g, erected in
1901 and enlarged in 1902, was found to have been blown by a storm from
its foundation posts a few months previously. While we were awaiting the
arrival of the shipment of machinery and parts from Dayton, we were busy
putting the old building in repair, and erecting a new building to serve
as a workshop for assembling and housing the new machine.

Just as the building was being completed, the parts and material for the
machines arrived simultaneously with one of the worst storms that had
visited Kitty Hawk in years. The storm came on suddenly, blowing 30 to
40 miles an hour. It increased during the night, and the next day was
blowing over 75 miles an hour. In order to save the tar-paper roof, we
decided it would be necessary to get out in this wind and nail down more
securely certain parts that were especially exposed. When I ascended the
ladder and reached the edge of the roof, the wind caught under my large
coat, blew it up around my head and bound my arms till I was perfectly
helpless. Wilbur came to my assistance and held down my coat while I
tried to drive the nails. But the wind was so strong I could not guide
the hammer and succeeded in striking my fingers as often as the nails.

The next three weeks were spent in setting the motor-machine together.
On days with more favorable winds we gained additional experience in
handling a flyer by gliding with the 1902 machine, which we had found in
pretty fair condition in the old building, where we had left it the year
before.

Mr. Chanute and Dr. Spratt, who had been guests in our camp in 1901 and
1902, spent some time with us, but neither one was able to remain to see
the test of the motor-machine, on account of the delays caused by
trouble which developed in the propeller shafts.

While Mr. Chanute was with us, a good deal of time was spent in
discussion of the mathematical calculations upon which we had based our
machine. He informed us that, in designing machinery, about 20 per cent.
was usually allowed for the loss in the transmission of power. As we had
allowed only 5 per cent., a figure we had arrived at by some crude
measurements of the friction of one of the chains when carrying only a
very light load, we were much alarmed. More than the whole surplus in
power allowed in our calculations would, according to Mr. Chanute's
estimate, be consumed in friction in the driving chains. After Mr.
Chanute's departure, we suspended one of the drive chains o