Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-18

as possible. MT. no MIS- INT VIII NC
at the depot to meet her.
The mechanics who helped Wright in
the work on his machine are al most
he.rthroken over it's wreck. Mocha nc
Ta.l,r said that when the aeroplane fell
he expect d to find Orv lie dead.
". ore Knows bett r than L., said he,
"tie :ear;aches and sleepless nights this
aee: lane has cost the Wright brothers.
u to terrible to think about
SO, l7-ic Furness said he saw Orville
sy. nc ard to ge; the airsh.p level ain
sIe- I. q tr'pel er hrS Ike. but tina the
one r. vIlcr tlat was rev living pu.ed
the .rs 4. inc dtwnwari and to the lie t.
"It too strong" lie S Id. Ito restore
the eauil. trium OF tie machine.
"It was most distress ng at this Guild
happen Just at the zenith of VIZ gh s
succs S. He had bright prospects o. De-
coming a very rich man.
Taylcr in discussing the acc dent SAID
he could not see how the two prope lers
could have come together. The angle line
was In perfect condition before the n sht
.,d the steering plane and main plane
were all right
Roth Taylor and Furness visited
Wright this morning. Wright told Tay-
accident happened in the air.
Nothing has been heard at Fort Myer
from Lieut. Selfridges father in San
rrancisco. or his mother and brother.
who arc supposed to be in Boston Until
word Ia received from the family the
body of the unfortunate oficer will re-
main at the Fort Myer Hospital.
It is possible that an autopsy Will be
hot
was due to the fracture at the base OF
the skull or from some other injury.
May See His Sister.
The splint in Wright's leg was ad-
1usted this morning. AS the hours
passed his condition continued to be
favorable, although at 10 o'clock 1T was
stated at the hospital that he had
slight fever. This, however was natu-
raj, and the surgeon stated that Wright
would be able to see his sister when
she arrives.
Conformably to army regulations, an
oficial report was submitted to the
adJutant general today. giving the
cause OF the death of Lieut.. Selfridge.
This was made by Maj. George 0.
6Quier, acting chief signal officer
II described the cause of death as
fracture Of the skull due to falling
from en- aeroplane with Orville Wright,
while on duty in aeroplane work at
Fort Myer. Selfridges body has been
prepared for burial.
II the family wish 1t the body will be
sent to his home on the coast. If they
prefer to have It inferred at the Airing
ton National cemetery this will be done
under the direction of the military au-
thorities. In that case Lieut.. Selfridge
will be given a military funeral.
Turning at once today to the practical
side Of the case, two OF the officers of
the Signal Corps aeronauttcal board went
10 Fort Ayer to conduct general and
formal investigation into the cause of
the accident. These officers are Maj.
6slt1man and Lieut.. Lahm, both of whom
witnessed the accident yesterday. This
Investigation or inquiry is required by
army regulations. Their report will be
made to Maj. sauires.
Faith in Wright Airship.
The accident has not in the least
shaken the faith Of the experts Of the
Signal orps In the efficacy Of the fiyinl
machine and dirigihle balloons, accord
ing to several who expressed their views
today. but Is simply temporary setback,
due TO faulty construction and material
and not to one Of principle.
MY belief in the future of the flying
machine said a member of the aeronau-
teal board, is no more shaken because
OF yesterdays accident than 1t would be
in the future of railroad transportation
should an accident happen to a locomo-
tive and result in great loss of life and
property. Accidents and delays are in
eeparable from the development of in
ventions in all branches Of work.
The possible unfavorable effect of the
accident on congressional appropriations
is realized by the officers. who say it
may provoke a hostile attitude in Con-
gress against giving the money which
the War Department thinks ought to be
available for progress in ae onaut:c Il
work in order that the United States may
keep apace with European nations.
Gen. Allen has practically decided to
ask Secretary Wright to recommend %
Congress that an appropriation of s75 y
c0u be made by it for the coming fiscal
ear fer the use Of the Signal Corps.
Orville Wright Is und con ract to de-
liver his machine to the War Department
by the 2sth ms ant. with all the trials.
complete. He was to receive s25 900 for
the aeroplane If it came up to the specifi-
ca ions.
War Department Will Wait.
The opinion of the officers of the Signal
Corps now is that Wright will not be able
10 do any more work this fall. The dis
position is to indefinitely extend the time
for the final delivery of the machine to
the government to such time Wright
may be able to take up again and prose-
cute actively his aerial trials.
Today the wrecked machine was in the
shed where it has been housed since he
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 monument to his
memory.
omcers Of the aeronautical board today
began at Fort Myer a formal investiga-
tion of the accident and will report to the
department.
The board returned to the signal Of
fee from Fort Myer this afternoon and
went into session over their report on
the disaster to the Wright aeroplane
This report will be submitted 10 the
acting chief signal officer who will prob
ably give il out for publication tomorrow
been moved before its inspection by the
n h.