Sept. 10, 1908 (Thursday)

ORVILLE WRIGHT SMASHES FLIGHT RECORDS AT FORT MYER: Pioneering aeronaut Orville Wright stayed in the air for more than an hour as he drove in circles above the parade ground
at Fort Myers in the Washington, D.C., area yesterday. (The photo above shows him on one of those flights.) In his longest solo flight, he stayed up in the air for 62 minutes and 15 seconds, according to today's New York Times. This set a record. He broke his own record for longevity (about 57 minutes), which he had set earlier in the day. Then, Orville set a record for doubles when he flew for 6 minutes 10 seconds with Lt. Lahm.

FORMER SENATOR REVELS IN HIS ROLE IN LEADING A LYNCHING IN OXFORD, MISS.: As mentioned yesterday, former U.S. Sen. W.V. Sullivan (left) was instrumental in inspiring a mob to lynch a black man on Sept. 8 in Oxford, Miss. Today's New York Times includes a lengthy quotation from Sullivan that shows he is proud of his actions. His words, as reported, need little embellishment:
I led the mob which lynched Nelse Patton and I'm proud of it. I directed every movement of the mob, and I did everything I could to see that he was lynched. Cut a white woman's throat! And a negro! Of course I wanted him lynched. I saw his body dangling from a tree this morning, and I'm glad of it.
"When I head of the horrible crime I started to work immediately to get a mob. I did all I could to raise one. I was at the jail last night and heard Judge Roane advise against lynching. I got up immediately after and urged the mob to lynch Patton.
"I roused the mob and directed it o storm the jail. I had my revolver, but did not use it. I gave it to a Deputy Sheriff and told him to 'shoot Patton, and to shoot to kill.' He used the revolver and shot. I suppose the bullets from my gun were some of those that killed the negro.
"I don't care what investigation is made, or what are the consequences. I am willing to stand them. I wouldn't mind standing the consequences any time for lynching a man who cut a white woman's throat. I will lead a mob in such a case any time."