The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-05
Wilbur Wright Gracefully Flies Over War
ships for Distance of Twenty Miles
BUSINESS SUSPENDED TO WATCH DEMONSTRATION
Aviaors Machine Sails Up the River Ten Miles, Curves
Gracefully Around Grants Tomb and Flies Back
to Governors Island in Little More
Than Thirty Minutes.

New York, Oct Am aeroplanc
flashed past the white dome of Grants
tomb today, then turning gracefully
in midair over the waters of the Hnd-
son, shot like a falcon back to Gov
'ernor's island. 10 miles away. Will
bur Wright of Dayton, O.. thus made
one of the most spectacular flights in
the history of aeroplatics. over the
masses of warships Wright flew for
20 miies-l0 miles up and then 10
miles back-remaining i'm the air for
80 minutes and 33 seconds and alight-
ing at the aerodrome without mishap.
During the flight business was prac-
tically at standstill 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
a record.
Wright started on his flight up the
at SOD
exactly at 10:a9:33. He had intended
tn improve upon his achievement of
the morning by making longer and
more hazardous flight at sunset, but
the Gripping of his motor just as he
was about to start on the evening at
tempt dashed his hopes as we'll as
those of the thousands who had as
sembied on Governors island and
along the water front to cheer him
Wind Blowing.
When Wright reached Governors
island shortly after 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
Everything ready. his meehanician
started the motor and. amid the clat-
ter ot the machine exhaust, which
sounded like musketry fire. Wright
climbed to his seat in the aeroplane.
In moment the machine was off.
With the planes tilted slightly to one
side. the machine slowly assembled to
Il height of barely 20 feet while it
swoaned i'm a semi-cirele 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.
Scars Past.
Almost indistinguishable against the
gray banked clouds. the machine
scared past old Castle William and
sbon entered the canyon made by the
giant skyscrapers of Manhattan is
land and the Jersey hills. At this
point the aeroplane was flying at
height of nearly 200 feet. but unex-
pected air currents caused by the
great buildings moved the aviator tn
bring his craft closer to the water.
fitting the eteyating rudder. he slowly
brought the machine down. slipping
gradually until he was but a bare
hundred feet above the footing ferry
boats and the busy river traffic. The
motor was ehurning as regularly as a
clock. and setting himself i'm his seat,
he sped onward un the river.
Many Cheers.
Over the warships of four great
powers he passed. his progress marked
by cheers from the sailors of his own
country and those of Great Britain.
Germany. France and Italy. The blue
Jackets lined the rails of their ships
and sazed in wonder at the little craft
above them. When the air vessel
reached the British cruiser Argyle.
anchored above Grants 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 bothered him on
the journey un We're now more favor
able. and il was here that the speed
possibilities of the machine We're
demonstrated. While the 10 miles
upstream occupied nearly 20 minutes.
the return flight was made in a little
more than - minutes. or at rate ,
slightly over &c miles an hour.
Nearing the harbor entrance, he was
confronted with the same architectural
conditions which had caused him to
vary his altitude on the way up.
Again he lowered himself, and when
he reached the open waters of the
hay he was flying barely 60 feet above
the surface Thence onward he grad
ually lessened his hreight. and after
passing Governors island the ma
chine sped an eighth of mile over
the bay Veering sharply around
Wright headed swiftly for the landing
place. on which he settled with the
ease af a bird amid the enthusiastic
plaudits of soldiers and civilians. The
flight was surprise To all Through
out the celebration crowds had
waited In vain fnr th. fll.hI IN th..