Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-17

Wrapped in heavy thought, but wearing
summer clothing, Wilbur Wright made
flight at College Park yesterday afternoon
just as the sun was going down in a beau
tiful bank of purple clouds that made a
glorious setting for the exploit Of the
army aeroplane.
It was a real nice sunset, and lingering.
But the flight was brief. Nor was the
dean Of the aerial faculty accompanied
by any pupil.
It does not matter much how warm one
is clothed. II up in the air the wind can get
up his sleeves, Wright explained before as
cending. To obviate this difficulty he had
tied up all the entrances to his exterior
garments with an esthetic arrangement of
white cotton strings.
Spectators in varying numbers had been
present all during the afternoon. Gen.
Allen, chief of the Signal Corps. had
come out with party Of friends but the
weather was so unfavorable that he did
not even wait.
Aeroplane Is Run Out.
Finally at little after $50 the wind
dropped, as it has a habit of doing in the
afternoon. It was only blowing between
seven and eight miles an hour. and
Wright said: Jerk open the doors and
get her out quick"
The machine was run out and put on
the rail. Wright alone tried to make a
start without the use OF the falling weight.
The machine, after going about 200 feet,
slid along the ground and stopped. 1t
was brought back
After some adjustments a start was
made at 5:42 with about 600 pounds of
hQ n n a
The trial this time was successful.
Wright circled the field in the gather
ing gloom, reaching an altitude of about
1OO feet. On the next time around the
to verify a fake picture that had been
printed by one Of the Washington papers.
There was train coming from Balti-
more at the rate Of about forty miles an
hour. Wright rounded the north end
of the ground about $50 yards ahead Of
field, and the train came after it for
short distance.
Just when it began to look like a good
race between train and aeroplane, Wright
turned sharply to the east and made
short circuit, something he has not been
in the habit of doing.
The comparison between the flight Of
the aeroplane and the speed of the train
was just long enough to show that -..e
train was gaining on the aerial flyer. On
short turn to prevent this comparison.
He said afterward, however, he had no
such intention, and that the noise of
his own engine prevented his hearing the
train behind him.
Up Four and One-Half Minutes.
He remained in the air for four min
utes anu a half. When he came down
he said that the machine was speedier
than on the morning flight. This was
attributed to the fact that he had chang
ed the inclination Of the small plane in the
rear of the machine and had added
spring, which took considerable drag off
the rear rudder.
When he brought the machine down he
ordered 1t returned to the shed. l-e did
not try any late fights, as was done the
previous evening.
Wright established a precedent yester-
early morning. It is possible, if he per-
s.sts In this, that he will get In at least
one training flight day at College Park.
1t has been evident to those who have
watched the weather that there is short
period Of calm almost every day imme-
gested several times that Wright might
take advantage of this lull.
The flight yesterday. like the most OF
the Wright performances, was entirely
uDueTdlUcU ne llTSl ucWS tudt tie resi-
dents of College Park had of the flight
was when they heard the motor drumming
out in the aviation field.
Get Up to Look On.
There are comparatively few houses in
the settlement. At nearly all the windows
facing the field were seen figures in all
stages of dishabille, tying neckties and ad-
justing hairpins, while watching the aero
plane make its circuits Of the fog-dimmed
field.
Over two hours were spent In this exer-
cise Wright would have kept at it longer.
except that his readjusted aeroplane was
somewhat lacking In lifting power. He
had made a false start on the last at
tempted night. which. 1t was believed, had
slightly injured the rear rudder. 1t was
found, however. when the machine was re-
turned to the shed that the damage was
inconsiderable and the levers could be
easily adjusted again.
Wright thereupon united the white cot
ton string around the bottom Of his
trousers and strolied away to his board
ing house for breakfast. This white cot
ton string, by the way. is another charac-
teristic Of the Wright makeup.
One renowned the world over. as "the
admiral Of the air" might be expected to
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