The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-30

recovered from an attack Of typhoid
fever, the two brothers began to study
flying methods. During the three
following years they made several ex-
periments with gliding machines, but
were unable to make glider that
would support much weight until 1902
when they made more than 1000 sue
cessful gliding flights at Kitty Hawk,
N. C. In the autumn OF the follow
ing year they made a machine that
supported a man and sailed three
hundred feet.
1t had been more than five hundred
years since the first attempt at flight,
when the Wrights in 1904 successfully
flew six miles in motor propelled
machine. They knew that their ideas
were right but they made few excur-
sions into the air until 1908 when
they made test flights for the govern
ment at Fort Mercer. In that year,
Wilbur Wright made his first flight
abroad. On August s, in 1908, he
flew at Lemans, France, staying in
the air one minute and 46 seconds.
Then Frenchman claimed the worlds
record for time in the air by flying
20 minutes In one flight and 81 min
utes on another. 1t was but a few
days before Orville Wright. in the
/ United States, ascended in machine
and stayed clear OF the ground for
81, 81 and 65 minutes in three success
sive flights.
Motorless Aeroplane.
The latest accomplishment of the
Wright brothers was to perfect
gliding machine that scars and sails
4 in the face of the wind. 1t was con-
structed with flying bird in mind
and it was predicted by Wilbur
4 Wright, shortly before his death, and
by his brother, that motorless aero
! planes We're soon to be practical in
stitution. The Wright brothers, dur
4 ing the last two years have done no ex-
4 hibition flying. They announced their
I retirement and the only flights they
have made since then have been ex-
Eperimental.
4 After the successful experiments
4 with heavier than air machines in this
country the Wrights went abroad Ev-
1 erywhere they We're accorded great
demonstrations but were unspoiled by
the hero worshipers. At Kitty Hawk,
N. G., the two brothers cooked their
own meals, in small shack adioin-
ing their hangar They intended to
do the same thing abroad When Will
bur Wright arose and went to prepare
his breakfast at the flying field IN
, France he found French chef there
busily doing it for him. Wilbur did
the man, or understand why he was
there.
Following the successful conquest Of
Europe during which homage was paid
to the Wright brothers by the kings
; of several countries, they returned to
this country and continued to solve
problems of flying and to fight pat
ent suits and injunctions through the
federal courts until today their pat
ents are recognized over the world,
: and the Areo club of America permits
no infringement on the rights of the
pioneers of aviation. Today, no avia-
tion meet can be held without first Sc
curing permission of the Wright
, brothers. They did not abuse the
control of the "air trust however
and they gave permission to the pro
d moters of every meet. sanctioned by
: the Aero Club of America.
! Wilbur Wright was born near Mill
vile, Ind, on April 49, 1867 His edu
5 cation ended after four years in the
Richmond Ind and Dayton, Ohio
= schools. He was unmarried.
Taft Pays Tribute.
g WASHINGTON, May 30.--Shocket
q by the death of Wilbur Wright, Presl
D. dent Taft today declared that he de
/, served to be ranked with Fulton ant
IS Stephenson and Belt.
A. Il am very sorry that the father o
e the great new science of aeronautic
lr is dead" he said, "and that he ha
N not been permitted to live to see tn
@ wonderful development that is sur
% to follow along the primary lines o