The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-30
Heavy Rain and Wind Prevent Trip of Aviator
CROWD IS DISAPPOINTED
OrvilIe Wright Now Has Two More Days for Final Test of Machine and Will Make Cross Coun-
 try Trip Today.

Washington, July PA squally winc 1 caused another postponement of the ten ! mile official speed trial of Orville Wr1ght's aeroplane tonight.
 It had been announced that Wright weather permitted and by o'clock a large crowd had gathered at Fort Myer Until word came from the Alexandria end of the course at o'clock that a strong wind was blowing there, Orville Wright seemed determined to make the trial.
 The aeroplane was wheeled across the field and placed on the starting rail.
 Sitting directly opposite the starting line Maj George o. Squier and Capt. c. DeF. Chandler of the official board were ready to take the time as the machine crossed the line. They kept in constant communi- cation with the Alexandria end of the course and when Lieutenant Commander Sweet sent word that the wind was too strong to make the flight Major Sauier informed Wilbur Wright. The two broth CTS conferred and a result the flight was called ofr for the day.
 At the aeropiane shed Miss Katherine WrfzhI, sister of the two aviators, who President Taft said was the most import ant member of the family, watched the weather conditions as carefully as did her two brothers. She laughed and chatted with a few friends, but carefully avoided the nethern end of the field which has as suned g. decidedly social atmosphere Full ly 100 automobiles and as many carriage ges which had brought to Fort Myer nearly all of the officials of the government who have braysd the heat of midsummer l., .t-.,. I about the President tent Mrs. Nicho- las Longworth in a taxicab, was the cen ter of the social group. She was busily engaged pouring tea for the various mem- bers of the diplomatic corps and of con gressmen as they came up to greet her.
 President Taft, who had been expected at the fort, had not arrived when the flight was called off .Wilbur Wright an- nounced that 1t was not the rain so much as the uncertainty of the wind which caused his brother to give up the flight for today.
 After holding consultation with tho signal corps officers tonight the Wrights decided that they would not attempt a flight tomorrow morning. but expect to tidy again tomorrow afternoon. It is said that the two aeroplanists desired to make the speed trial at daybreak. but that the time would be inconvenient for the signal 
 The stake balloon at the turning point aroused some excitement.
 When word was received from Fort Myer that all was in readiness. heuten- ant Commander Sweet one of the officers stationed at the turn, warned Major Squier over the field telegraph, not to al- low Wright to start as the wind at Alex andria was very squally. The stake bal loon tossed wildly in the air and tugged violently at it's rope. The wind had shifted to due west.
 At p. m. sharp shower set in, but shortly after the crowd which had been driven under shelter of trees and build ings by rain was sent rushing into the open and to the brow of the hill by the cry of Here he coInes'' raised by the outposts which the shower had failed to drive in from their positions of vantage.
 The cavalrymen had difficulty in keeping the space at the turn clear and the wild est excitement prevailed. This was of short duration, however, as it was soon seen that the moving speck in the clouds was not the Wright aeropiane, but the stake balloon at the middle of the course which had broken from its moorings and was fioating off in the direction of Del ray, Va. Soon afterwards word of the official postponement of the flight was re- ceived and the crowd reluctantly dis