The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
ORVILLE WRIGHT
IS KING OF AIR
keeps AerOpIane in Flight One
Hour, Ia Minutes and "a
Seconds
breaks Records for Distance,
lime and Durability of
Machine

WASHINGTON. Sept. 12.-In two
nights at Fort Myer this afternoon Or
vile Wright in the Wright flyer broke
three records. Staying up nine minutes
and six and one-third seconds in the
first flight, in which Major George O.
Squiers, acting chief signal officer, ac-
companied him, Wright broke the rec
ord for a two man flight which he es-
tablished Tuesday. The first flight was
at 4.29 o'clock
In the second flight. which started at
3-I1, Wright broke the record for time
and distance Of a heavier than air fly
ing machine which he established by
remaining IN the air for one hour il
minutes and - seconds. In this flight
he also went higher than an aeroplan-
lst has ever gone, rising TO an altitude
of 250 feet.
Wright also maintained a higher
speed than in his other flights at Fort
Myer travelling around the drill
grounds at the rate of 1915 miles an
hour on the first flight when Major
SQulers accompanied him. The dis
tance OF this flight was SIS miles. In
lodays flight Wright broke the worlds
i record Tor time and distance for the
AL-th time this week
A crowd Of 5000 persons gathered to
witness today's flights and their enthu-
siasm knew no bounds II was ali the
-
plane from damage could do TO keep the
crowd back They cheered Wright un-
XII ne went away in the signal corps
automobile
COULD FLY LONG DISTANCE
Colonel James Templar, former chief
oL the aeronautical division of the Brit
ish army, who had been sending re-
ports 10 his government on his observa-
lions Of aerial flights in this country,
was one OF the most interested specta-
Tors at Fort Myer today. Octave Cha
mute, the pioneer aeronaut; Major For
nier, the French military attache and
numerous others We're present. After
the flights Colonel Templar said:
have always believed in the Wright
brothers, although I had never wit
messed any Of their flights before I
am sure that Mr.. Wright could fly in
the machine he is now using to New
YORK and back 10 Washington in one
night, without making any stops for.
fuel Just think what this would mean
IN time Of war
The aerial flyers are an advance
ment in warfare and viii lead TO gen
eral paclncation, believe.e The British
army has been making experiments
with aeroplanes for some time. but
am not at liberty TO say what has been
accomplished. / think within a month
something viii be heard from us We
have an American, F. S. Cody, and Cap
tain Dunn Of our army who have been
making experiments for some time. The
Wright brothers are the pioneers,
though, and they are perfect"
WILL INCREASE SPEED
Orviue Wright's assistants. c. W
aylor and c ". FUrnass. spent part
fof today making a few changes in the
aeroplane which were decided upon by
the aeroplanist after the flight yester-
day for the purpose of determining the
rate Of speed at which the machine
had been travelling. The sprocket of
the shaft now has 10 teeth. The gear
ing viii be reduced by substituting
sprocket with nine teeth. This will
result IN a greater number of revolu-
tiOns OF the shaft in proportion TO the
propeller, thereby increasing the power.
but diminishing the speed. The latter
then viii be increased by giving greater
speed 10 the motor
In his flights so far Wright has used
his motor at 1900 revolutions per min
ute, but when the new sprocket is in
place he intends TO increase this to
1850 revolutions With this change
the aviator expects to maintain an av-
erage speed Of at least "A miles an
hour. which would give him a bonus
OF $4,000 II this speed were averaged
IN the official speed trial So far the
motor has never failed, and during
The longest flights has never become
oVerheated nor shown any indictions
OF skipping TO any serious extent
WILBUR WRIGHT STRIKES TREE
lie MANS. France. Sept. 12-Lazare
Weller, Refine Quinlon, NJ. Deutsch-
Delamcurthe, Henry Farman and many
other well known experts in aeronautics
were present at the field of Auvours
this morning to witness Wilbur
Wright's attempt to make a prolonged
flight on his aeroplane.
The American, however, had another
run Of bad luck with his motor, which
caused him TO come to the ground
three times running. His longest flight
was six minutes and A seconds.
There was one thrilling moment for
the spectators when on one of its
rounds the left wing Of the aeroplane
came in contact with the top of
tree. Fortunately nothing was carried
away and the equilibrium of the ma
kcsine was not destroyed.
AIAGDEBURG. Sept. IA large
oirigible balloon appeared over this
city from the north at s o'clock this
morning and began series of ma
neuvers. After a while the balloon
disappeared in the direction of Berlin.
BERLIN, Sept. 1.-THE Gross dirigi-
bic balloon returned to its starting
place shortly before noon today after
a successful flight at moderate speed
Of l3 hours.
The distance covered was announced
as about 200 miles over a triangular
course, part Of the time against a
brisk wind.