The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-18
BROKEN PROPELLER CAUSE
OF THE HORRIBLE COLLAPSE
Machine Was Ike Bird with Brok.
en- Wing and Pitched to the Ground
at Fearful Speed, Killing One Oc.
cupant

Irldge IN ye6terday6o aeroplane accl-
dent, is making q manly fight for re-
covery. Through the night there was
much anxiety over the injured avia-
tors condition, but as the dawn broke
and no indications Of internal in
juries developed, and as the attend
ing surgeon after q call shortly after
8 O'Clock announced that Wright was,
doing very we'll, there was great re-
lief expressed among those who we're
watching the progress of the patient.
Wilbur Wright. brother Of Orville,
was notified today of the latter's Inn
prcWement. The report OF the condi-
tion of Wright this morning had been
eagerly looked forward to for 1t was
felt that any internal injuries that
might have been sustained and not
shown at the diagnosis made just aft
er he was taken to the hospital, would
be manifested by morning and the fact
that no reaction had set in proves
that he Is ip good shape" as one of
the reports from the hospital early
today indicated.
Cause Of Accident.
The accident was due to the snap
ping of of the blade of the left pro-
peller. Mr.. Wright had substituted
new set of propellers yesterday AMI
was trying them out for the first time.
The work required Of them probably
was too great and one of them gave
way under the strain, breaking In the
middle. The right propeller continu-
ed in operation and AcaHaad thess s9ero-
plane to turn over on it's side, throw
ing out the two men. ..s.... !.
Charles White, 1t White ana Midss:
dleton, Baltimore, Nd, q mechanical
expert, gave this description Of the
accident to Messrs. Wright and Eel
fridge:
Il witnessed the flying of the aero
plane, and it was performing beauti-
fully for six or seven minutes, when
suddenly one Of the propellors broke
near the end. This caused the ma
chine to become so thoroughly out of
balance through centrifugal force as
to make 1t unnanageable, and It
made dart to the ground while still
under operation Of the right propel-
ler,. causing It to strike the ground
with great deal more force than 1t
would have done by gravity. I do
not feel Vhat this is any serious defect
in the. machinery, but merely want Of
better construction In the propellors.
Therefore / do not feel that the ma
chine should be condemned beyond
this point. I should imagine that
when the machine made the dart for
the ground It fell at the rate of twen-
ty miles and hour. I saw the piece
that few from the propeller fall to
the earth. Before the fight of the
machine examined it thoroughly and
saw nothing to be criticized outside
of the wood construction Of the pro-
pellers. Before the machine made the
flight I remarked that the wood pro-
pellers were not Of the proper con-
struction. Three seconds after the
accident happened the big machine
appeared like bird with q broken
wing. Tho forward side of the ma
chine struck the ground first. Wright
and Zelfridge were in their usual po-
sttion on the seats when they landed.
They were not thrown out. All the
mechanical devices remained intact,
though the braces and canvass work
was wrecked. The accident was due
entirely to the defective propeller.
The aeroplane was under perfect con-
troll and the accident was certainly
not due to any fault of operation"
Machinists Taylor and Fernuss who
helped Wright In the work of the ma
chine, are almost 'heartbroken over its
wreck. Mechanic Taylor said that
when the aeroplane fell he expected
to find Orville dead. None knew bet
ter than I, said he. "the. heartaches
and sleepless nights this aeroplane
has cost the Wright brothers. It. ID
too terrible to think about" Both
visited Wright this morning. He told
Taylor that he stopped the motor att
er the accident happened In the cir.
From the latest accounts OF close eye
witnesses the piece broken from the
propeller struck one Of the supports
of the rudder. The machine did not
travel far before It started to swing
around on it's own axis to the left, Il
did not cverturn as was general i'm.
preston given to spectators at the