Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-07
WIND HA[TS FLIGHT
Blows Too Strong and Wrong
Way for Wright.
HE MAY NOT SOAR TODAY
Aeronaut Fears Holiday Crowd
Would Interfere.
BROTHERS TO MAKE BIG MONEY
Millions in Sight for Patent Right
Sales, and There Are Prizes
to Be Won.

Wind, too much of it and going the
wrong way. prevented flight of the
Wright aeroplane at Fort Myer this morn
ing.
Wright was not inclined to commit HIM
self as to whether or not there would be
a fight this afternoon. This being a holi-
day, there is apt to be a large crowd on
the ground. If SO Wright is not likely to
fly.
He dislikes working before big crowd.
1t is apt to distract his attention. With
inadequate arrangements for controlling
the spectators, there is possibility of acci-
dent.
Plans of the War Department to have
the entire drill ground roped off ard SEN
tried have not been carried out. A rope
stretched around part of the ground has
fallen down in numerous places. Never
an effort is made to keep the crowd off
the field till after the flight is concluded.
Then the mounted sentries usually ride
down to the place where the air machine
alights, and, without discrimination,
chase every one away, including on one
occasion Wright himself.
Wright has till September 2s to COM
plete his trials. He probably will make
short flights every day to familiarize him.
self with the machine. He will not cut
the time too close in making his official
trials, but is in no hurry to complete them
before his time limit expires.
Much Money in Sight.
There seems to be no question that the
Wright brothers are about to clean up
considerable money as the result Of their
years of work The $25.OOO they will re-
ceive from the United States for the sin
gle machine will not be a bad stroke of
small business. But the patent rights Of
the machine that Wilbur Wright is about
to sell to a French syndicate will net a
much larger sum, And there are nego-
tiations on with a number of foreign gov
ernments.
A number of good prizes are offered for
various performances, all within the scope
of the machines capabilities Some OF
these the brothers are going after as soon
as conditions permit.
A prize of $4,000 for the flight or a
heavier-than-air machine from London to
Manchester is offered by the London
Daily Mail. This is considered an easy
performance for the Wright brothers. as
the conditions allow three stops on the
way for fuel.
There is another prize of about $1,000
offered for a flight across the English
channel. 1t is thought Wilbur Wright
will go after this as soon as he gets
Some German prizes are offered too.
But most of these are hedged about with
severe conditions or are restricted to Ger
man citizens and German-built machines.
Flint Tells of Negotiations.
Charles R. Flint of New York. who rep
resents the Wright brothers in their ne
gotiations with foreign governments, was
in Washington yesterday to confer with
Orville Wright. Flints representative in
France, NJ. Berg, carried out the deal
which resulted in the organization of the
French syndicate for which Wilbur
Wright is making flights at LeMans.
Flint said:
practically every government which
maintains an up-to-date army and navy
Is making inquiry regarding the Wright
aeroplane. Our agents in Europe, South
America and the orient are in negotia-
ton.
This machine will, in my judgment.
revolutionize methods of fighting both on
land and sea. 1t can be used IN lieu of
light cavalry for scouting, can drop eX-
plosives on the deck of battleship, and
can carry dispatches across hostile
country.
A certain foreign government has made
inquiries Of me as 10 the cost Of these
aeroplanes. l offered a large number for
81 100000, and offered to deposit $4,000
with the bankers, to be forfeited IL they
did not fulfill requirements"
Orville Wright said that an offer SINH
lar to that of the French syndicate has
been made by a British concern. Recent
able reports say that a German syndi-
cate has been formed to secure the man
ufacturing rights for the aeroplane IN
that country.