The Washington times., 1909-10-27
Aviator Sets Precedent and
Takes Mrs. Van Deman
for Flight.
ITS SIMPLY GRAND"
is HER COMMENT
Friend of Aeronaut's Sister First
of Her Sex to Fly in
America.

HIlDuI WIlg0I, WHO laS refused
kings and dukes, diplomats and the
daughter of a former President, this
morning broke all precedents and
the Wright reticence, and for the
first time in this country took-ae-
with him for a brief sky trip a
woman. Mrs. R. H. Van Denan.
wife Of a captain in the United
States army, was the one honored
by Mr.. Wright.
When it was ali over, all the four
thrilling minutes, a flight such as
no other woman has taken, Mrs.
Van Deman, smiling and happy.
jumped out Of the passenger seat to
the ground and remarked:
SIMPLY GRAND"
"oh. dear me. it was simply
grand" and that was about all she
would say.
The fight had been arranged for
with all the secrecy of which Mr..
Wright is the possessor, and that
is showing a good bit. Mrs. Van
Deman and her officer husband
came out to College Park before the
Capital was fairly awake. II was
very evident that she was excited
over something. and Mr.. Wright
| and his officer pupils also appeared
unusually gay. No one who wasn't
in the secret, however, suspected
what was about to happen until a
minute or two before the machine
went up.
Unexpected Happens.
Mrs Van Deman. her husband. and
the officers Ioafed about the shed and
the starting bag, and the newspaper
men. who had seen her often at Fort
Myer and here. were entirely OF their
guard. They looked upon her as an
old friend, one who was on the inside
In things aeronautic; really. that and
nothing more.
About 1850 Mrs. Van Deman. accom-
panied by her husband. walked out TO
where the machine was placed on the
raI. The propeIlers were whirling their
old song. the weight was up in i
derrick, and Mr.. Wright was playing
with the spark in familiar fashion.
When the newspaper men looked
again, Mrs Van Deman. her long gray
cloak tucked close around her, her black
hat set jauntily on her head, was sitting
in the passenger seat In another sec
ond Mr. Wright and Lieutenant Lahm
had taken a piece OF twine and tied It
about the bottom of her long gray cloak.
holding lightly the black skirt beneath.
False Start.
In another minute Mr.. Wright had
taken his place in the operators seat
released the clutch and started the bi
plane down the rail. It went only
few feet beyond the end OF the track
and refused to rise.
The chivalrous Mr.. Wright wouldn't
permit his fair passenger TO get out of
the machine while IL was wheeled back
to the track. so the Signal Corps pri-
Yates .trundied it back. and Mrs. Van
Deman sat smiling with bound feet in
the passenger seat
At 81S Mr.. Wright made a second
start which proved successful As il
rose into the air from the end OF the
rail some Of the close observers thought
that the passenger gave a little scream
but nobody could confirm il. because Nj,
Wright wouldn't and Mrs. Van DemaH
had forgotten about it By the time she
'''''N Two Circles Made
Mr.. Wright never went up more than
sixty feet on this trip, and made only
two circles OF the field. He was in the
air four minutes. Although he is dean
of the school of applied aeronautics. ne
did not initiate Mrs. Van Deman into
the mysteries of the biplane's operation
Mr. Wright made a graceful landing
and just as gracefully kept the news
paper men from besieging his passenger.
1t was simply great she said.
IT want TO thank you, Mr.. Wright
said her captain husband. Now II will
be possible for me 10 keep peace in
our home"
"Oh, that's ali right said Mr.. Wright,
with his quizzical grin. Put the ma
chine on the rail, boys"
A few minutes later Mrs. Van Demau
quite radiant, had departed from the
field without ever having revealed her
sensa tions on her first air trip. Mr..
Wright said that he had never before
During his European exhibition he
ascended several times with female pas
sengers, but neither ne nor OrVilie had
done so In America Miss Katherine
Wright mas gone up in a Wright b.
plane. but the honor came 10 her while
Wilbur was In Pau, France.
Sought by Many
Many famous men. including the King
OF Spain. three dukes. diplomats. gem
arai~ and ofher notah hIas have .y,,,r.t.4