Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-28
FLIES FIFTY MILES
CARRYING PASSENGER
orVI||e Wright Breaks Worlds
AerOp|ane Record for Time
and Distance.
PRESIDENT TAFT LEADS CHEERING
First of Two Crucial Tests Imposed
by Government Completed-Speed
Trial Comes Next-lieutenant
Lahm, Of Signal Corps, Plays the
Part Of Passenger.
(By Associated Press.)

W ACfii.\I lO-N. II. ~ JuAJ
The worlds aercplane record for
two men as 20 both time and dis
lance was broken this evening in a
beautiful flight of one hour, twenty
minutes and forty second-upwards Of
so miles, and at n speed averaging
about 40 miles an hourly Orvilie
Wright at Fort Myer, with Lieuten-
ant Frank p Lahm, of the army
signal corps as passenger.
The former record was made last
year by his brother, Wilbur, joint in
ventcr with him OF the machine in
which both achievements were per-
formed. at lie Mans, France, with
Professor Painley, of the French lnsti-
tute, as passenger. That fight was
one hour, nine minutes and thirty one
seconds. Wilbur was an eager specta-
tor of tcday's flight by his brother.
You Just scotched your brothers
record without really damaging it
much" remarked a newspaper man
to Orville after the flight.
That's all we meant to do re-
Ilied Orville, with a smile. which his
big brother appreciatively duplicated.
President Leads Cheering.
The cheering which heralded the
establishing of new mark in the con-
quest of the air was led by President
Taft in person who had sat an in
tenseIy interested spectator. through
cut the fight, and who insisted at
it's conclusion upon personally con-
graduating the brothers upon their
success.
This success was all important to
the Wrights, in that it completed the
first Of two crucial tests of their ma
chine imposed upon them by the Unit
cd States government-the so-called
endurance test which required them
to remain one hour continuously in
the air with one passenger.
Orville did nearly 13 minutes bet
ter than that, and could have kept
on indefnitely-three hours and a
half. the limit imposed by the gaso-
line chamber Of the supply tank.
Speed Test Next.
The other test. that for speed, will
lie complied with tomorrow weather
permitting, when Orville is to take
Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois. of the
signal corps on a cross county flight
20 Alexandria and return, total CT
ten miles, over a measured course.
and at a speed required to average
30 miles an hour.
Orville could have made that fight
this evening. but ii was almost dark
when he at last alighted. after fight
which could have carried him almost
twice across the English channel.
Poignancy was added to today's
achievement of Orville Wright by the
realization by everybody present that
upon his last attempt to navigate the
air with a passenger that passenger
Lieutenant Selfrige, was killed, and he
himself terribly injured
His devoted sister, Miss Katherine
Wright, who nursed him through the
period Of his recovery from that dis
aster anxiously watched him today
from the doorway OF the shed where
the aeTcplane is kent. and when he
returned unhurt from his fight. grip
red him eagerly by the arm. nestled
her face against his breast and said:
Bully for va. brother. II is beauti-
full
II is a question whether this word
Of praise was not more 20 him that
which came a few minutes later. when
the Prcsisen; of the United States,
who had waited for him at the other
end Of the great parade ground. took
him warmly by the hand and with
the other grasping that of his brother
Wilbur. said: Il congratulate you
heartily sir. IL was great exhibition,
ycu beat the worlds record.
Yes, sir replied Orviile. evident
~ embarrassed. 4 beat my broiher's
record
The President and everybody In
the crowd about Joined in tho laughter
al this sally.
~Hcw did your passenger conduct
himSclf7 Did he talk 70 the motor
man. asked the President
lie behaved very we'll rcpucd the
aviator.
We'll. 7 congratulate both II you
and thank you fer the privileged ~
witnessing such a nighf,~ added the
President and again shaking hands
with the brothers be entered hts auto
mobile and rode avsv amid cheers.
Nervous st First
4 was nervous a. hrsi. said or