New-York tribune., 1908-09-22
AN AER0PLANE E RECORD
II. HRIGHTS TRIUMPH
Flight of 81 Minutes 81 Seconds.
Covering Sirty-0ne Niles.

ra Mans. Sept 21.-wilbur Wright. in the
-rssenoe of the officials OF the French Aero
I-iph the American Ambassador. Henry White;
General Bazaiue- Hayter commander of the
Fourth Army Corps. a large number of French
snd foreign officers and aeroplane experts and
a wildly cheering crowd of ten thousand per-
sors. captured this afternoon the worlds aero
rlane record from his brother. OrviIe Wright,
with rnarvellously impressive flight of one
hour thirty-one minutes and f7fty-one seconds,
covering in that time a distance of ninety-eight
ti,one.res or nearly sizty-one miles.
Owing partly to the recent accident at Fort
,fver to-day's trial for the Michelin Cup for
,he greatest distance covered by an aeroplane
,n 1905 and the Aero Club prize of 81 .000 for
the longest fight over an inclosed ground at
t-acted intense interest. although the spectators
6;snlaved the utmost difference and sympathy.
Mr. Wright at first appeared nervous and i'll
,,,cs seemed 10 be pursuing him The wind
u-as TOO high in the morning to permit a flight.
and when il fell at t O'Clock this afternoon
wright made three false starts owing to the
ob,ioue direction of the breeze and trouble
perienced with the cradle
Finally. at SIS o'clock. after the direction Of
the starting rail had been changed to point in
the teeth Of the breeze. which was then blowing
got away nicely sailing majesticaly up the fele
amid laundering cheers. Red flags were posted
at regular intervals which permitted the spec
tators 10 estimate the distance as the flight pro-
oeeded
After rounding the upper turn Wright swept
back 10 where the thousands We're gathered. and
began describing ellipses Round and round he
went with the regularity of clockwork and the
steadiness Of a railroad train The great crowd
was at once delighted ana amazed at the
markable stability shown by the aeroplane
Wright at first manifested extraordinary pru-
dence FIXING so low that he seemed almost to
skim the earth but on the thirteenth round he
rose 10 sixty feet. The sun was just then set
ting. and the aeroplane appeared like huge
bird circling the plain. Spontaneous cheers
greeted the picture, and these were redoubfed as
Wright successively surpassed his own record
and then his brother's.
In the gathering darkness the spectacle be-
came thrilling The aeroplane could no longer
be seen at the further end of the field; it ap-
peared and disappeared in the gloom like a
white phantom, but the sound of the ceaseless
churn Of the propellers told the multitude. which
had now grown frantic that Wright still was in
the air Matches were lighted to keep watch
OF the f1eeting minutes, and night had fallen
when. at the end OF the thirty-third round,
Wright shut of his motor ana came llSllIy 10
the ground in front Of the derrick
With a mad cheer the crowd broke through
the lines and rushed forward. being prevented
from hoisting the American in triumph on their
shoulders only by charging cavalry
Among the first TO reach Mr.. Wrght's side
was Henry White the American Ambassador,
who told the smiling aeronasit of the keen pleas
ure which he felt in witnessing his victory The
Ambassador said that he knew he express
ing the sentiments of President Roosevelt and
the entire American people in cOngratulating
him. other friends were equally enthusiastic.
Subsequently Ambassador White said he be-
lieved that the American people should present
testimonial TO the Wright brothers. IF Ger
many honors Zeppelin" he asked, why should
not America honor the men who have opened a
new page in the history Of the world?'
Mr.. Wright said that he had descended only
because Of darkness: he still had sufficient es-
senCe in the tank 10 last hour.
As the measurement under the rules is taken
only from the flags the official distance Of the
fight is given as SIS so kilometres. For the
Nicheln aero prize only the time before sunset
counts, and therefore in his attempt to win this
trophy Wright set a record Of fifty-three min
utes. covering 38.6 kilometres
Mr. Wright took his achievement with his
usual uodesty. but he said that he was especial
for Orvie's sake. He denied the report that
he does not intend hereafter to carry a pas
senger.