Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-07-28
Orville Wright Breaks the
Worlds Record In En-
durance Test At Fort
Myer Last Night.
FORMER RECORD
HELD BY BROTHER.
Test For Speed Will Take
Place Late oday Across
Potomac.

Washington, ID. c., July 2S.-The
worlds aeroplane record for two
men as to both time aad distance,
was broken last evening In a beauti-
full flight OF one hour, twelve minu tes
and forty seconds-upwaT.ds or Atty
miles, and a speed averaging about
forty miles an hour, by Orvillo
Wright at Fort Myer, with Lieuten-
ant Frank p. Lahm, OF the Army
Signal Corps, as a passenger.
The former record was made last
year by his brother, Wilbur, joint in
ventor. at lie Mans, France, with
Professor Painleve. of the French
Institute. az passenger. That flight
was one hour, niae minutes and
thirty-one seconds. Wilbur was an
eager spectator OF yesterdas's flight
by his brother.
"You just scotched your brothers
record without really damaging IT
much" remarked newspaper man
TO Orville, after the flight.
That's all we meant to do" re-
Piled Orville, with smile, which
his big brother appreciatively dupli-
Gated.
The cheering which heralded the
setting OF new mark I'm the con-
quest OF the air was led by Presiden:
Taft In person. who had sat, an In
tensely interested spectator through
out the flight, and who insisted at it's
conclusion upon personally cOngratu-
lating the brothers upon their sue
cess.
Their success was all-important TO
the Wrights in that it completed the
first OF two crucial tests OF their ma
chine imposed upon them by the
United States government--the so
called endurance test which re-
quired them to remain one hour
continuously I'm the air with one pas
senger. Orville did nearly 13
minutes better than that. and could
have kept on indefnitely-thre
hours and half, but for th9 limit
imposed by the capacity OF the gaso.
line supply tank.
The other test, that for speed. will
be complied with today, weather
permitting, when Orville is to take
Lieut.. Benjamine Foulols, OF the
Signal Corps on a cross country flight
20 Alexandria and return, a total Of
ten miles, over a measured course,
and at a speed required 20 average
40 miles an hour. Orville could
have made that fight yesterday even
ing, but it was almost dark when ne
at last alighted after a flight which
would have carried him almost across
the English Channel.
Before his achievement OF yes
terday tho best that Orville Wright
has been able To- accomplish with an
additional passenger aboard was nine
minutes, six and one-third seconds.
This was during a trial fight az Fort
Myer, September u, 1908, when nc
circled the field for a distance Of
5.88 miles with Major George o.
Squires, acting chief signal officer OF
the army, as his passenger.
During tho same week he made a
fight OF a fraction over minutes
with Lieutenant Frank p. Lahm, as
companion.
Il was IN attempting 20 better
these two experimental flghts that
he met with the accident, on Septem-
Der II, 1908, which resulted IN the
death Of Lieutenant Thomas r. Self
ridge, OF the signal Corps, and I'm a
serious injury to himself.
On this occasion the machine,
after two circles of Fort Myer drill
ground, was dashed to earth from a
Continued on Page Four).