The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-28
With a Passenger 07i|Ie Wright Breaks Worlds Record
 For Long Flight
NOT AN ACCIDENT MARS
 BR|LL|ANCY OF THE FEAT
President Taft Extends His Perse,1sI Congratulations To Wright After the Crucial Test Is Com
 pleted at Fort Myer.

Washington, July 27.-The worlds aeroplane record for two men, as to both time and distance was broken this evening in beautiful flight of one hour, 12 minutes and 40 seconds-up- wards or DO miles, and at a speed aver aging about 40 miles an hour, by Or vile Wright at Fort Myer, with Lieut.. Frank P. Lahm of the army signal corps as passenger. The former record was made last year by his brother, Wilbur, joint inventor with him of the machine in which both achievements were performed, at Le- Mans, France, with Professor Painleys of the French institute as passenger. That flight was one hour. nine minutes and S1 seconds. Wilbur was an eager spectator of today's fight by hts brother.
 You just scotched your brothers record without really damaging 1t much," remarked newspaper man to Orville after the fight.
 That's all we meant to do," replied Orville with smile, which his big brother appreciatively duplicated. The cheering which heralded the setting of new mark in the con- quest of the air was led by President Taft in person, who had sat an in- tensely interested spectator through out the flight and who insisted at its conclusion upon personally congratu- lating the brothers upon heir success
 This success was all important to the Wrights. in that it completed the first of two crucial tests of their machine i'm posed upon them by the government. the so-called endurance test, which re- quired them to remain one hour con- tinuous1y in the air with one passen- ger.
 Beat Brothers Time. Orville did nearly 13 minutes better than that, and could have kept on in definitely, three hours and a half, the limit imposed by the gasoline capacity of the supply tank.
 The other test. that for speed. will be compiled with tomorrow. weather permitting, when Orville is to take Lieut.. Benjamin Foulcis of the signal corps on cross country flight to Alex andria and return, a total of ten miles. over measured course, and at a speed required to average 40 miles an hour.
 Poignancy was added to today's achievement of Orville Wright by the realization that upon his last attempt to navigate the air with passenger, that passenger Lieutenant Selfridge, was killed and he himself was terri bly injured. His devoted sister, Kath- erine Wright when he returned un- hurt. nestled her face against his breast anl said:
 Bully f. au. brother; it was beau- tiful."
 It Is a question whether this word of praise was not more to him than that which came a few minutes later when the President of the United States took him warmly by the hand and said, with the other grasping the hand of his brother Wilbur Tafts coneratulation. q congratulate you heartily. sir. II was a great exh ihitfon. You came down as easily and gracefully as you went up. You beat the worlds record" "Yes. sir replied Orville, .I beat brothers record"
 Everyone joined in the laughter. "How did your passenger fare? Did hs -----------~>----~>>-~---~-~~
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