I know two sure fire cures for hiccups; if the first one doesn't work, the second one will.
I've been prone to painful hiccups at times, and this has always worked.
1. Drink a glass of water backwards. I.e. - hold a full glass of water in front of you, bend forward, and drink out of the farther edge of the glass.
If that doesn't work, try this:
2. Eat a teaspoon full of plain honey or sugar.
I have used these on many people. I wonder if one would have worked on the unfortunate Wright?
The best hiccup cure I have seen is to cover a cracker with mustard, chew it up and swallow it.
It is amazing, it works almost instantly.