Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-09-19
WRIGHT NOT SERIOUSLY HURT
American Aeroplanist Will Recover
from His Injuries.
BROTHER PosTPoNEs HIS FLIGHT
Receives News of the Accident aa
He was About to Compete
for Two Big Prizes in
France.

| Fort Myer hospital with a fractured thigh
and ribs Orviile Wright, the aeronaut, who
| fell with Lieutenant Selfrdge in yester-
Gays aeroplane accident, Is making a
manly fight for recovery. Through the
night there was much anxiety over the in
jured aviator's condition, but as dawn
/ broke and no indications of internal in
/ juries developed and the attending sur
geon after a call shortly after o'clock
announced that Mr. Wright was doing very
we'll, there was great relief expressed
among those who were watching the prog
Iess OF the patient.
Wilbur Wright, the brother Of Orville,
was notified today of the lstter's condl-
ton.
The report OF the condition Of Mr..
Wright this morning had been eagerly
looked forward to, as It was felt that any
| internal injuries that might have been
sustained and not shown at the diagnosis
made just after he was taken TO the hospl-
tai would be manifested this morning, and
the fact that no reaction had set I'm and
| that he Is In good shape" as one of the
reports from the hospital early today ex-
pressed 1t, is taken to mean that 1t is now
only a question of time before Wright will
be able to leave the lospitaL Mr.. Flint,
who made inquiries at the hospital early
as o'clock this morning, said later that
he believed from the Doctors reports that
Wright would be out again within perhaps
six weeks.
Miss Katherine Wright, a sister OF Wilbur
ard Orvile, who was Immediately. notified
/ OF the disastrous ending of the aeroplane
flights, will reach here over the Pennsyl-
vania railroad from Dayton. o., at 4:4O this
/ afternoon. in order to be with her brother
! yub he Ia at he
hospital. Mr.. and Mrs. Flint will be at
the depot to meet her.
How the ship Fell.
The mechanics who helped Wright in the
work on his machine are almost heart
broken over its wreck. Mechanic Taylor
said that when the aeroplane fell he ex-
pected to find Orville dead. None know
better than l." said he, 1.-THE heartaches
and sleepless nights this aeroplane has cost
the Wright brothers. 1t is too terrible to
think about"
Mechanic Furnass said that he saw or
Vile trying hard to get the airship level
again after the propeller broke, but that
the one propeller that was revolving pulled
/ the machine downward and to the left. 1T
| was too strong" said he Ito restore the
equilibrium of the machine. It was most
distressing that this should happen just
at the zenith of Wrights success. He had
bright prospects of becoming a very rich
mar"
Mr.. Taylor in discussing the accident,
said he could not see now the two pro-
pellers could have come together. The
angle line was in perfect condition before
the flight and the steering plane and main
plane were all right.
Both Taylor and Furnass visited Wright
this morning. Wright told Taylor that he
stopped the motor after the accident hap
\ pened in the air.
! Fro mthe latest accounts of close eye-wt-
nesses the piece broken from the pro-
/ peller struck of the supports of the
! rudder. The machine did not travel far
/ before It started to swing around on its
| own axis to the left. 1t did not overturn
as was the general impression given 10
! spectators at the far end Of the field, but
| the left side veered downward Mr. Wright
! again regained his lateral equilibrium, but
! the machine then plunged forward, strik-
! ing the ground with terrific force. Mr.
Wright believes that he would have been
able to land safely had he been fifty feet
! higher in the air at the time of the ac-
cident.
! Evidence as to Accident.
Another theory advanced by several wit
]
rudder snapped off and was struck by the
propeller which in turn was broken Off
| This would cause the other propeller to
swing tho machine around. Lieutenant
Frank Lahm of the signal corps, who was
! among those first the scene, immedI-
/ ately took evidence from the eye witnesses.
/ An inquiry by the signal corps board will
! be held and a report forwarded to the
secretary of war.
Nothing has been heard at Fort Myer
from Lieutenant Selfridges father in San
Francisco, or his mother and brother, who
| are supposed to be in Boston Until word
is received from the family. the body Of
the unfortunate officer will remain at the
Fort Myer hospital.
It is possible that an autopsy will be
held TO determine whether his death was
due to the fracture at the base Of the skull
or from some other injury.
The splint in Wrights leg was adjusted
this morning. As the hours passed his
condition continued to be favorable, al
! though at 10 o'clock It was stated at the
| hospital that he had a slight fever. This.
however, was natural and the surgeon
stated that Wright would be able to see
his sister when she arrives this afternoon.
VIII Investigate Accident.
Today the wrecked machine was in the
shed where 1t has been housed since it has
been at Fort Myer, and the windows and
doors are nailed down. BY direction of
the War department, a stake has been
driven where Selfridge fell with view to
some time erecting a monument to mis-
memory.
Officers Of the aeronautical board today
began at Fort Myer a formal investigation
OF the accident and will report to the de-
partment
Following interview with Wright to-
day, Taylor, who has been Wright's as
sstant for over eight years, talked OF
plans for building a new machine. Turn
ing TO Furnass. the other assistant. he
said:
How long would It take to get material
here and rebuild the machine?"
About three weeks" said Furnass.
The motor Is intact" said Taylor. "Oi
course, the rest OF the machine is a total
wreck"
VIII Lose Valuable Time.
The greatest loss to Mr.. Wright" said
Mr.. Furnass, is the fact that he will be
unable to do anything this winter While
It would take but several hundred dollars
to replace the aeroplane, provide the motor
is in good condition, the loss of opportunity
TO make further flights and secure the
| SIS 600 from the United States government