Evening star., 1909-06-26
MORE TROUBLE WITH ENGINE
FLIGHT OF WRIGHT AERO
PLANE POSTPONED.
Nothing Further, Heard From A. M
Herring, Who Agreed to
Furnish Machine.

More engine trouble prevented fligh:
of the Wright aeroplane at Fort Myer
yesterday and it is now probable that the
first fight will be made Monday. The
engine, which ran all right in Dayton, was
roughly handled on its shipment to this
city and had to be entirely overhauled. IT
was found also that part of the ignition
device had been broken. This had to
be replaced and then there was trouble
with the mixing valve. The engine uses
no carbureter and the mixing valve,
which is an invention of the Wrights
themselves. is said to be remarkable
piece of mechanism. The engine was tried
out several times yesterday, but did not
work TO the satisfaction Of the aviators,
and Wilbur Wright spent most of the
day in town gathering repair material.
The starting rail and weight tower
were erected in the forenoon, which was
one of the last preparations TO be made
The engine had been working better dur
ing the morning. and while the wind was
unfayorable there was considered some
chance that the machine would be sent
up late in the afternoon. There is not
much doubt that weather permitting, a
preliminary fight can be made Monday
Crowd of Spectators Disappointed.
The crowd at Fort Myer waited for q
long time before 1t was definitely settled
that there would be no flight. It. is moi
so easy to get at the Wrights this yeal
assembled in the big balloon house, where
there was more room In the little aero
, plane shed there is scarcely room for the
machine and the necessary workmen
Consequently everybody is excluded from
the house, considerably to the satisfaction
of the Wrights themselves, who intense
ly dislike a crowd, and not much loss II
the spectators, but during the past weel
the shed has been one of the hottes
places in the United States.
There have been a great many visit
ors. but the brothers are no more Ioqua-
cious than they have ever been, in fact
Wilbur little less SO Of the two. They
apparently act on the principle of Prof
Simon NewcOmb, who went through q
reception without saying a word and eX-
planned when reproached that he never
said anything unless he had some infcr-
nation to impart.'
The arrangements for policing the
grounds have been placed in the hands OF
Maj Foltz of Fort MyeT. who will have
q big detail of enlisted men under him
and will be assisted by number OF
officers.
Nothing Heard From Herring.
Nothing further has been heard at the
War Department from A. NJ. Herring OF
New York, the other aeropIane contractor
who was to have completed his Official
fights by July J. In view of the fact
that he has asked for no extension and
that 1t probably would take week tn as
semble his machine, the officials of the
department express little hope of hearing
from him. In case Herring does not show
up the department will have on hand
the money which would have been ex-
pended on his machine.
The purchase price of this was to have
| been $4,000, and with bonus addeo
similar to the Wrights would have
brought the amount up to S24 200. Be-
sides this Herring is supposed to have
filed a bond of 81, 600 for the fulfillment OF
his contract, and this amount could be
forfeited to the government If the de-
partment SO decided. This money viii
be available for the purchase of another
aeroplane if the board of ordnance and
fortihcations elects.
There are a number of other aeroplane
contractors who would like to sell their
sible fresh bids may be opened when the
present trials are ended. 1t is not he
| lieved that the government will buy an
other machine from the Wrghts as II
does not care, at the present stage of the
art, to have two machines of identically
| the same type. The Wrights do not care
about furnishing another machine, either
as they have other business engagements
which they regard at the present time as
much more important