Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-31
EXCEEDS CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
Travelling at forty.two Miles an
Hour, With Lieutenant Foulcis as
Passenger, Orville Takes Ten Mile
Trip From Fort Meyer and Back
President on the Scene.
(By Associated Press).

WASHINGTON, ID. u, July oV.-
OrvilIe Wright this evening attained
the zenith of hard earned success. In
a ten mile cross country fight in the
famous aeroplane built by himself and
his elder brother Wilbur, and accom-
panied by Lieutenant Benjamin ID.
Foulois, an intrepid officer of the army
signal corps, he not only surpassed
the speed requirements OF his cen
tract with the United States govern
ment, but accomplished the most diff
cult and daring flight ever planned
for a heavisr-than- flying machine.
incidentally he broke all speed rec
ords over a measured course And
he established beyond dispute the
practicability CT an aeroplane in time
of peace and in time of war.
Forty-two Miles an Hour.
His speed was over AZ miles an
hour; he made the ten mile flight
from Fort Meyer and back in IA min
utes and AZ seconds, including the
more than twenty seconds required
for the turn beyond the line at Shutter.
Hill, the southern end of the course.
He attained height in crossing the
valley OF Four Mile Run, of nearly
500 feet, and the average altitude OF
his practically level course was about
200 feet above the ground.
President Taft, who has become an
enthusiastic spectator CT the aeroplane
trials, although two years ago, when
secretary of war, he is said to have
expressed to officers profound skep-
ticism as to the accomplishment OF
such feat as that Of which today
he saw the completion. arrived upon
the parade ground at Fort Meyer just
in time to see the aerOplane land and
to participate in the wild demOnstra-
ton which welcomed the triumphant
aviator He sent an officer to bear
his congratulations to the victors.
A terrific wind and rain storm early
in the afternoon seemed providenially
provided to clear and quiet the atmos-
pheric conditions in preparation for
the fight, which was delayed only
by the failure Of the army field tele-
graph line from Fort Meyer to shutter
HILL 1t was still out of commission
when Oryille Wrign., Selling the mo-
ment of the best weather conditions
ne had yet for the speed test had the
machine placed or the startling rail,
and gave the motor final test.
The engine worked perfec city, and
the crowd seemed to realize that an
epoch making moment was at hand.
They pressed forward against the
lines which held them back breath
less, intense, eagerly watching every
movement of the aviator and his ma
c.ine. The signal corps detail hoisted
the great weight in the starting der
rick which gives the machine its mi
tial impulse
Wrights Inspect Every Detail.
Orville Wright inspected personally
every detail of preparation. Wilbur
walked atcut nervously, himself in
srocting each minute particular CT the
mechanism upon whose fidelity de-
Tended his brothers life.
Miss Katherine Wright. the devoted
sister. made little concealment of her
excitement. Indeed, she was one Of
the group which crowded so close to,
tine machine as the crucial moment
drew near, that Wilbur was compelled
20 ask them 10 step back.
Lieutenant Foulois. 1.-THE, wiry.
brown as a berry in his khaki Uniform
and lcEeiDzs. at a signal from Orviiie
climbed into the passengers seat be-
side the motor. Wilbur and Charley
Taylor. Weights mcchsnicisn. took
their places at the prop, Hers. Orvilie
turned on the sparkcr 81 the motor
and they whirlcd the blades around
The motor picked up the impetus.
Orviiic turned on thc speed. and Tor
the first time the proPcllers Of the
Wright acroplanc were whirring AZ
their maximum capacity.
The smooth and even song Of the
engine aroused the crowd 10 excited
cheering. OTvillc clambcrcd into his
seat and grip-ed the levers. Wilbur.
81 a nod from his brother slipped the
cable which released the weight. the
seroplanc shot down the track. rose
before n reached 10 the end and