The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

himself and his elder brother, Wilbur,
jamin D. Foulers of the army signal
requirements of his contract with the
I government, but accomplished the
most difficult and daring flight ever
planned for a heavier than air flying
machine
incidentally he broke all speed rec
ords over measured course His
speed was more than ~ miles an hour
He made the 10 mile flight in IA min
utes and. AZ seconds He went up
nearly 500 feet in his crossing of the
valley of Four Mile run, and his av-
erage altitude was about 200 feet.
President Taft arrived upon the
parade ground at Fort Myer just in
time to see the aeroplane land and to
participate in the wild demonstration
which welcomed the triumphant avi-
ators
a great crowd watched when Or
vile Wright had the machine placed
on the starting rail and gave the
motor final test
Crowd Is BreathIess
The engine worked perfectly and
the people seemed to realize that an
epoch making moment was at hand
They pressed forward against the
lines which held them back, breath
less, intense, eagerly watching every
movement of the aviator and his ma
chine
Lieutenant Foulers climbed into the
passenger seat beside the motor. Will
bur took his place at the right tip of
the planes, and Orville clambered
into his seat beside Foulers. He
gripped the levers and slipped the cable
which released the starting weight.
The aeroplane shot down the track,
rose before it reached the end and
SKINNED over the ground for 100 feet or
more.
AS IL drawn by invisible powers, it
rose higher and higher. reached the
end of the field, turned at a slight
angle, and came about. facing the mad
ly cheering multitude.
Hats and handkerchiefs were wav-
ing, automobile horns were footing,
some overwrought spectators even
wept as the great white creature
turned again southwark at the starting
tower. Then with a short turn, Or
vile swept about almost over the heads
of the closely banked spectators, and
started straight southwark, over the
center of the drill field.
They are off," shouted a thousand
voices:
Like a giant bird the aeroplane swept
unswervingly down its course. 1t kept
straight to the south and seemed to be
rising ever higher as it passed over
the diverse and heavily wooded coun-
try in the distance
/ Those who had glasses saw the aero
plane turn, first to the left then to the
right above Shutter hill. Then it was
lost to view and as the seconds passed
a silence grew upon the crowd.
Wilbur Is Agitated
AS the delay in the aeroplane again
rising above the sky line became seem
ingly alarming, great beads of per-
spiration stood upon Wilbur Wright's
brow and his agitation was evident.
Suddenly the speck came in sight,
over the distant hill.
There it is" everybody said, and
the sigh of relief was plainly audible.
Soon the aerial navigators were home
again over the drill grounds; flying
very low. Orville steered straight
across the field and at a height of about
20 feet swung around again northward.
and landed easily far down the field
The task was done and he was greeted
with deafening cheers.
Despite the notice that nobody would
be allowed upon the field, there was a
rush of the crowd, which almost eIuded
the Gordon of mounted men on guard.
Galloping horses brushed the people
back, however, and the lines were re-
formed
Wilbur at once began calculating the
speed of the trip which, after he had
consulted with Lieutenant Foulers, he
figured at 421a miles an hour.
Eighty Miles an Hour
I'VE were making so miles an hour
coming back" said Foulers.
Orville said:
ITS easier to fly across country than
round field"
He seemed more impressed by the
lesson that the unusual flight had
taught him than by any sense of his
achievement.
I'VE were forced off our course by
several counter currents" he added,
and in turning at the lower end,
down trend of air took me lower than
l meant to go. | was forced to climb
higher in starting back
"As we crossed the valley of Four
Mile Run on the way back a down
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