Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-10-08
GREAT FLIGHT
IN AEROPLANE
Ten Mics Up and Back Over
the Hudson River
SPLENDID FEAT BY WRIGHT


Daring Aviator Has Perfect Control
of Machine as He Defies Air, Water
and Land In PerIous Trip From
Governors Island to Grants Tomb
and Return-Comes to Earth With
the Ease Of a Bird
New York. Oct. 5.-An aeroplane
flashed past the white dome OF
Grants Tomb, then, turning grace
fully in midair over the Hudson,
shot like falcon back to Governors
island, ten miles away. Wilbur
Wright thus placed his name in the
rank of Hudson and Fulton in one of
the most spectacular feats in the his
tory of aeronautics.
Over the masts of warships, from
whose decks the hoarse cheers of the
sailors were borne up to him IN his
elevated seat, he flew for twenty
miles, ten miles up and ten miles
back, remaining in the air for thirty
three minutes and thirty-three Sec
onds and alighting at the aerodrome
without mishap.
Wright had intended to improve
upon his achievement by making a
longer and hazardous flight, but the
Gripping of his motor just as he was
about to start on the second attempt
dashed his hopes, as well as of those
OF the thousands who had assembled
on Governors island and along the
water fl ont to cheer him on.
The flight was made under condi-
tons only moderately favorable. The
wind was blowing about ten miles an
hour, while an overcast sky added to
the uncertainty of the weather
Everything being ready Wright's
mechanician gave the propeller a
twist which started the motor and
amid the clatter of the machines ex-
haust, which sounded like musketry
fire, Wright climbed to his seat in his
aeroplane.
In the same imperturable demeanor
which has characterized all OF his
flights, the aviator pulled his cap
over his eyes and reached for the
starting lever. In a moment the ma
chine was off
With the planes tilted slightly to
one side the machine slowly assembled
into the air, rising TO a height of
barely twenty feet. as il swooped in
semi circle toward the waters
edge. Here the presence of many
craft, all Historically footing their
whistles, caused him to ascend high
er before making for the mouth of the
river.
Almost indistinguishable against
the gray banked clouds, the aeroplane
scared past old Castle William and
soon entered the wide canon made by
the giant skyscrapers of Manhattan
island and the New Jersey hills. At
this point the aeroplane was flying
at height of nearly 200 feet, but un-
expected air currents caused by the
great buildings moved the aviator To
bring his craft closer to the water
brought the machine down, sloping
gradually until he was but a bare
hundred feet above the busy river
traffic. His motor was churning as
regularly as clock and, settling
himself in his seat, he sped onward
up the river.
When the air vessel reached the
British cruiser Argyll, anchored an
eighth of mile above Grant s
Tomb, Wright brought his direction
rudders into play and, describing an
easy and graceful curve, started on
his return journey down the river.
The wind conditions which had both
cred him on the journey up were now
more favorable, and it was here that
the speed possibilities of the machine
were demonstrated. While the flight
of ten miles up stream took nearly
twenty minutes, the return flight was
made in little more than thirteen
minutes.
Nearing the harbor entrance again
he was confronted with the same
architectural conditions which had
caused him to vary his altitude on
the way up. Again he lowered him
self and when the reached the open
water of the bay he was flying bare
ly sixty feet above the surface. Then
onward he gradually lessened the al
titude. Past Governors island the
machine few an eighth of mile over
the bay, then veerlng sharply
around, Wright headed swiftly for the
landing place, on which he settled
with the ease OF bird, amid the en-
thusiastic plaudits OF soldiers and
civilians