Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-09-18
FATAL TRIP.

reached this city about 4 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon that the seropisne would
fly and would sail over Alexandria. This
attracted large number Of citizens TO
shooters Hill, the point Of destination
of the aeroplsne. After waiting until
nearly dark and realizing that some
had happened to the aeroplane, tnlDg'
the disappointed ones returned to
their homes only to bear by kilograms
and telephone that serious mishap had
| occurred. The aeroplsne arose beauti'
fnllv. but while the machine was en-
circliug the drill grounds propeller
blade snapped off and hitting some other
mart of the intricate mechanism caused
Il to careen in the air and fall to the
ground, euvelopiDg the two occupants in
the debris. Soldiers and other spectators
ran across the field to where the atroplsne
had fallen and sssi.ted in lifting Mr..
Wright and Lieutenant Selfridge of the
Signal Corls of t1e srmy, who accom-
panied him, from under the tangled mass
of machinery, rods, wires and sbredS OF
muslin. Mr.. Wright was conscious and
said: ooh, hurry and lift the motor !"
Selfridge was unconscious and had ap-
parently struck the ground with great
force. His head was covered with blood
and be was choking when the soldiers
extricated BIN from under the machine.
The officer lay on the ground on all tours,
With an expression of agony On his lace.
Hinder him was WrightS arm. The
aviator. With blood streaming from
large cash In his forehead, lay across the
body of Lieut.. Selfridge. He was groan-
ing when lifted out of the wreckage.
When the men had been removed
from the heap, Maj. squier, Lieuts.
Lshm and Greasy, boon companions Of
Lieut.. Selfridge, and DR.. Millsrd Thomp-
son and several other volunteers began
stripping the clothing from the injured
men. Mounted artillerymen rode st
breakneck speed t. the post hospital to
summon surgeons, while members of the
signal corps ran fer buckets of water.
Lieutenant Selfridge was fatally injured,
and died at $40 O'Clock last night. Mr..
Wright was seriously injured, but is ex-
pected to recover.
Before going up with Orville Wright,
10 anticipation Of leaving for Missouri,
Lieut.. 6eliridge had packed his grip.
And in anticipation Of bis departure, not
from this world, in which be had
achieved such fame, but only from the
city. he had shaken many Of his friends
warmly By the hand and told them gooi'
by. These friends remembered bis hand
shake and the chtery words of good-by
when they lesrned last night of his
death. He was to have started for st.
Joe this morning, and many OF them had
promised to see him off at the Union sta
ton.
A chosen few had had engagements
with him for last evening, and these left
the festive bosrd to be near at bis bed
side, faithful to the end, and supply as
best they could that last association OF
those near and dear that falls to the
family.
Lieut.. Selfridge was selected to go to
ST. Joe, No., because of his success in
handling the Baldwin dirigible balloon,
in which he made several successful
flights at Fort Myer.
Orville Wright was resting easy this
morning, although very weak from the
terrible Injuries aud the shock he Sus.
tanned. II believe be will recover"
said DR.. Bailey, one Of his physicians.
"He is suffering from sslight conclusion
of the brain as we'll as the broken thigh
and three fractured ribs. He lie weak
from loss of blood, and have instructed
the nurses not to permit any one to see
him. He must be kept perfectly quiet,
and no intimation of Lieutenant Self
ridges death must reach him. He is
bearing up wonderfully well, under the
circumstances.
Lieutenant Selfridge lived only Little
more than two hours after the accident.
and during that time be did not recover
consciousness. An operation proved that
he had sustained compound fracture OF
the skull, under which large blood clot
had formed.
A few days ego, elated as a school boy
over the record breaking successes OF bis
brother in his seroplaDe flights In Amer
lea, Wilbur G. Wright, who 10 In LIE
Mans, France, today was greatly de-
J pressed over the news of the destruction
of Oryille's machine, his serious injury
and the death of Lieutenant Selfridge.
He locked himself in the aeroplane shed
at Auvours and denied himself to all
who came to console him, not even ad-
hitting the Prince and Princess de Sa-
Gan. He declined to make an extended
statement on the accident, declaring that
HE personal grief would prevent such a
thing, even if he we're in possession OF
sufficient facts to base an intelligent
statement. Wright has postponed all
his scheduled flights on account OF the
accident.
Emperor William today ordered the
German embassy at Washington to con-
vey to the family of Lieutenant Thomas
Selfridge, the victim OF the Wright aero
plane accident, hi, personal coincidence.
The emperor was shocked when be heard
of the accident at Fort Myer. He is
greatly interested in problems Of aerial
navigation and looked upon the Wright
brothers as the greatest exponent OF
aerial flights. He expressed the hope
shat the injury to Orville Wright would
| not deter him from continuing bis ex'
periments,
Lieutenant Seliridge was expecting
his mother, who lives in San Francisco,
to arrive in Washington this month.
Il L Il AAr.nirnl S..lfridOR