The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-15

by tension to the top of a pyramidal 1 derrick
 The critical moment has arrived.
 once more the engine has started and the propeller blades are assisted to turn by two trusted mechanics. To the cry of One, two, threel' they push the blades round as Wright starts his engine. There are many attempts. and at last, with rattle like the firing of Maxim gun. they go whizzing round.
 All is ready!
 The man of the moment. on whom o,, eyes are now centered. takes b,s saot amidst perfect silence. There is breath- less expectancy. Nothing is heard save the thin rattle of the engine. Then upon the ears fall a minor crash. The aero plane is seen for a second rushing along the short track; it reaches the end tba little wooden truck falls away. and still amidst silence which tells of the snec- tators' repressed feelings, the flying ma chine is seen to be rising ever so slightly and travelling swiftly forward. The watchers realize that the man is f1yins and a cheer is forced from them The man and the machine are now mounting in the air. Away he goes; then, pres- ently, he can be seen turning, and again the onlookers begin to wonder whether anything is going to happen Can he turn? But the machine wheels round, and like d bird, straight it returns to- ward the crowd.
 As the aeroplane, with its queer rattle, comes rushing toward them, there is Q movement of uneasiness among the spec tators Can Wright control his machinef May he not dash in among them? But gradually, as the aeroplane approaches, the spectators realize that there is noth- ing to fear, that the man is master of his instrument. that the machine does im- plicitly and instantly as 1t is bid
 Again he turns and flies around the shed in which the implement has been stored, just over the heads of the assem- blaze; and, as it turns. the machine tits oyer-this tilting is part of one of the secrets which Wilbur Wright has impart- ed to his machine-it looks as if he were falling, and cry of horror bursts, not only from the women, but also from some of the men, He is fallingr' No; ma jestieally he sweeps round, and goes once more on his way through the air. Only the rattle of the engine, like the continu- ous yolleying of machine gun, is heard.
 He takes a greater sweep still, rising and falling easily and gracefully like bird. Again he turns, and anxiety springs once more into the breasts of the spec tators as Wright swoops almost on to an ox-drawn wagon, loaded with coarse grass To the spectators it seems that he skins just over it, and the frightened driver stares in blank amaze at the spec tacle of the man-bird. What stories that southern Frenchman will tell his folk in his village that night
 And then, while his admirers still wildly cheer him, Wright darts past them, malS- ing long, straight, easy flight right into the suns eyes. and perfect picture is presented to us all. He is outlined sharp ly and clearly against the glare of those white-clad Alps; the silhouette is mar vicious and beautiful. Suddenly he, stops his flight and turns almost on himself. He is coming back, showing how perfect and wonderful is the control which he has over his instrument. Then. quickly. he steers toward the point from which he started He is almost over the exact spot, when suddenly the rattle of his engine ceases. He has stopped 1t. Quietly, gently, he sinks to the ground, without a jar, without noise, without fuss. And that Is all!
 The ease, the simplicity, the safety of it all staggers one.