Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-08-04
THE AIR CONQUERED.
WriOht Brothers Mark a New
Era in Worlds History
Most Difficult and Daring Flight Ever
Made With Heavier Than Air
Flying Machine-Broke All
Speed Records.

NTH of hard-earned success. In
ten-mile cross-country flight the avia
tor in his famous aeroplane built b.
himself and his elder brother Wilbur
and accompanied by Lieut.. BENJAMIN
D. Foulois, an intrepid officer Of tn
Army Signal Corps, he not only sur
passed the speed requirements of hi
contract with the United States gov
ernment, but accomplished the mos
difficult and daring flight ever plan
ned for a heavier than air flying ma
chine. Incidentally he broke all speed
records over a measured course. An(
he established beyond dispute th'
practiability of an aeroplane in time
of peace and in time of war.
His speed was over forty-two miles
an hour; he made the ten-mile f1igh1
from Fort Myer and back in fourteen
minutes and forty-two seconds, in
Guiding 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 Miles Run
Of near 500 feet, and the altitude OF
his practically level course was about
200 feet above the ground.
President Taft, who has become an
enthusiastic spectator of the aero
plane trials, though two years ago
when Secretary of War he is said to
have expressed to officers profound
skepticism as to the accomplishment
of such feat as that of which today
he saw the completion, arrived upon
the parade ground at Fort Myer just
in time to see the aeroplane land and
which welcomed the triumphant avia-
tor. He sent an officer to bear his
congratulations to the victors.
A terrific wind and rainstorm early
in the afternoon seemed providential-
1y provided to clear and quiet the at
conditions in preparation
for the fight, which was delayed only
by the failure of the army field line
from Fort Myer to Shutter Hill.
The engine worked perfectly, 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
of the aviator and his ma
chine. The Signal Corps detail hoist
ed the great weight in the starting
derrick which gives the machine it's
initial impulse. Orviile Wright in
spected personally every detail of
Wilbur walked about
himself inspecting each
minute particular part of the mechan-
ism upon whose fidelity depended his
brothers life. Miss Katherine Wright,
the devoted sister, made little con-
cealment of her excitement. Indeed,
she was one of the group which
crowded so close to the machine as
the crucial moment drew near that
Wilbur was compelled to ask them to
step back
Lieutenant Foulois, 1.-the, wiry,
brown as a berry in his khaki uni
form and leggins, at a sign from Or
Vile climbed into the passengers seat
beside the motor Wilbur and Char
ley Taylor, Wright's mechanician,
took their places at the propellers.
Orville turned on the sparker of the
motor and they whirled the blades
around. The motor picked up the i'm
petus, Orville turned on the speed,
and for the first time the propellers
of the aeroplane were whirring at
their maximum capacity.
AS if drawn up by invisible powers,
the white winged man-bird rose, high
er and higher, reached the end of the
field, turned a slight angle and faced
about.
Climbing up as it were on the air,
higher and yet higher, Orville brought
the machine at great speed once again
fully round the field. Then with a
short turn he swept about and started
southwark over the center of the drill
field.
They're off," thousand voices
shouted as one.
Like a giant bird, circling the sky
until it marks it's prey this man-bird
then darted off toward Shutter Hill
five miles to the south,
Unwavering it kept its straight
course and seemed to be rising ever
higher as it passed over the diverse
and heavily wooded country in the
distance. Soon it was mere specl
against the pearl sky above the hori
zon
Suddenly the speck was lost t.
view. and as the seconds passed ;
silence grew upon the crowd, a ST
lence that spoke of deep concern. Viii
bur Wright, standing with leyellet
glasses beside his sister, strained hi
gaze in effort to catch sight of tn
aeroplane when it should rise again
above the sky line. Seconds scenes
minutes, and as the interval becam
seemingly alarming. great beads O
sweat stood upon his brow, and hi
agitation was evident.
| Suddenly the speck came In sigh
again over the distant hill. A CT
swept over the watching crowd