The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-09-12


achievements OF the WRIGHT brothers
acroplane. That these nirhts. record.
breaking as they were. will even ID,
surpassed hy Orvue Wright iur.a-
bis trials 81 Fort Myer. is conhdcu Is
predicted. The first aight. 20 which
Che machiae circicd the d-iu ground.
90 the fort GO times 81 81 minutes and
- seconds was surpassed when q
iisht Of 90 minutes AMI Is soc % S
was made
Not satisfied with breaking au dis
lance and time records for a heasi 2.
Fan Do dying machine. Mr vrseht
-ooA Lieutenant Frank p. I-aLm. the
lcronGut of the signal corps. for a
spin around the dr4l grounds. uak-re
a now record Tor a tyec-man dizht An
GALS happened So quickly aud osten.a
uously that the spectators amcre
whom were members OF the cabinet
ana high officers OF the ARMY and
nafy could hardly realize that his.
foty had been made and that "a n.u
ga iu the progress OF the civilized
world vas begun.
AS the sun was disappearing below
'he Virginia horizon the latest iav--
zion OF man 10 challenge the laws OF
manure rose graldly into space and
sailed over the greensward OF th.
lrii grounds Higher and higher Be-
rose. turned az a slight angle as the
aviator brought Il around az the FAR
side oi the fcld and raced aiorr a.
increasing speed. There was hardly
CULVER OF the cero0la2e in The FIRST few
rounds OF the field. Mr.. Wright evi.
IDENTIFY having the steering apparatus
Wen In hand
Rising and lowering at viii the
siEht of the man-built bird was most
Impressive. Round after round the
machine travelled on. cutting shorr
turns shooting along the stretches and
presenting somewhat the appearance
cf an automobile racing about an
imaginary course Ia the air. The ava
tor paid little heed TO anything but his
levers Tor varying the surfaces ~ the
planes and controlling the planes that
control the altitude OF the craft He
seemed Obvious OF the crowd below
until having broken the record Of s.
minutes and 81 seconds. the crowd
raised cheer that told him OF his new
achievement Then Mr. Wright waved
his acknowledgements.
Before the light was begun a watch
was tied TO the seat next 10 Wright.
and when little later he saw that he
had stayed aloft for over an hour. the
time required in order for him 10 ful-
MI his contract with the government;
he made for mother earth" SWoop
Ing down in a sort OF bump the
bumps" fashion. the machine bor-
down In the direction Of the crowd
which quickly scattered fearing that
the eeroplane would run them down
Raising a cloud OF dust as il slid
along on the skids. the aeroplane.
which weighs near 1000 pounds. came
TO stop within twenty feet OF the
crowd.
As Mr.. Wright stepped from the
seat and removed his goggles. he was
greeted with iusty cheers Turning 10
Lieutenant LahIn one OF the leading
aeronauts Of the army, Mr.. Wright
said:
How would you IKE to go up with
Ee7- 1t WAS an invitation that nsel.
Cd no repetition. There were no skep.
ties In that crowd OF enthusiastic
spectators. and there we're a great
number who envied the favored lieu.
tenant
With the two men. Mr. Wright and
Lieutenant Lahm. In their places. tie
start was made, the machine appar.
entity rising from the ground as easily
with its increased burden as il had
with only the inventor on board. After
the sixth lap a beautiful landing was
made within a hundred feet OF the
aerial garage" whore the machine Is
sheltered from the elements.
Mr.. Wright. as usual displayed no
emotion, but Lieutenant Lahm was
most enthusiastic. 1t beats spherical
ballooning." was his first comment Il
had a fine trip, but did not attempt e.
manipulate any Of the levers. I watch.
ed Mr.. Wright closely as he handled
the controlling apparatus. We could
see Washington in the distance and
everything that went on below. Il was
great sensation, and | am impatient
now until we have a machine which
we can operate ourselves"