The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-10-06

Congratulated by Major General Leon
ard Wood and Other Army Officers
Who Witnessed His Flight Up the
Hudson From Governors Island.
Wright Goes to Washington Today.
curtiss' Machine Taken Apart and
Shipped to St. Louis.
New York, Oct. 5.-Wilbur Wright
made a successful fight yesterday
from Governors Island across the
bay and up the Hudson to Grants
tomb. The morning flight was made
under conditions only moderately ia
vorable.
He had intended to improve upon his
achievement of the morning by max
ing longer and more hazardous fight
at sunset, but the Gripping of his mo-
tor just as he was about to start on
the evening attempt dashed his hopes
as well as those of thousands who had
assembled on Governors Island and
along the waterfront to cheer him on.
When the air vessel reached the
British cruiser Argyll, anchored an
eighth of mile 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 con-
dtions which had bothered him on the
journey up were now more favorable
and it was here that the speed possi-
bilities of the machine we're demon
strated. While the ten miles up
stream occupied nearly twenty min
utes, the return flight was made in
little more than IL minutes, or at a
rate of approximately AZ miles an hour.
Aightsd With Ease Of Bird.
Nearing tine harbor entrance again
he was confronted with the same con-
ditions which had caused him to vary
his altitude on the way up Again he
lowered himself and when he reached
the open water of the bay he was fly
Thence onward he gradually lessened
his height. Past Governors Island
the machine sped, an eighth of a mile
over the bay; then veerlng sharply
around, Wright headed swiftly for the
landing place, on which he settled with
the ease of a bird. amid the enthusias-
; tic plaudits of soldiers and civilians.
Among the first to extend his con-
gratulations was Major General Leon
ard Wood, U. S. A., commanding the
department of the East, who had been
an interested spectator. Other army
officers warmly shook the aviator by
the hand, exclaiming: 1T is splendid
performance; / congratulate you"
The flight was a surprise to all
Throughout the Hudson-Fulton cele-
the flight up the Hudson, expecting
spectacular performances from both
Wright and Glenn Curtiss. But with
the exception of Wright's flights on
Wednesday last when he encircled the
statue of Liberty, the elements pre-
vented any substantial flight Wright's
last performance was hailed as spec
tacular, and as II by magic, the news
spread along the river front from the
Battery to Harlem. The tops of Office
buildings, apartments, dwellings and
other structures were soon crowded
with humanity, who witnessed his up
stream journey.
There was keen disappointment
when the mishap to the motor pre-
vented a second fight, for the aviator
had announced Immediately after the
conclusion of his morning fight that
he would make longer and more
spectacular one in the afternoon,
when he proposed to fly not only over
water but over the less monumental
buildings hedging the water front OF
lower New York, thence westward un-
til he reached the New Jersey shore,
and back to Governors Island.
Repairs Will Require Days.
Wright was preparing for the sec
ond flight when the accident which
marred a day of achievement occurred.
Due to excessive explosive pressure a
cylinder head blew loose, and shot
through the canvas Of the upper plane,
ripping a large hole. As soon as the
damage was ascertained Wright or
dered the machine wheeled back to its
shed Such repairs as were needed to
put this flyer into commission again,
he said, would occupy several days
and he could not stop in New York
that length of time.
lie was asked if the accident could
have happened while the machine was
up in the air.
YES, it could have" he said, "any.
thing can happen in the air"
He was confident, however, even in
such a perilous contingency he could
have brought his biplane to earth on
even keel and without harm to himself,
The Curtiss machine. which It had
been hoped would also fly, was taken
apart in the morning and shipped to
St. Louis. Curtiss was summoned to
Hammondsport, n. Y, early in the
day on important business, but he will
leave for st. Louis today to give ex.
hibition flights there in connection
with the centennial celebration.