New-York tribune., 1908-09-18
LIEUT.. SELFRIDGE DIES
FROM INJURIES.
Record Holding AeroPlaHist Badly
Hurt-Broken Propeller Blade
Caused 75-FOot Fail.
IFrom The r,fbune Bursau-I

jured. and OrvfIle wright, nOtoer OF the WINS
record as an aeroplanist. was seriously hurt
when the Iatter's new aeropiane fell through
seventy-fve feet Of space this afternoon and
crashed down upon the Fort Myer parads
ground total wreck Both Mr. Wright and
Lieutenant SeIfridge were pinned beneath the
wreckage and it was with difficulty that they
were extricated by the signal corps men and
other spectators. who rushed to their aid
Both OF the injured men were hurried to the
nearest hospital where Lieutenant Seifridge
died at $40 O'Clock without having regained
consciousness. having sustained Internal IN
turies and fracture of the skull Mr. wright
is suffering from broken thigh. badly
wrenched arm and some bad scalp wounds. but
Is expected to recover.
While the machine encircling the drin
grounds propeller blade snapped OF. ard. hit
ting some other part OF the intricate mechsn-
ism. caused it 10 overturn in the air and fall
70 the ground. enveIoping the two occupants In
the debris.
WRIGHT CONSCIOUS AFTER FALL
7-ba s,sctators ran across the field to where
the aeropIane had fallen and assisted in i1ft-ls
Mr.. Wright and Lieutenant selfridse from
under the tangled Of machinery rods.
wires and shreds Of muslin Mr.. Wright was
conscious and said: "Oh, hurry and lifr ne
motor" Lieutenant selfridge was unconscious
and had apparently struck the ground with
0--eat force. Els head was covered with blooc
and he was choking when the soldiers extri-
Gated him from under the machine
DR.. l. l. Waters. p New York physician. was
| one OF the first to reach the spot and rendered
/ first aid TO the injured men When their wounds
had been bandaged Mr.. Wright and Lieutenant
selfridge were taken to the Fort Myer hospital.
at the other end Of the field II was feared that
| Mr. Wright was suffering from internal in5u-
ries He had Iapeed into state OF serni-eon-
zciousness by the time he reached the hospital.
| while Lieutenant SeIfridge did not regain con-
| sciousness at all He suffering from
fracture at the base OF the skull and was IN q
| critical condition
After a hurried examination II was announced
that Mr.. Wright was not dangerously Injured
He is suffering from fracture Of his left thish.
and several ribs on the right side are fractured
Roth men received deep cuts about the lead
Mr. Wright rezafned Consciousness at the hos
n,ta1 and dictated cable dispatch to his brother
at lie Mans France. and requested that the
same message be sert to his sister and father
at DAYTON. Ohio. assuring them thar he was al
right
RaIlying quickly from his severe injuries, MI.
Wright tonight sent Lieutenant Lanm 20 ma
Octave Chanute the pioneer aeroplanfst- VINO
aided the Wright brothers in their first gliding
fad IN
carzs NJ the accident with Mr.. Chanute. but the
nb,-sician decided that II would be best that Mr..
Wright should not exert himself 20 that extent
mfr Wright has suffered grave injuries, and
the injury TO the thigh alone Will Keep nm IN
he'd for six weeks said DIT. Howard H Bailey,
in charge OF the Fort Myer hospital HIS con-
sfton is not critical and he responded readily 70
treatment We dressed the thigh with side
spliut and Tomorrow a thorough examination
of his injuries will be made"
CROWD SEES ACCIDENT
Although there have been only handful Of
peopIe at the aeronautical testing grounds al
Fort Myer during the last few days. fully two
thousand had gathered there by 430 o'clock
this afternoon The aeroplane was still IN it's
she'd but Mr.. Wright arrived few minutes
later and ordered it taken 10 the northern end
of the field TO be placed the starting track
in readiness for flight
Lieutenant Selfridge took or his coat and hat
and took his place IN the extra seat next TO that
occupied by Mr. Wright The latter started the
motor by means OF a storage battery. his
sistants Taylor and Furnass. turning the pro-
pellers TO get them going. At 5:14 o'clock the
aeropIane was released and il was noticed that
II did not rise as quickly from the ground as
on previous two-nan flights. Lieutenant Self
ridge weighs about IT'S pounds. making the
weight greater than the machine had ever car
ried before
After gliding over the ground on its runners
for about thirty feet the machine rose gradually
and had gained height OF forty feet when 4
repassed the starting apparatus for the first
time There was six-mile wind and il
noticed that the machine did not move
smoothly as on its former flights. most OF which
were made In calm weather. The serOpanist.
however seemed 20 have control Of the flyer.
which rose TO a height OF seventy-hve feet as IL
completed the second round OF the field. This
height was maintained the third round
While the machine turning at the south
ern end OF the field. several thousand feet from
the spectators. some shouted
What Is that? Something fell"
MACHINE swooPs TO GROUND.
Immediately all eyes were on the aeroclane
and IL was seen to turn over on its left side
and pausing a moment. make a completes turn
and then come swooping the earth. where
it's fragments were hidden in cloud Of dust
No effort on the part OF the aviator could pos
sibly have averted the accident. Planes and
rudders were absolutely incapable OF rtgnttnx
the machine when II had turned IN that man