The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-08-05
HARRY SEES
THE AIRSHIP
OF WRIGHT BROTHERS MAKE A
FLIGHT.
H. T. DAWSON WRITES US
INTERESTING LETTER ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT EVENT.

V6nr IWTSnHNI 6VGNts
H. T. Dawson, a former resident OF
Brookings, who now has position in
the capitol at Washington, writes us
the following interesting letter after
witnessing the record-breaking fight
of Orville Wright in his aeroplane:
Editor Register,
Brookings, s. D.
Dear SIR
1t happened to be our good fortune
yesterday in going to Fort Meyers,
Va, to be among a crowd of 1000
spectators who, together with his ex-
cellency, the president, witnessed the
successful ascent and flight of Orville
Wright in his aeroplane accompanied
by Lieutenant Lahm.
We arrived at Fort Meyers at about
three o'clock and after taking in the
fort, which is situated opposite beau
tiful Arlington, the last resting place
of our honored soldier dead, where
also lies Ex-Congressman Parker, we
strolled down to the shed in which
the aeroplane is stored while at the
fort. The wind blew quite gale and
the clouds were black, and Wilbur
Wright stood at the rear door Of the
shed watching the sky.
About thirty cavalry men rode up
and drove the crowd across the field
to the other side of the railroad track,
where a rope had been stretched and
several kaki tents were up, one for
the president, one for the press and
others for distinguished visitors. We
were fortunate in getting a seat on
one of the benches which had been
put up and after watching the dust and
clouds and getting little sprinkling
of rain, in which we sat with umbrel-
las up, we were rewarded after awhile
by having it all pass over and the
wind abate and the sun come out.
After patiently sitting about two hours
during which time the funeral cortege
of Col. Angus, who died in the Philip
pines entered Arlington and the re-
mains were laid to rest with high
military honors After the funeral had
passed, about p. M, they began get
ting ready for the ascent of the air.
ship. They were about thirty-five min
utes getting ready, as the shed in
which the aeroplane is stored is about
a quarter of mile from the starting
point. When all was ready and they
were about to step in the ship the
president arrived in his auto and was
escorted to his tent. The signal was
given to go, the crowds cheered, the
ship gradually arose like "a bird and
scared upwards until it had reached
about 130 feet and then circled around
the fields in mile laps. Orville Wright
had perfect control of it. Mr.. Wright
and Lieutenant Lahm looked very
calm and peaceful in their aerial seat
as though they had been used to moth
ing else all their lives. 1t was truly
a wonderful sight to see them sailing
through the air at the rate OF forty
five miles an hour. 1t came through
the air like a train in speed only there
were no railroad tracks. He was up
one hour and twelve minutes and some
seconds, beating his brother, Wilbur's
record by three or four minutes and
then they descended, like a beauti-
full bird, round and round and landed
gracefully near the shed amid the
cheers of the assembled thousands.
His excellency, the president, was the
first to cross the field to congratulate
them.
The climate here is not the same
as in Brookings, but we have not suf-
fered from the heat. 1t is hot few
DAYS and then a rain comes up and
cools it off. All of last week was cool
and the evenings are cool and there
is a heavy dew during the night. AL
together it has been a delightful sum.
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