Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-07-06
WR|GHTS FAIL
TO MAKE FLIGHT
CRANKY WINDS THREATEN AND
AviAToRs REFUSE TO TAKE
ANY RISKS.
IMMENSE CROWD HAD GATHERED
Retire to Shed While Government o.
ficlaIs Examine AeropLane.-Large
Military Detachments on Guard
at Fl. Myer.

Washington, June 29.-Owing to a
strong wind prevailing the Wright
brothers failed to make their expect
ed initial aeroplane flight of the year
at Fort Myer. They thus gave further
evidence of their disregard for pub
lie criticism, when the exercise of
caution in all of their aviation work
dictates such course.
The senate had set aside it's tariff
bill to allow its members to witness
flight of the aeroplane, and together
with some several thousand others
sizzled In the hot sun on the Fort
Myer drill grounds. The Wrights
decided that the wind was too strong
new untried machine.
Fully expecting to make prelimin-
airy trial of the flying machine. Or
vile Wright notified General James
Allen, the chief signal officer, that he
intended to make an unofficial trial
flight after 4 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. AS result, long before the
hour named large crowd of people
went out to the army post on the
Potomac. opposite Washington.
At $3.50 o'clock the field was clear
ed by squad of cavalary and every
thing made ready for flight. A little
earlier Orville had come to Washing
ton to meet his father, Bishop Milton
Wright of Dayton, and his brother,
Reuchlin of Kansas, who has never
seen his brothers Ely"
Machine Abaoiad Nu$
Wilbur Wright carefully inspected
the starting track and the two broth
ers, with their mechanic, Taylor,
made final examination of the aero
plane, which was then wheeled across
the field from the shed to the starting
apparatus at the northern end of the
field.
1t was then o'clock and brisk
wind had sprung up from the west.
Heavy storm clouds appeared upon
the horizon and when few scatter
ing drops of rain began to fall the
crowd began to fear that conditions
were not favorable for a flight. The
word came, however, that Orville did
not mind flying in the rain, but that
the wind was the Objectionable feat
ure.
Then the clouds veered to the
south and the wind died out. Every
thing appeared to be in readiness for
the trial when fresh wind began
blowing from the south.
Orville Wright, who had been walk
ing about rather nervously at this
point, expressed the opinion that the
unsettled weather conditions would
prevent the flight. The officers of the
signal corps, the balloon detachment
and the cavalry guard were the only
persons permitted in the field, with
the exception of corps Of photogra.
piers who had obtained the consent
of the Wright brothers to snap the
machine as it went down to the start.
ing track.
Retire Before Crowd.
Wilbur Wright. in looking for the
operator of moving picture machine
the use of which he desired to pre-
vent neared the impatient crowd In
his jocular, jocund manner. he re
marked that he usually put his ma
chine away when the crowds in
France were fretful. But number
of senators requested him to let then
, examine the machine at closer range
and that was the opening wedge fol
number of senators, representative
and other distinguished spectators t.
get near the machine to inspect II
closely. To avoid being questioned
the Wrights retired to the aeroplane
shed until the privileged few hat
again been ordered off the fell
The wind having shown no signs o.
abating at $3.50 o'clock, Wilbur turned
to Taylor, the Wright's mechanic, ant
said: We'll. l guess you had better
run her back to the she'd"
Greatly disappointed the crowd thel
dispersed.
Wilbur explained that the machine
was a new one and that they never
made flight in an untried machine
until it had been tested In the bes
!. possible weather.
unless the air is calm you cam
: tell whether the machine Is erring, o.
whether some little fault Is caused b!
3 the wind" he added. He said tina
y they would make flight as soon a
] ideal weather conditions presented al
opportunity. Both the Wrights ex
pressed regret at the necessity of dis
appointing the crowd.
!, Secretary of the Treasury McVeagh
Assistant Secretary of State Hunting
. ton Wilson, Assistant Secretary o
the Navy Beekman Winthrop, Speak
er Cannon, Senator Aldrich and tn.
Grecian minister were at Fort Mye
yesterday afternoon to witness the ex
pected flight.