The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-07-31
Great Possibilities in War.
fare Of the Future from Yes
terday's Trial.
MACHINE ACTED LIKE A
LIVING THING YESTERDAY
Rose From the Ground in Graceful
Circles and Was Then Away Like a
Gigantic Bird Over the Ten.mile
Course-Timing Officers Startled.


Course-Timing Officers Startled.
Washington, July 31.-Orville
Wright's great flight last evening, in
which he took Lieut. Benjamin D.
Foulois over the ten mile course from
Fort Myer to Alexandria and return
at speed of more than forty-two
miles an hour. has made deep i'm
preston on the army and navy Off
GERS. They contend that the accom-
plishment of the cross-country flight
demonstrates the availability of the
aeroplane for use in warfare.
Although they were there for the
purpose of timing the aeroplane as it
crossed and re-crosed the mark, the
officers stationed at Shutters hill, the
southern end of the course, were TAX
en- by surprise when the aeroplane
was discovered flying in their direc-
ton. The manner in which the flying
machine was lost to view, from Fort
Myer and then the rapidity with which
1t returned there after it was sighted
above the crest of the hill, was an
other hint of the possibilities of the
practical use of the aeroplane by the
army and navy.
Story Of the Flight.
Orville Wright yesterday. attained
the zenith of hard-earned success. In
ten-mile cross-country fight in the
famous aeroplane built by himself
and his elder brother, Wilbur, and ac-
companied by Lieut.. Benjamin D.
Foulois, an officer Of the army signal
corps, he not only surpassed the
speed of the requirements of his con-
tract with the government OF. the
United States, but accomplished the
most difficult and daring flight ever
planned for heavier than air flying
machine. incidentally, he broke all
records for speed, over a measured
course and established beyond dis
pute the practicability of the aero
plane in time of peace and in time of
war.
The Wright's speed was more than
torty-two miles an hour. Orville
made the ten-mile fight in fourteen
minutes and forty-two seconds, in
Guiding more than twenty seconds re-
luired for the turn beyond the line at
Shutter Hill, the southern end of the
course. He attained height in
crossing the valley of Four Mile Run
of nearly 500 feet and the average
altitude of his practically level course
vas about 200 feet.
President Taft, who has become an
enthusiastic spectator of the aero
plane trials, arrived upon the ground
At Fort Myer in time to see the areo-
plane land and to participate in the
wild demonstration which welcomed
The triumphant aviators. He sent
Colonel Treat, commanding officer of
The artillery at Fort Myer, to bear his
congratulations to the victors. Five
years ago, when secretary OF war, he
Is said to have expressed to army Of
acers profound specticism as to the
accomplishment of such feat as that
which he witnessed yesterday.
A terrific wind and rain storm
early In the afternoon seemed pro-
videntially provided to clear and quiet
the atmospheric conditions in prep
lration for the flight.
Some delay was caused by the fail
ure of the army field telegraph line
to Shutter Hill, depended upon for
communication between the two ends
Of the course. 1t was still out of COM
mission at 9:05 p. m. when Orville
Wright, seizfng the moment of the
best weather conditions he had yet
had for the speed test, had his ma
chine placed on the starting rail and
gave the motor final test.
Lieut.. Foulois, at sign from Or
Vile Wright, climbed into the pas
senger's seat beside the motor. VIII
bur Wright and Charles Taylor, the
Wright's mechanic, took their places
at the propellers. Orville turned on
the sparker of the motor, and they
whirled the blades around. The mo-
tor picked up the impetus, and Or
vile turned on full speed. For the
first time the propellers of the aero
plane were whirling at their maxi
mum capacity.
The smooth and even song of the
engine aroused the crowd to excited
cheering. >Wflbur took his place at
the right tip Of the planes and Orville
climbed into his seat beside Woulois.
He gripped the levers and nodding to
his brother, slipped the cable which
released the starting weight. The
aeroplane shot down the track, rose
before it reached the end and skim
med over the surface of the ground
for one hundred feet or more.t
AS II drawn up by invisible power,
the white winged manbird rose, high
er and higher. reached the end Of the
field, turning at slight angle. and
came about. facing the madly cheer
ing crowd.
Climbing up, as It were. on the air,
mounting higher and higher. orville.
brought the machine at greater speed
ss.