The Washington herald., 1909-07-31

wac hard 70 tell whether the tops or the
trees were 40 feet below US or go feet.
Coming back we got slow start and
then lost some OF our altitude when we
struck a down current OF air at -Four
Mile Run. After that could see that
Orville had to keep the machine climb
ing"
wilbur Loses COmpOsure.
But the man who was the best talker
Of them all was Wilbur, the silent,
aquiline Wilbur He was plainly excited.
though II took an eye familiar with
his curves TO know Il. HIS breath was
coming a little quicker than usual. His
step was a trifie more springy. And he
took a little more interest in what he
was saying than is his usual custom.
That was all. but Il meant a great deal.
His critical attitude had not left him,
though, the same critical attitude that
prompted him to ask Orviile where a
certain washer was, Immediately after
the biplane, after one Of its first failures
70 rise from the ground in the prelim-
mary trials. had come pumping down 10
the grass, and the crowd was feeling
sorry for the Wright brothers.
struck Air Currents.
II think Orville few q trlhe too high"
he said. ION the outward run. He got
into some air currents that probably did
not exist lower down. / have not figured
out the speed made by the machine but
from the figures I have at hand / esti-
mate It at about forty-two and half
miles en- hour II could make more under
better conditions"
One OF the first enthusiasts down az
the aeroplane shed 70 greet the aviators
in their hour OF triumph was Mrs. Mich
olas Longworth, who hasn't missed q
single day al the fort She was there
waiting for the brothers when they came
In, and she couldn't say enough 10 show
how overjoyed she was.
Mrs. Longworth was 80 excited when,
after the start OF the flight. the blpiane
disappeared IN the distance. that she
let her emotions get away with her. and
the tears stresmed down her cheeks
She took out her handkerchief and wiped
her eyes. and the sun didn't come out
again until the machine could be seen
heading back across the distant tree tops.
With Mrs. Longworth was Representa-
tive Longworth, who has just reluctantly
/ given his consent, according 70 report,
TO his wife going up with A. Holland
| Forbes, acting president OF the aero
| Club Of America, in one OF his balloons.
But OF all those who were pleased
through and through with Oryilles sue
! cess, the one who had the most right 70
| her feelings was Miss Katherine Wright
the devoted sister OF the inventors. II
was she, according 20 the legend, who
/ in the early days OF their idea dug down
/ into the bank account she had saved as
| a school-teacher and furnished the money
with the help OF which the early expert
ments were made possible.
Sister Perfectly Happy.
! Her face was aglow with radiant hap
/ piness. She stepped lightly. as II on afr
and there was a blitheness IN her man
ner that comes not very many times II
the span OF a life.
The devotion between the members Of
the Wright family. and the way they
have stood together through all the years
reaching from the fret almost seemingly
beginnings 20 the high triumph Of tht
present day, Is a matter OF history But
IL was never more apparent. in the out
ward and visible ways, than yesterday
II showed IN Wllburs evident nervous
I ness while Orville was IN the air. Il
showed in his actions after the landinl
was made. as devoid as his words maJ
have been OF affection.
Il showed IN the fact that the frs
thing Miss Wright did after the greeting.
were exchanged. was 10 hurry 70 tn,
telegraph station and send or q tele
gram 10 the father OF all OF them. Bishol
I TVfs5!,t. the sQuare-t0ed Methodist clergy
mar, out IN Dayton. The telegram al
neuneed that the flight had been sue
c5ssfuIly completed. and that everybOd,
was well and happy.
Wants Orville TO Get Credit.
The devotion was shown again in N
way Wilbur handled the congratulation
which were showered upon him. One en-
thusiast came Up TO him with outstretche
hand. He shook the hand, but said
pointing over 70 Orville:
There IS the man who did the hying
He is the one 20 be congratulated"
When the enthusiast shook Orville b.
the hand. the slender aviator smiled an
turned 20 his sister standing by him:
GIVE your congratulations 10 her" h
said. "She deserves them more than an
OF US"
Even in the way Orvine came dow
the field across the finish line, Their
seemed to be an indication Of the sam
mutual fidelity. II was a most dramat'
entry 70 the field. Orvllle seemed 20 hav
forgotten everything but Wilbur, hi
brother and collaboration, was stan6in
there In the middle. waiting for him.
Sails by HIS Brother.
The younger brother brought the ma
chine close TO the ground. so that
looked 20 the crowd as II he intended I
land without making the turn. II
passed over Wnbur's head. so clos
that Wilbur and the machine seemed a.
most to shake hands. Then OrviIle ros
again to make the turn, swept aroun
the arc at a dizzy speed. and turne
south again for the landing.
OF all the features Of the flight tina
stand out most prominently Is the fac
that Il was made above the most broke
country a flying machine has ever al
tempted TO cross. The only aviators VIII
have up to this time done any cross
country flying have been the French
men. But IN all their flights OF that ns
ture they have chosen their ground care
fully, and have seen TO Il that It wa
perfectly level. titled son. There Ia
never IN all the history Of heavier-thar
air dying been journey across anything
but that sort Of ground. until Oryill
, finished his epoch-malking flight Of yesteI
day.
Trip More Difficult.
Compared with the performance {
Bleriot in crossing the English Channe
OrvfIle's achievement possessed difflcu
ties Of an entirely higher order. Bleric
few through an atmosphere troubled b
none OF the currents arising from irregu
lar topography Orville few over som
OF the toughest topography in Northeast
ern Virginia. through the conseQuen
tickle air currents, and through It all
? kept his machine under perfect contro
and, more than that. on remarkabl