The Washington herald., 1908-08-12

Rising from the ground Ike a huge
bird, and flying westward It the rate Of
a fraction more than eighteen miles an
hour, the great gray diriglbIe piloJed by
Capt Baldwin its inventor, made its most
successful fight from Fort 0Iyer yester-
day afternoon
Several thousand enthusiastic specJa-
tors. incIu5ing Secretary OF War Luke E
Wright Gen allen. Chief signal Ofacer Of
the army and many women, cheered the
doughty sky pilot as he dexterously han
died his pet bird
a more ideal day could not have been
selected for flight The atmosphere was
almost stiI. and not cloud obscured the
spectators vision OF the balloon during
its fight. which lasted twenty-five min
utes
CAPT Baldwin and Engineer Curriss
were as calm as the weather Neither
showed the least sign Of nervousness
Both the navigator and engineer were
highly pleased with the fight, and said
they could ask for nothing better. Capt
the framework Of the flyer 70 the ground,
'Curuss, the money is ours; our worries
are Overt
Scars One Thousand Feet.
The great airship was brought out Of
the aero1autIc tent TO the co1course at
6 O'Clock Promptly Al SIS o'clock Capt
Baldwin commanded al hands 10 LEI so.
Immediately the great bird answered the
movement Of the long propeller and
smoothly and swiftly rose 10 q height OF
about 800 feet, and then. with increasing
speed. darted westward. slowly rising
until a height OF LOO fee- had been
reached The wheel on The motor was
revolving something Ike $50 times a
minute. and the slender propeller was
whirIirg around at The rate OF 80 rsvoiu-
tons minute. This was the maximum
speed reached yesterday. but 4Ir- Cur
Jiss said that he held power enough in
reserve 10 turn the propeller AZ the rate
Of SO revolutions e minute he added
that he would let that reserve power
out to-day IN the Official flight
Long before the machine was ready for
its flight the grounds around the wall
tent, in which the balloon is housed. were
covered with enthusiastic spectators
Guards from the signal Corps and cav
airy were stationed in the balloon house
and kept out all persons who had no bust
ness inside other than 10 see The sides
Of the tent were rolled I'd, however. and
every one was permitted 70 view the ma
chine al close quarters. though they
were not permitted TO come inside
Secretary Wright Early.
Among the early arrivals were Secre-
tary Of War Gen Luke E Wright and
Chief signal Officer Gen Allen Secretary
Wright came into the house smoking q
huge black cigar. which was contrary 10
orders promulgated by the signal officer
in charge Of che balloon house One OF
the cavalry guards not knowing who
Gen Wright was. spotted the smoke and
black cigar, and made q dash for The
offending head Of The army He ran I'd
20 Gen Wright and said. Excuse ne but
no one is allowed 10 smoke IN here. and
you VIII either have TO put your cigar
ou- or leave the tent Gen Wright was
somewhat startled by the guards orders
and commenced 70 talk 10 him
About this tine Gen Allen. seeing the
position the Secretary was in. and think
ing the guard would attempt 70 force the
order, void the guard who Gen. Wright
was and also informed Gen Wright o.
the order Gen Wright threw away his
good Havana and compIinented the sol
dier for doing his duty.
Engineer CurCiss. after trying the en-
gile n the tent stepped out OF the frame
work of the balloon. and Capt. Baldwin
Immediately began the work Of tighten
ing the ropes. securing the gas bag 70 the
framework This done. the sandbags were
removed. and the ajrship was moved 10
the open .irectly in front Of the balloon
house Members Of the Signal Corps, who
were detailed 10 aid Capt Baldwin held
the huge bird SO that the framework was
above thei- heads. and Engineer Curtiss
started the motor working The propeller
began 20 turn and the mounts OF the post
guard began 10 dance. the faster the pro
peiler Whirled around the more uneasy
became the guards horses When the
propeller commenced 10 revolve at the
rate OF SD times a minute, the machine
was released
Struck Breeze at Height
Capt Baldwin directed his shin over
the course taken last Saturday. toward
Bauston. Va When he reached the maxi
mum height he encountered a stiff breeze.
blowing from the south. This breeze com
PEELED the navigator TO tack He veered
ont oS his course several times, making
the distance covered about six miles
I: was Sis when the ship was released.
and It reached the turn in the course two
miles and q half away. at 6-2S
O clock The ship arrived at the con
course. on its return. at 6-35 O'Clock
and descended 10 the ground at $40
O'Clock capt Baldwin was IN the air Just
twenty-five minutes. al Of which tine he
had his machine under perfect control
Unofficial tine Of the fligb- was seven
teen minutes. this allowing for a flyinC
sta-t-starting point about 90 feet from
the point whence the balloon ascended-
The zine was taken by several newspaper
men and Lieut. FOulOis. o. the Signal
Corps
The minute the gray. cigar shaped bal
loon was let go many automobiles, loaded
q GuT