New-York tribune., 1909-07-31
OF WRIGHTS
FINAL GOVERNMENT TEST
SUCCESSFULLY M1DE.
4er0plane Carries OruilIe and Foulois
Ouer !Strdightazcay Course at
at FOrfy-t7cO- Nile Rate.

Washington. July 30.-The Wright brothers
this evening attained the zenith Of hard earned
success In a ten-rnile 'cross-country flight in
the famous aeroplane built by himself and his
elder brother. Wilbur. and accompanied by Lieu
tenant BENJAMIN n. Foulois OF the army signal
corps Orvile Wright not only surpassed the
speed requirements of the contract With the
Emitted states government but accomplished \
most difficult and daring feat Incidentally ne
broke all speed records measured course
and established beyond dispute the practicabiiity
Of the aeroplane IN time OF peace and IN time OF
WAT
Wright's speed more than forty-two miles
an hour He made the ten-mile fight in II
minutes and ~ ceconds including the more
than twenty seconds required for the turn be
yond the line at Shutter Hll the southern end
Of tho course He attained height IN crossing
the valley Of Four Mile Run Of nearly ave hun
drcd feet and the average altitude OF his prac-
ticalv level course was about two hundred fee'
President Taft who has become an enthusias-
tic spectator of the aeroplane trials aIthough
wears ago when Secretary Of war he IS said
20 have expressed to army officers profound
skepticsn TO the accomplishment of such n
,eat "a that which he witnessed o-day-arrived
upon the parade ground at Fort Myer Just In
time 10 see the aeroplane land and 10 take part
triumphant aviators. He sent Colonel Treat.
commanding officer Of the artillery at Fort Myer'
10 hear his congratulations 10 the ylctors.
terrific wind nd ra IN storm early In the after
noon seemed providentially provided To clear and
quiet the atmospheric conditions in preparation
for the flight. which delayed only by the
failure Of the army field telegraph line 70 shutter
HiIl. depended upon for communication between
the two ends Of the course II was stili out OF
commission when Orville Wright, taking advan-
tage of the best weather conditions which he
had vet had for the speed test. had the machine
placed on the starting rail and gave the motor
a final test. --.-
CROWD TENSE WITH EXCITEMENT.
The engine worked perfectly and the crowd
seemed TO realize that the all important moment
uas AT hand The multitude pressed forward
against the lines which held them back breath
less intense eagerly watching every movement
of the aviator and his machine. The signal corps
men hoisted the great weight in the starting
derrick which gives the machine it's initial i'm
pulse. Oryie Wright inspected personally every
detail of preparation. while his brother Wilbur
walked about nervously himself inspecting each
minute particular of the mechanism upon whose
Adeity depended his brothers life. Miss Kathe-
rine Wright, the sister. made no effort 10 con-
ceal her excitement and anxiety 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 70 step
back.
Lieutenant Foulois, 1.-THE. wiry. brown as
berry. in his khaki uniform and leggins, at a
sig, from, OrvilIe Wright climbed into the pas
s.nver,s seat beside the motor. Wilbur Wright
ard charles Taylor the Wrghts' mechanician.
tool. their places at the propellers. orville
,,,rned on the sparker of the motor as they
r,tr,ad ,he blades around. The motor picked up
tha irnnetus and Orvile turned on full speed,
setting the propeiIers Of the aeroplane whirring
at their maximum capacity
The smooth and even song of the engine
aroused the crowd To excited cheering Wilbur
,ol, his MACE at the right tip Of the planes and
Or,il,e cIsmbered into his seat besIind Foulois.
11e grinped the levers. and, nodding 10 his
hro,ber slipped the cable which released the
startine weight The aeroplane shot down the
.roct arose before it reached the end and
.,,ir,roed over the ground for hundred feet
or
Az 70 drawn UP invisible hands. the white
winged .man-bird'' arose higher and higher.
reached the end of the field. turned at a slight
a.,,,,e and came about facing the mady cheer
ing multitude
Hats and handkerchiefs were waving. auto
,,,otdle horns were footing and some over
u,roucht spectators even wept the docile
mechanism turned again southwark at the
starting tower Everybody In the crowd seemed
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