New-York tribune., 1909-10-06
KEEN BLOW To WRIGHT
PEGRET OYER ACCIDENT.
You'd Hare Risked Life Rather
than Disappoint CrOScdS.

- r-osld rather that cylinder head had popped
.,, vrhen was in the air and left me 70 take my
s.,ces on making a safe descent than to have
s-.,,ointed that crowd Of people yesterday" was
80 astonishing statement simply made. by Wilbur
-I-,-st before leaving the city yesterday afternoon
E5s Uss az luncheon with William J. Hammer
-.,..srv OF the aeronautics committee OF the Hud-
- F,,lton Celebration Commission. They were
s.ls,r 2 farewell look al the aeroplane shed and
.-,ss from the west windows OF the Ofacers
51rb or Governors Island. 1t was a little after
s usual luncheon hour for the officers at the fort
ana a. II happened that they were alone.
s7Vhv. Nj Wright" said Mr.. Hammer in some
,r.,tement. editorials being written con-
-srulsting you and the world because OF the fact
ssst TIE explosion occurred when ii did"
Il mean Just what have said" was the quiet
response ,,,.
,orr, The irrational members Of the Battery bench
t-srsde that made sldrring. abusive and near
srruv remarks along the waterfront because Nj.
wdeh; did not hy at 4 O'Clock on Monday sfter-
mon 6id not know that The aviator shared their
disappointment -
aster breakfast. at O'Clock. at the Park Avenue
rots. NJ Wright went downtown on business
=, mas he crossed on the government ferry 10 see
o+s,Ys . his rnechanician, on the Island There
--.-s q few details be wanted 70 superlntend. ana
.sere were good5ys TO say TO some OF the ofheers
- 70 as many OF the sentries as he had time 10
&C.
Hammer accompanied Elm OF TINS Il -AA-
Hello Charlie" said Nj Wright TO M Taylor
,bo vas getting the machine ready 10 be shipped
70 Dayton. Ohio
sFselo win" with q handshake.
what's new?" ssked Nj. Wright.
Nothing new sir oe that blamed old good for
nothing motor kicked up-'
NJ Wright picked up g stick and began 70 Whit
ge IS he leaned against the shop bench
SOUVENIR HUNTERS HELP CHARLIE"
-, ,.-,,.,.- ,,,,,-.rs t,asr ,ro,,nd alresdv''
said Mr. Taylor, casually.
Just then q man gngerly approached the open
doors. Looks like one OF them coming now" said
Taylor
The man stood Al the opening in the attitude
~ q person about 10 knock, but prevented by
the absence Of any door TO knock against.
Is this Mr. Wright he asked, apologetically.
NJ Wright nodded Eenially.
7 have come 10 ask favor. Mr.. Wright
Z wont pose for any more pictures" replied the
sy4stor winking at the mechanician.
= very much want some little souvenir, II you
wouldn't mind" continued the visitor.
Mr. Wright began 10 inspect the interior OF the
shed. when the visitor something on the floor
thai enboldened him % advance within the in
closure. Il lay beneath the machine undoubtedly
had been part OF tie wondrous contrivance, and
That piece OF wood over there" exclaimed the
caller. IL might have that
Why, yes, ] guess that viii be all right said
the zeToplsnist. Help yourself"
The man thanked 9ir. Wright did not wait to
Ehzke hands but hurried away with the memento
n an inner pocket Of his coat
what part OF The machine was that?" asked a
tystander.
y never noticed It before" said Mr. Wright, with
8 shrewd look. 1t was just some chip that has
been lying around. That man helped Charlie TO
clean things up
Another man was satisfied little later when
Charlie" picked Up q piece Of solder and handed
il 10 him
a woman who lives on the island and had
watched each day for fights came in 70 say goodby
she wanted TO know where the passenger would
have sat If the aviator had taken one along. The
seat vas pointed out between the aviators and the
motor.
BLOW TO WOMEN PASSENGERS.
Must the passenger sit right next 10 that noisy
thing?" asked the woman.
-Cr not be 3 passenger said Mr.. Wright.
Isn't il awfuIIy hard 10 talk?" she asked
It's harder 70 hear" was the answer.
The fact that he smiled SO soon after the accident
being mentioned, Mr.. Wright said. 7 always smile
that way when things are as bad that" he said
he gave Mr.. Hammer piece Of the exploded
cylinder head that prevented some millions of per
Sons from seeing demonstration Of aerial flight
hsr woulG have made Others sink into insignifcance
From the island Mr. Wright and Mr.. Hamme,
vent TO the Offices Of the Hudson-Fulton Conrnis-
sion n the Tribune Building where an informal re-
cep-o1 was held, and M Wright met James n
Beck chairman Of the aeronautics committee; Col
one Henry ". Sackett, secretary Of the commits
sion; william Berri and Theodore P. Gilman. H,
was warmly congratulated on his achievement, and
received substantial check, the value Of WhicL
Tas not made public.
Wright told q little story, too. A man who vas
building aeroplane had written him for a SCI
o. the Wright brothers working drawings.
He ssi6 he would be glad for 10 send hin
fhe complete drawings Of machine that
he might be sure not u embOdy any OF our feat
ures- He had never been able 70 fly, he said, but
vas nov working on his third machine and was
AFRAID he might urwittingly infringe"
OrFlle Wright VIII return here from Germany
u month, b. aided. Mr. Wright mentioned The
iact that he WouIi teach three army officers al
college Park Maryland. instead OF two formerly
hsr'ed The men are Lieutenants Fulois. Lahn
sne Humphreys, the latter being the recently ap-
pointed member q the army aeroplane squad
ABOUT M. Curuss he SAID
remarked 10 Charlie the day that the
DoF-ss machine arrived that Mr.. Curtiss would
never make HiFht"
hurried tip was made 70 the Park Avenue
iaoLei y automobile. the handbag procured and
re machine driven 10 tho West go street ferry
~. wright vas ready 10 step aboard the AZ
, n Pennsylvania train for Washington. He
'eeehed OF his right hand TO NJ. Hammer.
ny Hammer" he said. Il very glad tha;
] cane here"
Good luck 70 ycu. Nr. Wright" responded Mr.
manner ss the train go: under way.