New-York tribune., 1909-07-31
MACHINE CLIMBS" THE AIR

I at great speed once again 1uIiy diouiu Inv ''
Then with a short turn he swept about almost
over the heads of the closely banked spectators
and started straight forward over the centre OF
the drill field.
"-rbev,re Off" a thousand voices shouted as
one
Like an eagle. circling the sky until II 1narh7
its prey. and then darting straight Tor us oo-
iective the airship swept answering down l'9
course The revolving propelers encouraseu an
illusion of swift winged bird fight OIwa'ei
inc u Kent it's course straight to the south. ana
seemed to be rising ever higher as II passeu oVe'
the diverse and heavily wooded country IN tie
distance Smaller and smaller 1t grew uhui IL
! bacara q mere speck against the pearl SKY
above the horizon.
Those who had glasses saw the aeropia"e 80
first to the left then to the right, above Shu's1
Hill. -. =.
e,,ddeni,, the speck was lost to view, ana ds
the seconds passed silence grew upoi ~
crowd silence that spoke or deep 0oi'0'"
Wilbur Wright, standing with leVehed SASS
beside his sister strained his gaze in an EFFORT 10
-oa.o, si,bt Of tho aeropIane when 1T should rise
again above the sky line. Seconds seemed
minutes and as the interval became seemingly
alarming, great beads of peFspirauoh stoou
upon his brow and his agitation was evident
Suddenly the speck came in sight again over
the distant hill. A cry swept over the "atcHiiis
crowd.
There It is" everybody said. and the sigh
of relief was audible and unanimous
Onward the machine came, growing with the
seconds and seemingly swerved from us course
by a westerly breeze 1t grew and grew untll
almost every detail of it was visible. Soon the
aerial uavigators were home again over the
drill ground flying very low Orville steered
straight across the field. and at height OF
about twenty feet swung around again to the
southwark and landed easily far down the
field.
sALvOs GREET RETURN.
The task was done, and in triumph Deafen-
ing cheers welcomed the return
Despite the notice that nobody would be al
lowed upon the field there rush Of the
crowd which almost eIuded the Gordon of the
mounted men on guard. Galloping horses
pushed the people back. however, and the lines
were reformed with great difficulty
Katherine Wright who had shouted loudly
as anybody ran down to the field with her
friend. Mrs Van Dieman. and grasped her
brother almost Historically. dancing with glee.
She almost embraced Lieutenant Foulois. who
seemed rather embarrassed by the demonstra-
tion.
Wilbur was more seIf-controlied though max
Ing no secret Of his elation He forthwith be-
gan calculations to determine the probable
four miles an hour, but after he had consulted
with Lieutenant FouIois he figured IL at forty
two and one-haIf miles hour.
1--WE were making eighty miles an hour COM
ing back" were almost the first words OF
Foulois he left his seat. He seemed discon- /
Certed by the congratulations heaped upon him. /
but plainly delighted. Asked how. il felt TO /.
fly. he replied ITS good enough for me-
OrviIle Wright said. IT'S easier 10 fly across !
country than around field" He seemed more
impressed by the lessons that the unusual fight
had taught him than by any of his /
achievement
We forced of our course by several /
counter-currents.' he added. and in turning az /
the lower end down trend Of air took me /
lower than | meant to go. I forced To /
climb higher In starting back As we crossed /
the valley OF Four Mile Run on the way back a /
down trend made II necessary TO climb like |
forty 10 get up in the air above the hill"
Even more dramatic than its departure from
Fort Myer the advent of the aeropIane and /
its passengers at the southerly turning point on
Shutor Hill, just outside OF Alexandria There |
the usual crowd gazing eagerly into the /
sunset sky If in expectation sof some super !
natural visitation
AIRSHIP'S COMING UNHERALDED.
owing to the failure Of the army field tele- |
graph To resume communication with Fort /
horizon Of treetops unheralded and almost uu- /
expected.
There IL is" screamed a keen eyed boy. The /
surrounding people followed the direction Of his |
pointing finger and began tn shout Like fire /
along a train Of powder the yell ran through !
the crowd
Beyond the high promontory ~ Shutter Hill !
the aeropane was easily three hundred feet /
above ground but the trees and buildings the I
hill called for a stiu greater altitude to clear /
them. The watching crowd clearly saw the fore
planes tilted. the great canvas bird breasted an
other air wave and rose into a higher stratum {
of the atmosphere She cleared the hiH easily
and a great cheer broke from the hundreds as
sembled on the hilltop She shot at express train /
speed the ina ginary line swung ma jesticaI- |
ly round in wide circle. eareening slightly.
passed round both the stake balloon and the flag
staff with its lazly stirring Stars and Stripes. /
and rising To Il height of fun three hundred and /
fifty feet rushed back toward Fort Myer over
the curtain at the northern edge Of the /
view and out of sight.
Tomorrow the official board will determines
II exceeded forty-two miles an hour. The
Wrights will therefore receive $3OOOo. including
a bonus of $1,000 for their aeropane.
ANOTHER $4,000 AERoPLANE PRIZE.