The San Francisco call., 1909-10-05
WRIGHT HOVFRS
OVER WARSH|PS
ON THE HUDSON
Makes Spectacular Flight Up
River, Circles Grants Tomb
and Returns
Twenty Mile Trip at High Speed
Above Water a New Feat
for Aviator

NEW YORK, Oct An aeroplane
flashed past the white dome of Grants
tomb TO-DAY then turning gracefully in
midair over the waters of the Hudson,
shot like falcon back to Governors
island. lc miles away Wilbur Wright
Of Dayton. O., thus made one of the
most spectacular flights in the history
of aeronautics. over the masses of
warships Wright few for 20 miles
10 miles UP and the 10 miles back
remaining in the air 80 minutes and SO
seconds and alighting at the aerodrome
without mishap-
BUSINESS SUSPENDED
During the fight business WAS prac-
tiCally at a standstiu in all that part of
Manhattan from which a view OF his
remarkable performance was available.
HarbOr craft shrieked their applause,
cheer after cheer swept up from the
banks Of the Hudson and the lower bay,
for the aviator had made good,
crowning the aviation program of the
Hudson Fulton celebration with rec
ord.
Wright started on his flight up the
Hudson at 9:56 a. m. and finished exact
ly q, 10 1888. He had intended to i'm
prove upon his achievement Of the
morning by making a longer and more
hazardous flight at sunset, but the
crippling of his motor just as he was
about TO start on the evening attempt
dashed his hopes as well as those OF
the thousands who had assembled on
Governors island and along the water
front 10 cheer him on.
When Wright reached Governors
island shortly after S o'clock the wind
was blowing about 10 miles an hour
with the sky overcast. In the face
Of these conditions Wright called for
volunteers to tow his machine to the
starting rail. while he superintended
the laying Of the starting way in the
direction OF the wind
In moment the machine was off.
With the planes tilted slightly TO one
side fhe machine slowly ascended to
Height Of barely 20 feet, while it
swoOped in a semicircle toward the
waters edge. Here the presence OF
many craft. all Historically footing
their whistles. caused him TO ascend
farther into the air before making for
the mouth Of the river
The machine scared past old Castle
William and soon entered the canyon
made by the giant skyscrapers of
Manhattan island and the Jersey hills.
At this point the aeroplane was flying
at a height OF nearly 200 feet, but
unexpected air currents caused by the
great buildings moved the aviator to
bring his craft closer 10 the water.
He slowly brought the machine down
until he was a bare hundred feet above
the footing terry boats and the busy
river traffic.
SANS OVER wARsHTPs
over the warshfps OF four great
powers he passed. his progress marked 1
by cheers from the sailors Of his own
country and those OF Great Britain, |
Germany, France and Italy. When the !
air vessel reached the British cruiser
Argyle, anchored above Grants tomb. !
Wright brought his direction rddders
intc play and describing an easy and
graceful curve, started on his return
Journey down the river. The wind con-
ditions were now more favorable.
While the 10 miles upstream occupied
nearly 20 minutes, the return flight
was made in little more than 13 min
utes. or al a rate slightly over 4e miles
an hour
Nearing the harbor entrance he low
cred himself and when he reached the
omen waters of the bay he was flying
,srelv so feet above the surface.
Thence onward he gradually lessened
his height, and after passing Governors
island the machine sped an eighth of
2 mile over the bay. Neering sharply
around Wright headed swiftly for the
landing place, in which he settled with
the ease Of a bird, amid the enthusiastic
plaudits of soldiers and civilians
MIsHAP TO MOTOR
Wright was preparing for the second
fight when the accident which marred
a dsv Of achievement occurred Due
to excessive explosive pressure a cylin-
der head blew loose and shot through
+l,e canvas of. the upper plane, rip
1.rfn <
damage was ascertained Wright or
dered the machine wheeled back TO the
shed. Such repairs as were needed TO
nut the machine into commission again.
he said. would occupy several days and
he could not stop in New York that
long.
been hoped also would fly today. was
"a ken apart and shipped to St. Louis.
Curtiss viii leave for St Louis tomor
row 10 give exhibition fights.
Balloons Start Race
81. LOUIS. oct. with atmospheric /
conditions ideal 10 balloons sailed from
St. Louis late this afternoon toward the
southeast The passage above the city
from the grounds of the Aero club was
made at a height of 500 feet The
ascensions were as perfect as could be.
Two Of the balloons, the Peoria and
feet and We're in a special race. The
Others were $4,000 cubic footers and
raced for medals and prizes.
The smaller balloons are expected to |
remain in the air IS hours and the |
larger 20 hours. BY morning they /
ought to be over Kentucky or Tennes- |
see
Because II. H. McGiU. pilot Of the In |
diana. had not received his license his /
entry sailed under protest. The Hoosier |
was disqualified. as Dr. p. NJ. Crume is
not a licensed pilot. However he sailed |
away for the sport Of ballOoning. 1
Racing in Switzerland
ZURICH. Switzerland. Oct 4-Sev- /
cral Of the balloons which started yes
lerday afternoon in the international |
race for the Gordon Bennett cup have
come TO earth again. Emile Dubonnet, (
one Of the French pilots. made a land /
ing at $3.50 O'Clock this afternoon be- i
tween Neudorf and Reichenbach, ST. /
lesia. Leon Debrocker. a Belgian rep-j
resentatfve. descended safely at the
foot Of the carpathian mountains at |
1 20 oselock to-day