Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-16
FAMOUS BIRD MEN 4pENT nov.
HOOD DAYS At CEDAR
RAPIDS. ~
GOT FIRST IDEAS OF
FLYING WHI.E ThEaE
Toy Dst Which Was Out Of Rspsir
Starts osniusss to Wor,<ins-Faths
Was United 0rsthren Bishop Sta.
toned in Iowa Several Ysars-1reth.
srs Extremely Modest.

Cedar Rapids. Aug. 16.-Orville and
Wilbur Wright. now worlds famous
airmen and the first men to make q
successful flight with biplane, ara
Cedar Rapids boys. It was here that
the first airship, Of the type which is
putting the dirigible balloon out Of
business, was invented. Yet, because
of the modesty Of the Wrights Cedar
Rapids has known no more than that
the Wrights went to school in this city.
Z. L. Alderman, advertising manager
for the Cedar RAJ ids exposition, was in
Chicago Saturday and Sunday to pre-
pare his advertising and sign up the
airmen, and to him Orville Wright told
the story OF the invention Of the BIZ
plane.
The father Of Orville and Wilbur
Wright was bishop of the United
Brethren church and formerly resided
in this city. Orville at the time was
less than 9 years old and was younger
than Wilbur.
Get Idea From q Toy.
One day Bishop Wright came home
with a toy that delighted the Wright
kids" 1t was toy bat-the little
animal which is supposed to have
penchant of entangling itself in
milady's marcel wave. Now the
Wright boys had seen live bats-prob-
able had tried to strike them with long
poles as the flying animals circled
under the street lamp. They immedi-
ately set the toy to flying
But. like all other toys, the bat soon
vas broker and the future airmen
found themselves in serious predica-
lnent. They did not care for toys that
crawl on the ground, but wanted some
thing which would fly in the air. Hours
and hours We're spent in examining
and dissecting that toy bat by Orville
and Wilbur, III vain attempt to make
it fly.
Toy Airship q Success.
Confound 1t, let's make an airship."
said one OF the Wright boys, and i'm
mediately the brothers began to plan.
There We're many sleepless nights and
many days Of what seemed to be day
dreaming. Even at this early age, the
Wright boys were determined, altho
there were several unsuccessful at
tempts. they finally made a toy ship
which would fly.
interested the Wrights. They made
other and better airships until finally
the first successful flight with BIZ
plane was made. Today these brothers
are capturing most Of the prizes at the
big aviation meets.
Are Very Modest.
Mr.. Alderman stated that the Wright
brothers are extremely modest, and
seclude themselves so it is almost i'm
possible to find them among the avia-
tors now in Chicago. Also they do not
allow any of their aviators or them
selves to compete for prizes on Sun
day and one OF their men who won the
distinction Of remaining in the air the
longest time Sunday at Chicago did
not accept the prize.
Orville Wright stated that while in
Cedar Rapids, his family resided at the
corner Of Tenth street and First ave-
nue. and later resided near the high
school building. Orville remembered
several persons and said he would re-
member more Cedar Rapids citizens if
It were not for q fall with an airship
which he had some years ago. The in
Juries received resulted In q loss of
memory.
Orville stated. however, that his
brother Wilbur can call to mind a hun
cred names of Cedar Rapids citizens.
Wilbur was older than Orville while
the family lived here, and, of course,
had better chance to get acquainted.
When the Wright family moved from
Cedar Rapids Orville was years of
age.
To Mr.. Alderman, Orville Wright
stated that he would like to come to
Cedar Rapids, and probably will. He
viii! not come curing the exposition,
but may come when there is no cele-
bration and .he town is quiet. The
Wrights are not fond of show and
noise and delight In living in secluded
places where they can devote their
time to scientific study