The Washington herald., 1909-07-21

Orville Wright, in his biplane,
yesterday afternoon at Fort Myer
smashed three American records
for heavier-than-air navigation-all
held by himself.
He broke his own American rec
ords for time in the air, distance
covered, and altitude attained.
BY remaining in the air one hour,
twenty minutes, and forty-hve sec
onds, he passed his best previous
mark made at Fort Myer last Sep
tember, by six minutes, and exceed
ed the longest flight of Glenn H.
Curtiss by twenty-seven minutes.
BY travelling about hfty-hve
miles, Orville exceeded his long dis
tance mark by six miles.
Attained Highest Altitude.
And by rising to a level 800 feet
above the earth-he could easily
have gone higher-he added nearly
100 feet TO the best altitude reached
last September.
The performance was remarkable and
convincing. There was nothing left TO be
said when. in the semi-darkness or the
late twilight. the dim gray bird sought
a landing place on the parade ground
Three reefs were taken in the mainsan
of adverse comment. and that nebulous
Flying Dutchman. which went into com
mission recently with the slogan. "The
Wright flying machine can't nv strug-
gled back to washington with her decks
a-wash and her canvas reduced to a mere
handkerchief.
Fortunately FOR the chances Of gener-
Gus appropriations. a distinguished party
Of public men. among whom were several
Cabinet officers. was on the quarter deck
Of the Flying Dutchman and noticed the
reefs
Not only did Orvine Wright, while VIII
bur talked idly with a group OF army
men, demonstrate that neither the Wright
aeroplane has lost the combination 10
the gateway OF the heavens nor his hand
the nerve it had last fall, but he cut
capers in the air that were entirely at
variance with such a view OF things.
He cut figure eights He flew low and
he few high. He confined himself to the
course about the parade ground when
he wanted TO. and when he didn't. he
didn't, His wanderlngs-he ambIed along
the speed Of orty-one-mile-an-hour ex-
press train-took him over the stables.
over the aeroplane shed, over the gully
beyond the shed. and over tho very edge
OF the trees lining the side Of Arlington
Cemetery
Spectators Held Breath.
But It was in the figure eights that the
daring OF the slender aviator. who was
alleged to have lost his nerve In the accl-
dent last fall I'm which Lieut.. Selfridge
was killed and Orville was seriously IN
Jured, made the 5000 spectators hold their
breath and hope In their hearts his hand
II.
New sensations are a common commod-
ity at Fort Myer since the Wright BROTH
ers gave up their bicycle Industry but
II there was a finger nail in the crowd
that did not leave a mark IN the palm OF
tho hand as the great bird drew pretzels
$50 feet in the air, the finger nail must
have been educated to consider utter
apathy one OF the cardinal virtues.
The relentless logic and unswerving con-
slstency OF the Wright brothers IN the
face Of every temptation 10 relent and 20
swerve were written large. FOR those who
care 70 see by the record-suashing work
OF yesterday.
The flights OF the two previous days
showed the brothers what they insisted
on knowing-that the bearings Of the ma
chine were worn smooth enough 90 pre-
vent them from becoming heated. Hav-
ing satisfied themselves as 20 that. tho
word evidently passed between than 70
do something sensational as the news
papers in France used 70 say about VIII
bur-
The older brother at no time during he
long flight gave any signal to OrvilIe. or
1AiAffNA ~AANe-2AAANoo CD ~ EAllltI inc QUIZ
come or the downcome. He knew the
operator Of the machine had a watch
beside him. And in the pink OF condi-
ton shown by the aeroplane, a watch
was ali Orville needed TO break records.
The indications were that he could have
beaten Wilbur's record Of more than two
hours. made IN France, at lie Mans. las,
fall, # no had wished. Probably he did
not wish. Also. the night was coming on
fast, and his eyes were bloodshot by their
Continued on Page 2, Column 9.