The Washington herald., 1909-05-30

real story, moreover, does not lie IN tbs
accounts Of the wTights' triumphs, but II
the chronicle OF those obscure and pa
tient efforts in the face Of every handi.
cap and drawback at Kitty Hawk and
Hoffmans Prairie What happened las
summer can be easily recalled.
On August Wilbur Wright made hi,
FIRST flight in France on the parade
ground at lie Mans. In the second weei
Of September OrviIle Wright bez7n hi.
fights at Fort Myer. near Washington
While one brother was even 81 his frs
easy fights endangering the laureIs OF
the French aviators. Farman and Deia'
grange. the other was meeting all the re-
Guirements Of the United States govern.
ment tests. On September y OrviIie
stayed IN the air one hour and twelve
minutes. On September L happened ths
accident that cost the life of Lieut.
Thomas E. Selfridge. Of the United States
Army Signal Corps. and resulted n
broken bones for the inventor.
The government test required thai
Wright should ascend with one passenger
Orville Wright took In Lieut. selfridge
ana rose without trouble After a feW
minutes in the air, one Of the twin pro-
lellers broke. The other slowed the ma
chine around and upset its equilibrium
before the power could be shut Of. Tbs
flyer came down. zigEsgging Ike a hugo
piece Of cardboard, and finally landed ca
top OF the passengers. Lieut.. Selfridge's
head was crushed and Orville virgins
rip was broken.
Accident at Critical Time.
For a moment It seemed as IL the whole
Wright scheme had ended in disaster. Il
looked as II the accident. coming az q
critical moment in the wrights' fortunes
would cover them with discredlt Wfbu:
Wright saved the day. He went right OF
flying IN France as soon as he had learned
that MS brother would recover. On Sep.
tember p. four days after the accident
he few forty-two miles in one hour and
thirty-one minutes without descending
thus passing all records 4 fortnight
later syndicate known as the Weilles
committee bought the French rights e
the Wright flyer for sl0000e
Among other notable events OF Wilbur
Wright's stay IN France was his fight
for the Michelin Cup. On the last dav Of
the year. the last day open for co-petl-
ton. the aviator few over I27 kilonoeters
in two hours and twenty-eight minutes
bre lSing all records in the cup contss
for the longest distance flown in 1s0s and
winning the cup
In one thing only have the Wrights al
lowed themselves 20 be outdone during
the past few months by rival flyers
They have never attempted cross-country
flight This restraint shows their pru.
cence and heedfulness for others.
Even 10 the present time the Wrfghts
remain the same reticent and modest
men that they always were. Their expe-
Tiences have IN no way changed them
Wilbur Wright was much caricatured IN
the French papers, much uonized By the
French aerophiles. and in general greatly
liked He remained for al that the same
patient and undemonsratIve vo-ker Al
his pet idea He never even lost his
nervous fear Of flying over a crowd.
Again and again he has refused 20 7y
Until the guards al lie Mans OF at Pau
thrust back the throngs far beyond
harms way IN every respect the broth
ers are the same quiet Dayton bows as
ever. They have cone back with what
they started out ten years ago 10 get.
That IS al.