF semi
consciousness by the time he reached
he hospital, while Lieutenant Sci
fridge did not regain CONSCIOUSNESS
ut All. He was suffering from a
fracture at the base Of the skull. ana
was in a critical condition.
After a hurried surgical examine
t,op- II was announced that Mr..
Wright was not dangerously injured.
He IL suffering from fracture OF
his left thigh and several ribs on
the right side are fractured. BON
men received deep cuts about the
head.
Mr.. Wright regained consciousness
at the hospital and dictated a cao'c'
~r,m to his brother al LeMans.
France. and requested that the same
message be sent TO his sister ana
father at Dayton. Ohio. assuring tn m
tha. he was all right.
Two Thousand Saw IT,
Fully two Thousand Rssons naa
gathered in anticipation o! a fish'
Nv 40 this afternoon.
The aerop!ane was still In its shea
hut Mr.. Wright arrived . few MIN
MES later and ordered II taken 90
tho northern end ~ the field TO DE-
nlaced on the track In readiness TOT
. flight
everybody vas order-d back from
the machine and Mr. Wrigh: turned
To Lieutenant Seifridee and said !:
-You might a. veil &c. IN We"
start In . couple Of minutes.
Mr.. Wright announced several Gays
.ro that he would take Lieutenant
Se,st,drc. who Is secretary Of the
Aerial Experiment Association and an
scrop;anist himself. IN his mkt hight
The young officer vas delighted to
have an opportunity to ny In the
..rop,ane. He vas TO leave Saturday
for 81. Joseph. No. where NJ ~a'
"a s..is, Lcutenant roules In orer
s,.nr IN. Baldwin airship at the com
ing army marDeuvers.
L,eusenan, sessriAse took on his
cat and hat and took his place W
IN. extra seat next 10 that occupied
nv Mr. wrisht. and the la;'er started
IN. motor by means 81 . storage bat
MI. Ne ssssssastA Taylor and Fur