Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-22
Wilbur Wright !; sn / i !!
His Brothers Record.
Stays In All One Hour, SO
b Minutes and ST Seconds.
Wildly Chesred at 10 Mans By
\ Al Crowd Of 5000.

Lemans, Sept. 21.--In the presence of
the officials of the Aero Club of Sarthe
General Bazaine- Hayter, commander
of the Fourth Army Corps the Ameri-
can AMBASSADOR Henry White, a large
number of French and foreign officers
and aeroplane experts and q wildly
cheering crowd, numbering 10000, Will
bur Wright, the American aeronaut,
this afternoon accomplished signal
triumph capturing the worlds record
from his brother Orville Wright, with
q marveliously impressive flight in his
powerful machine OF one hour, 80 min :
utes and 81 seconds, covering in that
time an actual distance of SO kilome-
tres, or nearly 81 miles.
Owing to the recent accident at Fort
Myer today's trial for the Michelin
cup, for the greatest distance covered
by an aeroplane in 1908. and the Aero
Club prize of $1,000 for the longest
fight over an enclosed ground attract
ed intense interest, although the spec.
tators displayed the utmost Difference
and sympathy. Mr.. Wright at first
appeared nervous, and ill-luck seemed
to be pursuing him. The wind was
too high in the morning to permit Of
flight and when it fell. at O'Clock
this afternoon, Mr.. Wright made three
false starts.
Finally, at SIS, after the direction
of the starting rail had been changed
to point in the teeth Of the breeze,
which was then blowing gently about
four miles an hour the aviator got
away nicely, sailing fnajestically up
the field amid laundering cheers. Red
flags We're posted at regular Intervals,
which permitted the spectators to esti-
mate the distance of the flight as Mr..
Wright proceeded. -
After rounding the upper turn
Wright swept back to where the thou
sands were gathered and began de-
scribing ellipses. Round and round he
Went with the regularity (. OF clock
work and the steadiness of a railroad
train. The great crowd was at once de-
lighted and amazed at the remarkable
stability showed by the aeroplane
Wright at first manifested extraordf-
nary prudence, flying go low that he
seemed almost to skim the earth, but
on the 18th round he rose. to 80 feet.
The sun was just then Setting, glow
ing like gold, and the aeropinne ap-'
peared like a huge bird circling the
plain. Cheers greeted the picture ind
these were redoubled as ne successive
ly Surpassed his own record and then
his brothers. -. " -
In the gathering darkness the spec
ticle became thrilling. The aeropiaIfa
could no longer be seen at the farther
end OF the field; it appeared and dis
appeared in the gloom like a white
phantom, but the sound of the cease
less chnrn of the. propellers told tho
multitude, which had now grown fran
tic, that Wright still was in the All
Watcher we're lighted to keep watch
of the fleeing minutes and night had
fallen when at the end of the $50 round
Wright shut oft his motor and CAME
lightly to the ground in front ofttho
derrick. -
with mad cheer the crowd broke
the lines and rushed Forward.
,nly being prevented from hofsting the
American in triumph on their shoua-
ders by charging cavalry.
Among the first to reach Mr.. Wrights
side Was Henry White, the Amer1can am
who told the smiling herpIiadt
pf the keen pleasure he felt in Witness
ing his victory. Subsequently Amoassa-
ior White said he believed the American
people should present q testimonial TO the
Wright brothers.
III Germany honors Zeppelin ne ask
I'd, why should American not honor the
,en who have opened d fiew page III tho
history of the worid?" ''
Mr.. Wright told The Associated Press
hat he had descended only because ot
darkness: he still had sufficient essence
n the tank to last an hour.
AS the measurement under the rules Is
only taken from the flags. the official
distance or the flight 10 given As 661o
kilonieters For the Micheiin aero prize
only the time before sunset counts. md
therefore, in his attempt To win the trophy
Wright set a record OF So minutes. cover
np as & lilorneters. ~ ~ Fl ,sn ie,h 'sToi,.:s
Wright took his achievement with hfs
usual modesty, but he said that he was
specially giad to have estabiished 4 new
worlds record for Orville's sAke He de-
MED the report that he does not 'intend
to carry O passenger. - "'s
-.----." '''3' y IF
Washington, Sept. 2l.-Aithough suffer
ng from restlessness today. Orvills
condition tonight n Eatisfacto-
y. lie succeeded in getting severAl
,ours' sleep this afternoon and aft&r the
news Of his brothers. record bFeakrnk