Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-19

that he expected the announcement Of his
brothers death.
When he was told that Orville's injuries
probably were not serious a faint smile OF
relief filtered to the corners of his mouth
and he said:
He was lucky to get off so lightly
Then, turning to Mr.. Berg, he said:
Now you understand why l always felt
that I should be In America with Orville.
Two heads are better than one to examine
a machine"
Mr.. Wright then sat down on a beam
of the framework used to hold his machine
and bowed his head to hide his emotion.
When he looked up again his eyes were
swimming with tears and his mouth was
twitching convulsively. II had rather be
killed myself" he said, than that We
should be responsible for the death OF
Lieutenant Selfridge. 1 feel that We guar
antee all passengers against accident.
When we have a passenger we always
think first of his safety"
When he had grown calmer Mr.. Wright
said he could not understand the acct
dent at Washington from the meager de-
tails given in the dispatch, which said
simply that a blade of the propeller had
become detached. He thought it lmpossi-
pie LOT the pIOltllrE 70 httdtn dlu bltAh
a blade and said that in all their expert
ence this was the first accident to a pro-
peller.
Then, stepping UP to his machine, he
pointed out that the propeller was I'm one
piece with the axle sheath. He thought
the only conceivable way the accident
might have happened was that there had
been some defect in the material. caus n
the axle to snap, or difficulty with the
transmission gear at the junction, such as
improper fabrication, which would render
one OF the propellers immovable.
'OTville wrote me hat there was a ten
dency to bend at the Junction" he said.
III this occurred the chain of one of the
propellers would be torn off, leaving the
other still in action, thus swinging the
aeroplane rapidly around on its axis. This
must have been the critical instant. 1t
then became necessary TO operate the lever
with the correct turning movement. At
the same time, II the power Of the motor
was cut Oft, 1t would be easy to keep the
machine on an even keel and allow 1t 10
descend on its own planes.
The difficulty doubtless was that TO shut
off the power it is necessary to let go the
lever momentarily, and in the mental con-
fusion OF an unprecedented mishap THIS
may not have been done. This necessity or
relinquishing the lever to shu off the
power is a defect which l have been study
ing. 1t could easily be remedied by a con-
nection which would permit the foot in
stead OF the arm to operate the cutoff"
After this explanation of what he believed
has occurred at Washington Mr.. Wright
was left alone to pull himself together. A
few minutes later a friend entered the shed
and found him sitting with his head in
his hands. lie looked up sadly and said.
III anything could make me abandon
further work in solving Ue problem Of
heavier than air flight. which mas been my
dream since / was II years old. it would be
an accident like this
Then. sprngipg up suddenly, Mr.. Wright
declared;
mo, we have solved this problem. With
US flying is not an experimental is a dem
onstrauon. l will wait until / hear from
Orville."
The announcement of the postponemsnt
OF the trials scheduled today aud the rea-
sons therefore, which were at once made
known, created a profound impression
among those who had gathered al the field
and there were many expressions OF deep
sympathy from the local inhabitants.
among whom Mr.. Wright is a hero. The
aeroplanists present received the news Of
the fatal aeroplane accident with evidences
OF grief and they expressed their sincerest
sympathy with Mr.. Wright, whose mar
yelous success Is the admiration Of the
world.
No consideration has yet been given to
the possibility Of Wilbur Wright returning
to America to continue the official tests
for the American government Although