The Washington herald., 1909-07-29

sham. Senator Al = representative
Payne. Gen. Edward. resentative
and Mrs. Nicholas LongW % IN.
Tinker with Motor.
! Twilight came on rapidly as the long
wait continued before the machine was
brought up to the starting derrick, and
darkness fell faster and faster. while the
tinkering was done with the engine 1t
became a question whether even a short
flight could be made. but still the Wright
/ brothers kept on with their starting and
stopping OF the motor
When the preparations were finally
started for the removal Of the biplane
10 the shed at 1850 o'clock. the crowd
! surged out on the field and commenced
TO overflow the space about the machine.
AT this time the 1866 pound weight was
stll at the top of the derrick, and the
rope from IL ran taut and rigid through
blocks 10 the silent flyer.
| The cavalrymen and Lieut.. Lahm, or
| the Signal Corps. and Lieut. Miles, or the
artillery. galloped hither and thither TO
/ drive the thousands back. Maj. Foltz. in
charge of policing Of the grounds. took
| hand I'm the rescue work, and, IN chasing
a recalcitrant spectator. dashed straight
over the rope leading along the ground to
! the machine
Wilbur Gets Angry.
The whole situation was too much for
Wilbur. The presence Of the energized
rope. and the chance that If it were inter-
fered with the biplane might be shaken
| from its mornings and shot ahead TO de-
struction. brought a succession Of short.
quick remarks-they had the effect Of or
ders-from him. The men on horseback
redoubled their efforts. and the crowd was
finally beaten back about q hundred feet
where It was allowed 20 stand. solid
line Of figures indistinct In the deepening
gloom.
AS the biplane was wheeled back 70 It's
shed and the thousands OF disappointed
spectators broke for the cars, the scene
was one not soon TO be forgotten. The
automobile lamps had been lighted and
the street cars, standing IN walt, were
aglow The trees Of Arlington Cemetery
were nothing but a blotch against q less
blotchy sky.
In the darkness, shot through with
yellow flashes OF light. the crowd hurried
Ike spirits to make its way back TO the
city as best it might.
In the meantime, down az the end OF
the course, on Shooters HILL five miles
90 the south. ], 800 persons had gathered,
waiting for the flight 20 comUspce They
were kept informed as 20 what was hap
peulng az Fort NIyer by telephone buile-
tins. the end Of the line being IN a Sig
nal Corps field automobile.
on the theory that Orville might want
70 land on the Hill before starting the
return trip, several cavalrymen tried TO
keep the crest clear. one obstreperOus
citizen declined TO obey the orders and
vas arrested by Mayor Pan. OF Alexan-
dria.
Ask for Extension.
Anticipating the failure OF the wind 20
die down. the Wright brothers asked
the Secretary Of War, through Gen.
Allen, chief signal officer Of the army.
for an extension OF three days for the
completion of their contract The extra
time was granted. The aviators feel
that with reasonable luck in the weather
they VIII have no trouble fl getting the
requirements out OF the way IN that
length Of time
For the flights 20 follow the speed
test in which Lieuts Lahm and Foulois
viii be trained IN the operation of the
hiplane. the men Of the Signal Corps are
looking for q field some three or four
miles from Washington which Will be
better suited for the purpose The
parade ground al the fort Is not as
large as Il ought 20 be. No other place
has been decided upon Up 20 this time.