Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-07
FLEW LIKE A FALCON TO
GRANTS TOMB AND BACK
Business i'm New York Was PraC.
tiCally Suspended That All
Might Watch Aeroplane.


dashed past the dome of Grants tomb
Today then turning gracefully III
midair over the waters OF the Hud-
son, shot like a falcon back to Cover
nor's island, ten miles away. Wilbur
Wright Of Dayton, Ohio, thus placed
his name in the rank with Hudson
md Fulton to-day in one of the most
spectacular feats in the history of
Deronautics
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 20 miles, J o
miles up end 10 miles back, remain
ing in the air for 80 minutes and 3@
seconds and alighting at the aero
hrome without mishap
During the flight business was
practically at standstill in all that
part Of Manhattan from which view
Of his remarkable performance was
available Harbor craft shrieked
their applause, cheer after cheer
swept UP from the banks of the Hud-
son and the lower bay for the Day
ton aviator had made good" crown :
ting the aviation program of the Hud-
SOM Fulton celebration with record.
Wright started on his flight up tho
Hudson at 9:5G n. m. and finished ex-
pctly at IO:2e:33. He had intended
10 improve upon his achievemnt OF
the morning by making a longer and
more hazardous flight Mt sunset, but
the Gripping of his motor just as Ae
was about to start on the evening at
temp dashed his hopes as we'll az
those of the thousands who had as
eenbled on Governors island and
,long the water front to cheer him
pn.
CONDITIONS NOT PERFECT.
The morning fight was made under
conditions only moderately favorable.
When Wright reached Governors is
land shortly after eight o'clock the
wind was blowing about ten miles an
hour while an overcast sky added to
the uncertainty OF the weather. In
the face OF these conditions Wright
called for volunteers among the
newspaper men assembled to tow his
machine to the starting rail. while hi
superintended the laying OF tho start
Ing way In the direction OF the wind
Everything ready. his mechanician
gave the propeller a twist which
started the motor and amid the clat-
ter OF the machines exhaust which
sounded like musketry fire. Wright
climbed to his seat In his aeroplane.
With the same imperturbable de-
meanor which has characterized al
OF his flights the aviator pulled hi
cap over his eyes and reached for the
starting lever In q moment the ma
chine was off,
With the planes titled slightly e
one side. the man bird slowly ascend
ed into the air rising to n height o
barely twenty feet while 1t swoopet
in semi-circle towards the water'
edge. Here the presence of man!
craft. all Historically footing thei
whistles, caused him to ascend fur
Their into the air before making 70
the mouth of the river.
ENTERS SKY SCRAPER CANON.
Almost indistinguishab bic against IN
gray banked clouds, the machine soare'
past old Castle williams and soon enter
tered the canon made by the gian
ky scrapers of Manhattan and tn
Jersey hill. At this point the aeroplan
was flying at n height of nearly 200 Feet
but unexpected air currents caused b
tho great buildings moved the aviato
10 bring his craft closer to the water
fitting the elevating rudder he slowl
brought the machine down, slopin
gradually until he was but bare hund
red feet above the footing ferry boat
and the hustle OF river traffic. His motto
was churning as regularly as cloc
and, settling himself In his seat, he spe
onward up the river.
Over the warshps OF four Erea
powers he passed. his progress marke
by cheers from the sailors Of his ow
country and those of England, German!
France and Italy. The bluejackets line
the rails of their ships and gazed
wonderment at the little craft aboV
them perhaps thinking vaguely that
might some day render their own mons
ger fighting machines obsolete.
MAKES A GRACEFUL. TURN.
When the air vessel reached the Britis
sruiser Argyll, anchored an eight OF
mile above Grants tomb. Wright brougl
his direction rudders into play and. d
Dcribing an easy and graceful curv
started on his return journey down Il
river. Tho wind conditions which hs