The Washington times., 1911-07-09
AIRSH|P WRECKED
At COLLEGE PARK
ON INITIAL FLIGHT
Was to Have Been Demon
strated by Atwood on
Arrival,

The new Burgess Wright aeroplane
which the Burgess Company Cur
tiss was to turn over to the Govern
ment this week lies in the hangar at
College Park today, badly wrecked
from an accident which happened about
7:2O o'clock Saturday night.
The machine is the one Harry Atwood
was to come here and demonstrate for
the Government, and If 1t proved salts
factory it was to have been accepted
early this week and turned over to
Lieutenant Milling for use at the army
aviation school at the park. The aero
plane reached College Park yesterday
afternoon, and was taken from the car
to the Government hangar, where the
parts were assembled by w. Startling
Burgess, Of the Burgess Company.
This work occupied about two hours,
and 1t was nearly o'clock before the
engine was tuned up. Mr.. Burgess then
announced the machine was ready for
her trial trip.
Mr.. Burgess took the lever and, with
Lieutenant Milling as a passenger,
started to fly, but many Of the wise
ones shook their heads and pointed to
the fatal number ''23' on the machine.
Some were so supersuuous tnat they
even thought the aeroplane would not
get on the BrOunO, Dul IL uIuI "lluOuI
apparent difficulty. For three minutes
it circled the field, the highest altitude
being about 300 feet. Mr.. Burgess then
started to come down, but in making
turn the engine stopped. Mr.. BURGESS
worked the foot lever. The aeroplane
was at this time about thirty feet from
the ground. 1t turned a complete half
circle and landed with terrific jolt on
the right wing.
dler, hurried to the wreck. Lieutenant
Milling and Mr.. Burgess were able to
get out without help, and after eX-
animation DR.. Kelly announced nelther
of the men was hurt.
The running gear of he aeroplane
was wrecked, as we'll as the front skids
and three uprights. Two uprights over
the front braces were snapped in two,
and much of the wire on the machine
will have to be fixed. While no definite
cause for the accident has been given,
the impression today is that cinder
got in the engine while IL was In
course of transportation from Marble
head, Mass. The machine is duplicate
of the Wright craft now IN use by the
Government at College Park. 1t was
built by the Burgess Company & Cur
tiss, and is called a Burgess-Wr
machine.
1t was expected Atwood would demon
strate the machine tomorrow or this
afternoon. 1t will be necessary to get
new parts from the factory at Marble
head Mr.. Burgess left early this morn
ing for the factory. He says the aero
plane will be ready for demonstration
by Tuesday.
Harry Atwood will be here. expect,
early Sunday" said Mr.. Burgess last
night, ''as our company sent him
new machine at Atlantic City. ! really
came here because Atwood was detained
at Atlantic City. This is the first time
l have seen the Government aviation
field at College Park, and i IL an ex-
cellent one. We are turning out on the
average of one machine week at our
factory, and have four aeroplanes nearly
ready for delivery to the Government"
Mr.. Burgess was accompanied by his
wife and son.
From far-off Oklahoma a new aero
plane reached College Park t::is morn
ing the property CT Edgar NJ. Yates, of
Norman, Oklahoma, who invented the
machine. 1t is an aeroplane that re-
sembles the mOnoplane in general prn-
ciples, with the distinct feature of an
arrangement of propelling planes.
This machine is a radical change
from the screw propelling type of fly
ing machine. II works along the lines
of automatic control The inventor
believes this the most important factor
In the safety of flight. The machine
will not depend on the individual con-
troll of the aviator to the extent of tie
present screw propelled type, and the
mechanical principle involved comes
nearer to bird flight than the screw
propelled type that is in general use.