Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-11
WRIGHT STAYS IN
AIR OVER AN HOUR
AMERICAN AVIATOR SMASHES HIS
WORLDS RECORD MADE DUR
ING MORNING.
MAKES TRIP OF 62 MINUTES.
Then He Takes Lieut.. Lahm for Six
Minute Ride and Shows Beau
tiful Landing.
HE FULFILLS TIME CONTRACT

WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept 10
| Orvilie Wright, in three phenomenal
flights at Fort Myer yesterday, estab-
Iished new aeroplane records that not
only assure the success Of the official
trials before the army board, but indi-
cate that aerial fight is now only a
matter of development.
War on land and on sea will find in
| the aerOplane, it is conceded by military
experts. a valuable means of recOnnais-
sauce ana possibly carnage.
The first fight III which the machine
rircled the drill grounds at the fort fifty
seven times in fifty-seven minutes and
/ thirty-One seconds. was surpassed last
evening. when Il flight of SiXty-two min
uleS and fifteen seconds was made.
Not satisfied with breaking all dis
lance and time records for a heavier
than air machine. Mr.. Wright took
! Lieut. Frank i. Lahm, the aeronaut OF
the signal corps. for a spin around the
| drill grounds. making a new record Tor i
woman flight,
Many See Long Flight.
At SIG as the sun was disappearing
! the latest invention Of man to challenge
the laws Of nature rose ana sailed over
! the greensward of the drill ground.
Higher and higher il rose turned at a
/
around at the far side of the field and
raced along at increasing speed
Rising and lowering at Will the sight
was impressive. Round after round the
machine Travelled, cutting short turns,
shooting along the stretches and present
ing the appearance of an automobile rae
ing about an imaginary course in the air.
The aviator paid little heed to any
thing but his levers for warplng the sur
faces of the planes and controlling the
planes which control the altitude OF the
craft. II e seemed obliviouS of the crowd
below until having broken the record of
81 81, established by him in the morn
ing, the crowd raised a cheer that told
( him Of his new achievement. Then MI
Wright waved his acknowledgements
Fulflls Time Contract.
Before the fight was begun a watch
was tied to the seat next to Wright,
and when little later he saw that he
had stayed aloft for over an hour, the
time required in order for him to full
fill his contract with the government, he
descended Swooping down in a sort
of bump the bumps" fashion, the ma
chine bore down in the direction of the
crowd, which quickly scattered, fearing
that the aeroplane would run them
down Raising cloud of dust as it
slid along on the skidS, the aerOplane,
which weighs nearly a thousand pounds,
came to a stop within 20 feet of the
crowd.
As Mr. Wright stepped from the seat
and removed his goggles he was greeted
with lusty cheers. At the same time a
letter from his brother Wilbur, who has
been making flights at LIE Mans, France,
was handed to him. Mr. Wright said it
was the first letter he had received from
his brother for nearly two weeks, and it
seemed to interest him more than the
record breaking fight he had just com
pleted.
Inventor Is Congratulated.
Lieut. Selfridge. who operated the first
successful aerOplane of the Aerial En-
pertinent association at Hammordsport,
n. Y. was the first to congratulate Mr.
Wright Secretary Metcalf of the navy,
Secretary OF War Wright, and numerous
army and navy officers and others gath
cred about the wizard Of the air to grasp
his hand. As three cheers were given
Wright gave orders for replacing the
machine on the starting track TO prepare
for another flight.
Turning to Lieut.. Lahm, one of the
leading aerOnautS of the army, Mr..
| Wright said:
How would you like to go up with
mel"
1t was an invitation that needed no
repetition. There were no Skeptics in
that crowd Of enthusiastic spectators
Mr.. Wright and Lieut.. Lahm started at
6:42, the machine apparently rising from
the ground as easily with its increased
burden as it had with only the inventor
aboard. As it sped along the road Dor
dering Arlington cemetery it came in a
direct line between the OnlOokerS and
the full September moon, serving to re-
call the famous work of Jules Verne. "A
Trip to the Moon.
AS the machine completed the first
round the motor skipped" on one cylin-
der, but on the succeeding five trips
there was no evidence that the engine
was overtaXed by the great strain i'm
posed upon it. After the sixth lap a
beautiful landing was made within a
hundred feet of the aerial garage
where the machine is sheltered.
Lieut.. Lahm Enthusiastic.
Mr. Wright. as usual displayed no
emotion, but Lieut.. Lahm was enthusiasts
tic.
1T beats spherical baIlooning." was his
first comment. Il had fine trip. but
did not attempt to manipulate any of the
levers. | watched Mr.. Wright closely
as he handled the controlling apparatus
We could see Washington in the dis
lance and everything that went on be
low. 1t was a great sensation, and | am
impatient now until we have machine
which we can operate ourselves"
HOW IT FLIES.