Arizona republican., 1909-07-31
SURPASSED
Orville Wright With a Pas senger Made the Ten Mile Flight at Rate of More Than 42 Miles an Hour
 Without an Accident.

Washington. D. C., July 30.-Orville Wright today attained the zenith of a hard earned success In a 10 mile cross country flight from the Fort Meyer drill grounds to Alexandria in the famous areOplane built by himself and his elder brother, Wilbur, and ac- companied by Lieutenant Benjamin D. Foulers of the army signal corps he not only surpassed the speed require ments of his contract with the govern ment, but accomplished the most diff ficult and daring flight ever planned for a heavier-tha air flying machine. incidentally he broke all speed records over a measured course. His speed was more than 42 miles an hour. He made the ten mile flight in If minutes and 42 seconds. He went up nearly 800 feet in his crossing of the valley of Four Mile Run and his average alti- tude vas about 200 feet.
 President Taft arrived upon the pa rade ground at Fort Meyer just in time to see the aeroplane land and he participated in the wild demonstration in favor of the aviator.
 The engine worked perfectly and the people seemed to realize that the epoch making moment was at hand. Lieutenant Foulers climbed into the passenger seat beside the motor. Will bur took his seat 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 if drawn by an invisible power, it rose higher and higher. reached the end of the field turned at a slight an gle and came about facing the madly cheering multitude. With short turn Orville swept about almost straight sOuthward oyer the center of the drill field.
 "They are off" shouted a thousand voices. Like a giant bird the aeroplane swept unswervingly down the course. It kept straight to the south and seem ed to be rising even higher as it pass over the river and heavily wooded country in the distance. Those who had glasses saw the aeroplane turn first to the left and then to the. right above Shutter hill. Then it was lost to view and as the seconds passed silence grew upon the crowd.
 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 again over the drill grounds. flying very low, Orville steered straight across the field and at the height of about 20 feet. swung around northward and landed easily far down the field.
 The task was done and he was greeted with deafening cheers. Will bur at once began calculation of the speed of the trip which after he had consulted with Lieutenant Foulers he figured it at 421a miles an hour. We were making so miles an hour coming back" said Lieutenant FOulers. Or vile Wright said, It's easier to fly across country than around field"
 Beyonds the high promontory of Shutter Hill the aeroplane was 300 feet above ground, but the trees and buildings on the hill called for a still greater altitude to clear them. The watching crowd saw the fore planes tilted. the great canvas bird breasted another air wave and rose into a high CT stratum, the fantastic craft occu pied by Wright and Lieutenant Foul CTS being distinctly seen, the former much engrossed in the manipulation of his levers, the soldier calmly noting the distance where the triumph was to come.
 General James Allen. chief signal of ficer, announced after the flight that the training of Lieutenants Lahm and Foulers in the operation of the aero plane would take place at some point on the Potomac river near Washington where the ground was more level and freer from Instructions. There will be no more flights at Fort Meyer. To- morrow the official board will detrace the speed made today. It was said to have exceeded forty two miles an hour. The Wrights therefore will receive $30,00O including a bonus of $5000 for