Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20

cause Of the accident to the aeroplane
Embodying this and the information he
received from Mechanic Taylor in long
cablegram, he notified Wilbur Wright OF
his conclusions.
The accident was from such trivial
beginning that Ii seemed we'll worth while
to put Wilbur on his guard against SIM
liar occurrence,
Charles Taylor found on examining the
aeroplane after the accident that the
whole trouble had been caused by the
vibration of a guy wire connecting the
rear rudder with the back of the upper
plane The marks on the propeller
showed that this wire had vibrated enough
during the flight to touch the propeller.
scratched off the tip.
The other blade of the propeller. in
going around. had struck the vibrating
wire and cut 1t off. at the same time
breaking the blade of the propeller. This
had wrecked two of the most import ant
parts of the steering gear, that controlling
the main planes and the rear rudder.
1t was easy to see after the accident
how 1t could have been avoided. A loop
Of wire around the guy wire would have
kept 1t out of the path of the propeller. It
would not have cost anything in time
money to make this addition. But there
was no way of telling in advance that the
wire would vibrate enough to get in the
way Of the propeller blades.
1t is not known just how long the pro-
peller is that Wright is using in France.
He has at least been notified as to the
cause of his brothers accident so he can
avoid 1t.
Military Honors for Selfridge.
Lieut.. Selfridge will be given military
funeral. probably Thursday. His father
left San Francisco yesterday for Wash
ington. Until his arrival the body will re-
main in the receiving vault at the Airing
ton National cemetery. where burial will
probably be made.
kilograms Of coincidence from all over
the world have been received at the War
Department.
Capt Bailey. the surgeon who has been
in charge Of the Fort Myer hospital, said
last night:
Mr. Wright is resting easily. He is
suffering from the natural reaction of
such injuries as he received Thursday.
His pulse is above normal and his tenn
perature is a little high, but he Is doing
satisfactorily.
II cannot say he is out Of danger. 1t
is always possible when a person re-
ceives a severe injury such as his that
complication might set in"
Lieut.. Creecy Of the Marine Corps. who
saw Wright today. said:
His eyes are bright and he looks a
great deal better than I expected to find
him. OF course no one mentioned aero
plane to him.
He seems to be in good spirits. but is
little tired and his injuries are quite
painful. / think he knows now that
Lieut.. Selfridge is dead, although no one
has asked him or endeavored to learn
whether he really knows about it.
''It is presumed that he learned of
Lieut.. Selfridge's death from some letter
in his mall, which he was permitted to
read today"
The splint on Wright's leg will be ad
justed again this morning.
Sister Looks at Aeroplane.
His sister is the guest of the Signal
Corps while in the city and has been ex-
tended every facility for assisting her
brother. Miss Wright yesterday viewed
the wrecked machine and showed famil
iarity with all it's intricate parts and the
cause of the accident.
Maj. Fournier. the French military at
tache, called at the hospital yesterday.
Col. Baron de B0de. military attache of
the Russian embassy, sent telegram to
the chief signal officer.
Charde d'Affaires Des Portes of the
French embassy called on Acting Secre-
tary Of State Adee and left with him on
behalf of the French government and
himself a note of sympathy evoked by
the accident to the Wright aeroplane at
Fort Myer Thursday.