Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-06-06
ALTMAN WILBUR
WRIGHT DEAD
Made Brave but Futile Fight
Against Typhoid.
BROTHER WITH HIMrAT END
Was Always the Plain, Democratic.
Modest American, Though Over
wheImed With Foreign Honors
and Royal Decorations.

Dayton, Ohio blowing q sinking
spell that developed soon after mid
night, Wilbur Wright, the noted avia-
tor. died OF typhoid fever at 3.16 Thurs
day morning. Wright had been linger.
ing on the border for many days and
his condition from time to time gave
some hopes to members of his family
that he would recover.
When the noted patient succumbed
he was surrounded by the members Of
his family. which included his aged
father, Bishop Milton Wright, Miss
Catherine Wright, Orville, the coin.
ventor Of the aeroplane; Reuchlini
Wright and Lorin Wright.
Put Blame on Fish.
The noted patient was seized with
typhoid May 4, while on a business
trip in the East. On that day he re-
turned to Dayton from Boston and con-
suited Dr. Franklin, the family physi-
clan. He took to his bed almost i'm
mediately and it was several days be-
fore his case was definitely diagnosed
as typhoid Throughout the early part
of his illness Wright attributed his
sickness to some fish that he had eaten
at a Boston hotel. He explained to
his physician, however, that he had no
particular reason to believe that the
disease originated from this source.
: Started AZ Printers.
The Wright brothers, Wilbur and
Orvihe, in their. younger days were
printers. They were Of an inventive
turn Of mind, and when they were lit.
tie boys they always were working on
some device, They always worked to-
gether in harmony. ,
While youngsters on the farm near
Dayton, Ohio, the boys once had con-
tract to fold and prepare papers for
mailing. The paper was published In
the interest of church. After fold
ing two or three editions by hand they
grew tired Of this and set their heads
to work. The result was mysterious
mass of strings and rollers. It was
necessary only to put the papers in
and turn crank and they came out
folded better than it could be done by
hand This machine did the same
work in few hours that had occupied
them as many days working by hand.
They afterward were engaged in re-
pairing bicycles. They had q, shop. and,
in addition to tinkering with bicycles,
they made improvements for them. They
had several men working under them.
They devoted considerable time to the
problem Of flying machines at this
period and made many experiments.
They made the engine for use in the
machine themselves.
Their Capital Small.
The boys had no large amount Of
capital. All they accomplished was
without financial aid and by their own
energy and pluck.
They invented the first practical fly
| ing machine and risked their lives in
proving it. After flying for time they
quit and devoted their time to making
money out OF their inventions. Wilbur
Wright figured out the chances Of life
! !.
and death in practically every kind OF
a fight. A few minutes conversation
4 with him would convince anyone that
he had worked out with the keenness
of gambler the chances of success OF
failure. He would tell you that in fly.
/ ing over a city an aviator had one
chance in 40 or so to win success by
keeping his motor running. Should
the motor stop there is no hope OF cut
ting across the skyscrapers. In flights
across lakes or the British Channel
Wright said there is one chance in 4G
Of being killed. He disapproved speed
contests, realizing that there were
greater chances of miahaps than IN
any other sort Of flying.