The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-03
WRIGHT FLIES
FAST TEN MILES
Safely Completes Final Speed
Test Over Fort MyHT.
MADE az MILES An HOUR
Lieutenant Foulois. a Passenger In the
keroplane. Witnesses Triumph o.
Wright srothsrs-AVeraae Altituds
During Flight Was zoo Feet.

turing ruant was EOO rect.
Washington. July sL-orvins Wright
attained the zenith Of hsrd-earnsd sue
cess. In ten-mile eross-couutry hight
In the famous aeroplsne built by him
self and his elder brother. Wilbur. and
accompanied by Lieutenant BENJAMIN
D. F'oulois. an intrepid ofacer OF the
army sigma corps. he not only sur
passed the speed requirements OF his
contract with the United States gov
eminent. but accomplished the most
difficult and daring fiiGht ever planned
for heavierthsn-sir dying machine
Incidentally he broke all speed records
over measured course ana estab-
lished beyond dispute the PRACTICABLE.
!ty OF the seroplane in time OF peace
and in time Of war.
over Forty-tN~o Miles an Hour.
Wright's speed was more than forty
two miles an hour. He made The ten
mile fight IN fourteen minutes and
forty-two seconds. including the more
than twenty seconds required for the
turn beyond the line at shutter hill
the southern end OF the course He at
tanned a height in crossing the valley
Of -Four Nile Run. OF nearly 500 feet
and the average altitude OF his prscti-
-ally level course was about 200 feet
The Official board will determine the
speed made Il is agreed that IL ex-
ceeded forty-two miles an hour. The
Wrights viii therefore receive $50. 600.
including a bonus Of 5000 for their
Reroplane
President Taft. who has become an
enthusiastic spectator Of the aeroplane
trials arrived upon the parade ground
Al Fort Myer just in time 20 see the
aeroplane land and to participate In
the wild demonstration which vel
coined the triumphant aviators. He
sent Colonel Treat commanding on
Ger OF the artillery at Fort Myer. 10
bear his congratulations to the vic.
tors
They're Of"
After circlinE the drin grounds a few
times Orviue started straight south
ward
They're on thousand voices
shouted as one.
Like giant bird. circling the sky
until Il marks its prey. and then dart.
ing straight for its objective. this man.
bird swept unswerving down lis
course. Unwavering II kept its course
straight to the south. and II seemed
20 be rising ever higher IS 1t passed
over the diverse and heavily wooded
country IN the distance. Smaller and
smaller II grew, until II became ?
mere speck against the pearl sky
above the horizon.
Suddenly the speck was lost to view
and as the seconds passed a silence
grew upon the crowd. a silence that
spoke OF deep concern. Wilbur Wright
standing with levelled glasses beside
his sister. strained his gaze in effort
to catch sight Of the seroplane when
Il should rise again above the sky
line.
Suddenly the speck came in sight
again. over the distant hill A cry
swept over the watching crowd.
There II is" every body said. and
the sigh OF relief was plainly audible
OesfeninG Cheers Greet Wright
Onward the machine came. growing
with the seconds. and seemingly
swerved from its course by a westerly
breeze. Il grew and grew. until al
most every detail OF it was visible.
Soon the aerial navigators were home
again over the drin ground. flying very
low. Orville steered straight across
the field. and at a height OF about
twenty feet swung round again TO N
southwark and landed easily far down
the field. The task was done and in
triumph.
Needless to describe the deafening
cheers OF the thousands that welcomed
the return.