The Washington herald., 1909-07-28

II this were France. and II the parade
ground at Fort Myer were part OF the
land Of the feur de lis. OryIlle Wright
would to-day be the most kissed man IN
the world.
At twilight last night he brough. his
aeroplane to earth after having success
fully completed the endurance test in
compliance with the terms Of the govern
ment contract. Three trials were to have
been given him II ne needed them. The
other two now take their place among
the things that will never be.
Orville stayed in the air with a pas
senger-Lieut. Frank P. Lahm. Of the
. Signal Corps-for one hour twelve min
utes and forty seconds.
He plucked out OF the air the worlds
record for heavier-than-aIr navigation
with two persons IN the machine.
Beat worlds Record.
He beat the previous worlds record.
held By his brother. Wilbur Wright, by
three minutes and forty seconds.
The remarkable flight was witnessed by
President Taft and a majority OF the
Cabinet. AS the biplane came easily to
the ground az the end OF It's long aerial
sojourn. the crowd surRed out on the
field. Among those who wished 10 do
honor to the successful aviators was the
President himself. He got into his auto
mobile at mis- tent, and asked to be driven
part way down the parade ground. There
-.
OF leave their biplane at the far end and
come UP to shake the Presidential hand.
AS the two brothers approached Mr.
Taft stepped out to meet them. Wilbur
sidled out Of the way. lending only a
smiling face to the ceremony. He wanted
Orville 10 get all the bouquets.
Congratulations" said tho President.
Thank you" said Orville, taking Mr..
Taft's big hand. Wilbur bowed. 1T IS
an honor to have YOU here" said Orville.
1T is an honor TO he here" the Presi-
dent said cordially. And how did Lieut..
Iahm act? Was his conduct all that it
should have been? He didn't talk 20 the
motorman, did hep
The Wright brothers grinned. and the
throng that had gathered laughed with
the President
you have broken the worlds record,
haven't your then asked the Chief EX-
ecutive.
Admitted by OrvilIe.
YES" said Orville. "I have broken my
brothers record" He turned TO Wilbur.
The President turned to Wilbur The
thronE turned to Wilbur. Wilbur turned
to a respectfully bright shade Of red and
had no comment to make beyond a
pleased chuckle.
Congratulations again." called the
President as he got into his machine and
started back toward town.
There was not an untoward incident IN
the entire flight-not a feature of It that
could have been changed 10 make It con-
form more closely to the desires OF the
government. Like the annals Of a happy
country, the story could be told In a few
words
The machine did what Il started ont
10 do. II carried an extra person. II
stayed up in the air one hour. Then. in
cidentally, UP nearly thirteen minutes
more, 70 win the worlds record. II came
70 the ground as naturally as the college
man goes 20 the loan shark That was
all Nhere was 10 H. badly speaking.
But I'm the story OF just how the long
est two-passenger flight in the worlds
history Of aeroplaning was accomplished.
there Is a story Of surprising interest,
into which enters the approval tardily
given. Of the head and the near-heads
o. tho republic. the absorbed attention
OF a crowd OF 1000 persons. the spectacle
OF n mans hand steadily grasping the
levers Of n machine whose counterpart
last fall plunged him TO the ground. in
jured him severely. Qnd sent to almost
instantaneous death the army officer
IN the seat beside him.
Human Interest Story.
It is e tale Of human interest. Of human
achievement OF human hardihood. of hui
man deprivation through years of deter
mined struggle. with nothing TO sustain
but the pressure Of a great idea-a tale
OF gittering success at the end or H. and
plaudits received as modestly and utterly
devoid Of arectauon as # is possible for
men TO receive the notice OF. their fellow
beings.
The Wright brothers are eager to finish
up their official tests before the time al
lowed them under the contract expires
at midnight tonight. While the wind
whistled about the aeroplane shed until n
late hour yesterday afternoon. they stead
ily gave out the announcement that as
soon as It went down sufficiently the BIZ
plane would be sent up on It's endurance
test
II was s o'clock before the wind had
died down 10 a reasonable velocity. and
Immediately the order was given for the
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