Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-08-05
GREAT TRIUMPH
Aviator Makes Ten mile Flight
Carrying Passenger.
ALL RECORDS BROKEN

II
An Aeroplane, and Meets Success
fully the Final Test.
A special dispatch from Wash
inston says last Friday evening
Orville Wright attained the zenith
Of hard earned success. In ten
milo cross-country fight in the ia
nous aeroplane, built by himself
and his elder brother, Wilbur. and
accompanied by Lieut.. Benjamin
d. Foulois, an intrepid officer of the
army signal corps, he not only sur
!, passed the speed requirements of his
&ontract with the United States gov
ernment, but accomplished the most
dificult and daring fignt~ever plan
ned for n heavier-than-air flying ma
chine. Incidentally he broke all
speed records over measured
course. And he established beyond
dispute the practicability OF an
aeroplane in time of peace and in
time of war.
His speed was over AZ miles an
hour; he made the ten-mile flight
from Fort Myer and back in IA
minutes and forty-two seconds, in
cluding the more than twenty sec
onds required for the turn beyond
the line at Shutter Hill, the south
ern end OF the course. He attained
q height in crossing the valley OF
Four Mile Run of nearly 500 feet,
and the average altitude OF his
practically level course was about
200 feet above the ground.
President Taft. who had become
an enthusiastic spectator of the
aeroplane trials. although two years
ago when Secretary of War, he is
said to have expressed to officers
profound scepticism as to the ac
complishment of such a feat as that
OF which he saw the completion, ar
irving upon the parade grounds at
Fort Myer just in time to see the
aeroplane land and to participate in
the wild demonstration which well
coined the triumphant aviators. He
sent an officer to pear his congrat-
ulations to the vicrors.
A terrific wind and rain storm
early In the afternI on seemed provi-
dentally provided - clear and quiet
the atmospheric ,Jnditions In pre-
paration for the hight, which was
delayed only by the failure of the
army field telegraph line from Fort
hyer to Shutter Hill. 1t was still
out OF commission when Orville
Wright. seizing the moment OF the
best weather conditions he had yet
had for the speed test, had the ma
chine placed on the starting rail and
gave the motor a final test.
The engine worked perfectly, and
the crowd seemed to realize that an
epoch-making moment was at hand.
They pressed forward against the
lines. which held them back breath
less, intense. eagerly watching every
movement of the aviator and his ma
chine. The signal corps detail
hoisted the great weight in the start
ing derrick which gives the machine
its initial impulse.
Lieut.. Foulois. 1.-THE. wiry, brown
as a berry. In his khaki uniform and
leggings, at a sign from Orville.
climbed into the <passengar's seat
Z bersdc the motor. Wilbur ana
Charley Taylor. the Wrights' me
chanician." took their places at the
propellers. Orville turned on the
sparker of the motor, and they
whirled the blades around. The mo-
tor picked up the impetus, Orville
turned on the speed. and for the first
time the propellers OF the Wright
aeroplane were whiI ring p. at their
maximum capacity.
The smooth and even song of
the engine aroused the crowd to ex-
cited cheering. Orville clambered
into his seat and gripped the levers.
Wilbur. at nod from his brother,
slipped the cable which released
the weight, the aeroplane shot down
the track rose before It reached the
end. and skinned over the surface
of the ground for a hundred feet or
more.
AS II drawn up by invisible pow
ers. the white-winged man-bird rose
higher and higher. reached the end
and faced about
Clim bIng up as it were on the air
higher and yet higher. Orvillt
brought the macine at great speed
once again fully round the field
Then with a short turn he sven,
about and started southward Over
the center OF the drill field.
They're Off," a thousand voice,
shouted as one.
Lige giant bird circling the SIX,
until 1t marks It's prey, this man
bird then darted off toward shuntel
Hill. Ave miles to the south.
Unwavering II kept its straigh
course. and seemed to be rising eve,
higher, as It passed over the di
verse and heavily wooded countr,
in the distance. Soon It was a NOR,
speck against the pearl sky abov,