Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-31

made an aerial run IN biplane from
the parade grounds at Fort Niger as far
az the Southern and Washington
Southern Railway tracks south OF the
reservoir OF the Alexandria Water Com
psny. returning to the fort In IA MIMI
tea and AZ seconds. The voyage WAS
made at a speed of one second less than
AZ miles an hour. This feat Is the first
of It's kind 10 the world.
Deducting 26 seconds consumed 10
making the turn south Of Shooters Hill,
the time was ID minutes and is seconds.
The Wdgbts will receive $25, 900 from
the government together with 70, OOO
bonus 10 consideration of the time made
by the biplane.
The crowd that had gathered on
Shooters Hill aud at the base was
about as numerous as that OF Wednesday
evening, while people all over the city
we're on the lookout, many OF whom
we're provided with field glasses, aud
nearly all who desired TO do 30 had an
opportunity of witnessing the modern
marvel of navigating the air. .
Just as the sun was sinking behind
Shooters Hill keen-eyed members OF the
ssssmblage saw the machine as 1t rose
over the tree tops In the vicinity OF Fort
Mser and the cry, "Here 1t come'l'
eDthused every one. The cavalrymen
on the hill soon cleared space on the
summit and every eye WAS riVeted on the
fast approaching biPlsne. At hrst 1t
was suggestive of q vampire In the OIL
ing. but 1t was becoming larger every
second. and 10 about the time II takes
TO tell 1t the machine was nearing lis
goal. The crowd was greatly enthused
aud cheered wildly as the aerousuta
drew near the hill.
The propellers which were spinning
With the rapiditY Of tops and the rattle
occasioned by them sent additional co.
thus'asu through the gathering when at
6:56 the machine was passing over the
hill. The svialors kept south after pass
Ing the crest until they reached point
nearly over the railroad tracks when q
graceful turn was made, and the biPIsne
was headed to the north, passing be-
tween Shooters Hill and the union
passenger station. 1t took but few mint
ties to return to the fort, and the interested
crowd watched the machine as 1t became
smaller and smaller until 1t finally van
ished behind the distant tree tops.
The machine was apparently between
60 and 100 feet above when 1t passed over
Shooters Hill.
The performance was over by seven
O'Clock, and during the next half hour
King street was thrODged with people
who were returning home discussing
this twentieth century wonder.
The mid.air experience of the svia-
tors is told by OrvilIe Wright. Upon
the return to the fort he said:
"The engine worked perfectly, and
didn't miss single explosion. The
greatest height we reached, above the
gully a, -Four Mile Run, was probably
about 400 feet. At no time were we
nearer than 200 feet to the tops of the
trees on the outward run. The wind
was stronger up there than | thought 1t
was going to be, and blowing from the
west carried me slightly of my course.
When we came withing sight Of Shooters
Hill | had to bear quite sharply to the
right to get to the balloon, around
which | had 10 pass. l crossed in
front of it turned TO the lett, and
headed back over the crowd that had
gathered there. In turning | came
about little too fast, lost Roadway,
and dropped considerably, so that |
started back good deal lower than l had
come. Then when we reached the deep
gully at Four Mile Run we ran into a
pronounced down trend in the stmos'
phere, and had to climb hard to over
come it. From that point practically
the entire return was something of
climb, and imagine lost considerable
speed by it. The fight was satisfactory
in every way, and from the performance
of the biplane, figure that the ma
chine could go forty-five miles an hour
with conditions. That is, without
cross wind and over course, even as
rough IS this, but which ] Was better
acquainted with. "Ssnsations9 Why,
was too busy looking at the balloons to
have any sensations" said Lieut..
FouIois, who took his first fight in an
aeroplaue with good deal OF nOnchsl-
ance."
"How do l like to make history ?
Why, did ] help to make any history =
was the way he parted the second ques-
ton. Then he put his baOds up to his
ears aud rubbed the sides Of his head.
Lieut. FoulOs said:
81 can hardly hear anything. Thst
engine makes such noise, and the
wind comes by your head 80 fast, that
you are almost deaf for some time after
ward. We said nothing to each other
on the way, except when We passed the
line at the other end and Orville shouted
to me that could get the time. What
other things we had to say We said by
signs. When VIC came within sight Of
the other end OF the line The crowd on
Shooters Hill began to wave their arms,
but We couldn't hear them shout until
we were almost directly over them. Then
we could hear sort of commoliOn COM
ing from them. l should say we were
several hundred feet above the ground
at our highest point, but it was 80 far
that it didn't seem to inter's us much.
1t was hard to tell whether the tops OF
the trees we're $50 feet below "a or 25O
feet. Coming back we got slow starr
and then lost some of our altitude when
we struck a down current Of sir at Fonf
Mills Run. After that | could see that
OtVille had to keep the machine climb
ing."
A large number Of Alexandriaus went
to the chapel of the Episcopal Theoloei.