The Washington herald., 1909-10-23
WRIGHT AND PUPIL
FLY AZ MINUTES
Lieut.. Humphreys Sets New
Record for Course.
SEMINARY GIRLS APPLAUD
Long Flight Takes Place by Light
of the Moon and Ends at 1851
and Stehdy-SDectatOrSB Bother AvI-
ntors-Inyited 10 Luncheon.

BY the light OF the moon and the radi-
Snce OF the thirty-eight girls from the
Cathedral School at Mount ST. AIban,
Lieut.. Humphreys piloted his aeronautical
pastor and master Wilbur Wright
around the field at College Park for
forty-tWo minutes early last evening and
set a new record for the course
Thirty-eight seminary girls, all heavily
blanketed with chaperons. and as aloof
as pearls in the oysters Of the mid-Medi-
iterranean. were there at the finish. al
though goodness gracious Sister Anne
knows the principal back at Mount st.
Alban must have wrapped her rules and
regulations Ike an Australian boom
erang 10 keep from mdrking the whole
bunch horribly late at dinner.
Aside from them. the only light in the
picture Of gloom which the biplane cir
cled came from the lamps OF a half
score OF automobiles, the slice OF pale
moon UP In the blsckenlng sky, and a
couple Of rays of the retreating sun.
which had 10 bend around the brow
of old Atlas to set back on the level Of
College Park at all
Corps Officers Busy.
II It had not been for the constant
vigilance OF the enlisted men and officers
OF the Signal Corps, it Is probable the
aeroplane would to-day have Cathedral
School girls wound around its sprockets,
macerated In its chains. tangled up in its
skidE. and mashed into nothing but
picture hats and bits OF lace under the
1.400-pound weight that comes piunging
down In the starting tower. All bound
around like chocolates in a box. with a
determination TO learn everything there
was TO know about the Wright blplane
before they went back TO tell the other
girls, the band Of thirtyeight started 10
get 20 the center Of things as soon as
they dropped out Of the three sightseeing
automobiles which brought them from
Washington.
when they arrived the biplane was stlll
in the shed. They charged UP to IL like
a mixture Of the Light Brigade and the
seven-year locusts. and started 70 feel
the texture OF the canvas as II they
thought OF having their next gowns made
OF the stuff
Even Wilbur Wright. who. II might be
said In passing, takes on a gentler tone
Of voice when there are pretty girls about,
couldn't stand the invasion Of his cloister,
and had % give the order 10 shoe them
out An enlisted man forced them back
at the point OF a stick-aIl except one.
She was discovered after the rest had
been routed eating a chestnut under the
flying machine itself There she was.
coolly peeling of the husk with two little
rows OF teeth as white as the lace collar
around her neck II was too much for
the enlisted man. He had to call IN
Lieut. Lahm, who suggested TO the girl
shat under an aeroplane was. a poor place
for the eating Of chestnuts
why, I think il Is a perfectly adora-
bic place" she answered, gulping down
the last OF the kernel and running out
from under 20 join the other girls
Flight Success.
The flight was a great success-within
eighteen minutes Of the requirement for
the endurance flight last summer. and
made without a missed explosion Of the
motor or anything else to get excited
over. Lieut.. Humphreys controlled the
machine with Mr.. Wright sitting by to
take charge in case Of emergency. The
ascension was made at 5:O9:40. and ended
at 5:51:40
The rise from the monoraiI was a little
bit labOred, the tips or the skids scrap
ping on the ground a couple Of times
before the machine lifted it's head and
took the air properly After that its
course was smooth and steady at an
altitude varying from fifteen to fifty
feet above the ground.
In the morning Mr. Wright went ND
alone for three minutes. starting at
O'Clock and coming down because the
wind was too strong.
During the late fight the Signal Corps
officers had considerable trouble from the
crowd OF $50 or so persons. Although
signs have been placed al the College
Park side OF the field, warning spectators
against crossing the field while the ma
chine IS In the air. groups persisted I'm
making the trip in one direction or the
other Those at the far side wanted 10
be near the center Of things and those
at the center Of things wanted 10 get
over and make a train. The officers an
nounced that hereafter there will be no
crossing while the biplane is in the air
Those who are al the shed will have
n walt until the landing IS made and
all danger Is past, or else stay on the
other side Of the field. where they can
get to the station whenever they wish.
Wilbur Wright and Lieuts. Lahm.
Humphreys and Foulois have accepted
an Invitation 10 a luncheon and recep-
ton In their honor at the Maryland Agri-
cultural College this afternoon at q
o'clock. Members OF the aviation COM
Hlttees Of Baltimore and Washington
VII attend.
First Woman Aviator.