The Washington herald., 1908-08-16
BALDWIN WINS.
Continued from Page One.

o'clock There the board will announce
[ The average speed Of the machine IL the
speed test on Friday and tke average 10y
. the hour in yesterdays voyage. The
board probably Will then recommend the
I purchase OF the dirigible. and a deal Will
De closed with Capt. Baldwin and Mr.
Cur-iss-
Announced the speed.
When Capt Baldwin arrived at Fort
NIyer yesterday FOR the hnal test OF h!s
machine. which he has been trying out
for two weeks. Mai Squier. chairman Of
the board OF test. announced that the
highest Official speed made by the 6irigibIe
on Friday evening was Is6l miles an
hour This Is identical with the unofficial
figures computed by The Washington
Herald representative, who followed Capt.
Baldwin's dIriEible in an automobile Fri
day evening The maximum speed shown
b. the dirigtble was 81 miles more than
the specifications called for. and Capt.
Baldwin was greatly pleased over ths
announcement
Capt Baldwin was informed that IN
order 20 maintain 70 Per cent OF his high
est speed on Friday. he would have 20
cover z74f miles IN the Jwo-h0ur test
yesterday
II that wind dies doxn any time soon,
said Capt Baldwin with the utmost con
EGenca. III cover more than thirty
miles. and a good lot more than thirty
miles. too"
At AS O'Clock the wind was blowing al
a rate Of nine miles an hour over the
tower on the post exchange. The flag on
the balloon tent stood almost straight
out. and Capt Baldwin said he would
not attempt 20 maintain % per cent Of
Fridays average IN such a breeze
Wait until the wind IS blowing at
four OF 6ve miles an hour said Capt
Baldwin 10 a number Of newspaper men
who crowded around hlm 20 ascertzin
whether he would start on the last test
I'll make better time to-day than tu
yesterdays flights. Il I can get the wind
a. four OF I'VE mile clip"
After several conferences with members
Of the board and AIr Curtiss. and fre-
Cueur c01suIra ations with the enlisted men
taking the wind velocity. Capt Bald
win said he would set his machine IN
readiness fOr the voyage in case the
winds speed diminished At SO O'Clock
the wind gauges reported that a six
mile breeze was blowing
Wen start IN thai" said Capt Bad
win Wen be ready = a few minutes.
Changed His Plans.
Capt. Baldwin announced on Friday
night he would sail over Washington and
circle around the top OF the Monument
several times but ne changed his plans
when he noticed the wind 20 be against
him for such a cruise Another thing
that argued in favor Of the CheTydale
course was the fact that both Capt
Baldwin and Nj CUrtiss were thorough
y familiar with the elevation q the land
Iying between the Virginia hamlet and
the military post and knew where tC
make the JUrES without guessing at them
The board OF test had already laid out
this course and measured It. and Cap
Baldwin knew time would be saved BY
travelling the old course
At so o'clock the balloon was brought
out or the tent and balanced in the afr
over the c0ncourse- Two minutes later
the dirigible SCARED into the air The
OFFICIAL starting Ilue was crossed At SAP
o'clock. Capt Baldwin following the Falls
Church car tracks as far as Clarendon.
There he steered toward the other end OF
the course For the first several minutes
TIE balloon rocked a trihe From an au-
tomobue directly under the balloon. The
Washington Herald representative could
discern Capt. Baldwin rearing hack
against the frame and holding the rudder
ropes straight and taut Mr.. CUrtiss
stopped over from his seat now and then
10 increase the speed Of the engine At
$50 O'Clock capt Baldwin turned around
and again headed toward Fort Mye--
Al o. the turns were made south Of
drew Lipscomb white mansion on the
summit Of a Lii as his guide TO the
Official finishing line Of the course. Lieuts. /
Lam and FOuiOis. Of the board OF test. [
and an enlisted man from the Signal I
Corps. stood on the tower on the roof Of /
Wallace ScUrJs' house. north Of Cherry /
dale They waved a large red Signal I
Corps flag. which was plainly visible TO {
Capt Baldwin. On none OF the seven (
trips cid Capt Baldwin sail TO this flag /
but he crossed the line each time. and 4
none Of the trips was short OF the meas /
Ured distance. two and one-sixteenth /
miles
Capt Baldwin's turns at the end Of the 4
course were made over a deep hollow " /
ing between the LIpsconb mansion and /
Park lane. Each time he turned he was I
about $50 feet above the Old Dominion 4
trolley line At 5-5S o'clock Capt Bald /
win recrOssed the line at Fort EIyer.
completing the four and oue-eizhth miles