The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-10
ORv|LLE WRIGHT
BREAKS RECORDS
He DRIVES HIS AERoPLANE
THROUGH THE AIR FOR
62 MINUTES. 81
AT Fl. MYER DRILL GROUND.
Man.Bullt Bird Performs Satisfaction.
lily In the Presence Of Cabinet
offielals and Army and
Navy officers.

Washington, Sept. 10. Orville
Wright in three phenomenal flights ut
Fort Myer on Wednesday established
new aeroplane records that not only
assure the success Of the official trials
before the army board, but indicate
that aerial flight is now only matter
OF development.
Two flights of approximately one
hour each, another fight in which two
men we're whlrled through the air for
six minutes were the achievements OF
the Wright brothers aeroplane.
The first flight, made in the morn.
ing. In which the machine circled the
drill grounds at the fort 81 times in
81 minutes and 81 seconds, was sur
passed In the evening when a fight of
62 minutes and 10 seconds was made.
Not satisfied with breaking all dis.
tance and time records for a heavier
than air flying machine, MIR. Wright
took Lieut.. Frank p. Lahm, the aero
naut of the signal corps, for spin
around the drill grounds, making q
new record for twoman fight. All
this happened so quickly that the spec.
tators, among whom were members
OF the cabinet and high officers of the
army and navy, could hardly realize
that history had been made
The morning flight was witnessed
by only handful of enthusiasts. but
the news spread so rapidly that fully
1000 persons gathered on the military
reservation across the Potomac from
the national capital to see the after
noon event.
At 5:16 as the sun was disappearing
below the horizon, the latest invention
of man to challenge the laws of nature,
rose grandly into space and sailed
over the drill grounds. Higher and
higher 1t rose, turned at a slight angle
as the aviator brought IL around at
the far side Of the field and raced
along at increasing speed. There was
hardly quiver of the aeroplane in
the first few rounds of the field, Mr..
Wright evidently having the steering
apparatus we'll in hand.
Rising and lowering at will, the
sight OF the man.built bird was most
impressive. Round after round
the machine travelled on, cutting short
turns. shooting along the stretches
and presenting somewhat the appear ,
ance OF an automobile racing about
an imaginary course in the air The |
aviator paid little heed to anything |
but his levers for controlling the |
planes which control the altitude of |
the craft. He seemed obllvious Of |
the crowd below until, having broken
the record OF 81 minutes and 81 Sec
onds established by him in the morn |
ing, the crowd raised cheer that told |
him of his new achievement.
Before the flight was begun watch |
was tied to the seat next Mr. Wright |
and when little later he saw that
he had stayed aloft for over an hour,
the time required IN order for him
to fulfill his contract with the govern
Inent, he made for Mother Earth"
Swooping down in a sort Of bump the
bumps" fashion, the machine bore
down in the direction OF the crowd,
which quickly scattered, fearing that
the aeroplane would run them down
Raising a cloud OF dust as Il slid along
on the skids, the aeroplane, which
weighs nearly 1000 pounds, came to
stop within 20 feet OF the crowd.
AS Mr. Wright stepped from the seat
and removed his goggles he was
greeted with lusty cheers. At the
same time a letter from his brother
Wilbur, who has been making fights
at lie Mans, France, was handed to
him. Mr. Wright smiled as he broke
the seal. II was the first letter he
had received from his brother for two
weeks and It seemed TO interest him
more than the record breaking flight
he had just completed.
Lieut.. Selfrldge, who operated the
first successful aeroplane of the Aerial
Experiment association at Hammonds.
port, N. Y, was the first to congrat
ulate Mr.. Wright. Secretary Metcali
OF the navy, Secretary of War Wright,
and numerous army and navy officers
together with enthusiasts from every
walk of life, gathered about the wiz.
ard OF the air TO grasp his hand, As
three cheers were given, Wright gave
orders for replacing the machine on
the starting track to prepare for an
other flight He then took Lieut.
Lahrn In the machine and their flight
lasted six minutes.