New-York tribune., 1909-07-28
WILBUR GIVES THE SIGNAL.

laugh he said this
WILBUR GIVES THE SIGNAL.
At G.3j o'clock OrviIle Wright pulling his cap
tightly over his brow, looked up and laughed at
Lahm. and then took his seat the outside at
the officers left. At signal from Wilbur. who
waved the members Of the aeronautical board
impatlently out Of the way. the word for the
start was given. and the aeroplane shooting
swiftly down the incline OF the monorail scared
gracefully into the air. leaving the ground at
6. 1910
There was an evident sIugsishness in the riSs
Of the birdlike machine compared with the
ascent when Wright few alone. but II rose
smoothly and gracefully, nevertheless and when
il veored around. careeninG at an angle which
seemed perious To- the onlookers. make the
northward flight. along the Arlington Cemetery
boundary. II was at height OF nearly sixty feet.
and never after that was there any possible
question Of buoyancy and equlpoise. Round and
round It went. seventy-fve times about the
great drill ground. which is said u be four thou
sand feet in circumference sometimes in shorter
circles. but usually out at the edges Of the
boundary. at height varying slightly except
when some stray current OF air from between
the trees or buildings rocked the machine up
and down or from side 10 side Ike a boat in a
gentle sea.
As the hour Drew TO its close excitement be
came intense. 4 thousand watches were out and
eagerly scanned At the close Of the seventieth
turn a great shout went up. automobile horns
were footed in deafening chorus. and hand
clapping and cheers and waving OF hats and
handkerchiefs told the men in the flying craft
that their task had been accomplished.
Wilbur Wright out beneath them and
waved his handkerchief The crowd expected
Orville 10 come down then but he kept on. TIn
was after his brothers laurels.
Wilbur returned to the starting derrick where
the army officers gathered. and they began
TO chaff him about his record. now in peril. With
a broad grin of appreciation he now kept count
of the minutes which remained Of his own
ord. and then he said:
"On the next turn he's got When he
comes by, let's give him a cheer"
And as the officers prepared TO comply he
added
Now. watch me and do as do"
WILBUR's RECORD BROKEN.
Wilbur waited until the machine was almost
overhead. then rushed ahead of IT, waving his
hat and dancing gleefully. 1t the first sign
of emotion Wilbur had ever shown at Fort
Myer. The crowd yelling hystericay, and
up the Presidents tent General Edwards
forgot the President. leaped to his feet and
dent, too. showing signs of eation but he
kept his seat.
Lower and lower the aeroplane circled. until
within ten feet OF the ground out from the
edges of a brilliant salmon cloud curtain the
silver half moon sailed and looked down the
scene as the machine dipped lower still, slid
along the ground in cloud of dust and stopped
almost on the identical spot where last Sep
tember. the fatal fail took place. This time
there was no fall; the beautiful aeroplane was
and triumphant.
Major Foltz. commandant Of the post, In
spotless white uniform. gallope1 across the field
and was first to reach the place and congratu-
late the aviators
Tjeutenant I4ahm laboriously unwound him
self from his cramped position. He confessed
that he was stiff During the flight he had be-
Eaved like a man intent on holding every mus
Gle taut Once he gingerly scratched his nose.
but that was as far as he permitted himself TO
MOVE Orviue said that he himself shifted po-
sitions several times.
ORVILLE WRIGHTS STORY.
81 was nervous at first" said Orville. You
know this was my first attempt with passen-
ger since last year. Gradually the machine
found herself, however. and felt as sure as II
I had been swung at the end of a string, with
no such problem direction or elevation or
sneed to solve. could hear Lieutenant Lahm
at first but the terrible racket OF the motor
coon deadened nv cars and we abandoned at
tempts at conversation. did not Intend TO lahu
&C sbrun,Iv as did and was trying some low
flying; | misjudged the elevation ana pelore
knew IT we struck the ground. 1 could have