The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-10-24
AIRSHIP A SUCCESS.
The Machine Goes Around the Eiffef
Tower.
DUMONT SUCCESSFUL AT LAST.
Claims the Prize For Aerial NavIga-
tlon-Seems to Be An Accomplish
ed Fact.

Paris, BY Cable.-The Santos-Du-
mont airship ascenied at St Cloud at
2:3S o'clock Saturday afternoon, and
five minutes afterwards began to
round the Eiffel tower. Santos-Du
mont completed his trip successfully,
but a question has arisen as to wheth
er it was done within the time limit.
80 minutes Mr.. Deutsch says the
aeronaut won the prize. The COM
mittee, however, declares N. Santos
Dumont took 80 minutes, 40 4-I
seconds to make the trip.
Santos-Dumont started for the first
time at 2:29, but on leaving the park
his guide rope caught in a tree and
he was obliged to descend. He started
again at PAP p. m. He rose $50
yards and then pointed for the Eiffel
tower, the balloon going in straight
line. 1t was seen through field
glasses to arrive at the tower and
round it. The time up to that point,
with the wind in the balloons favor,
was 8 minutes and As seconds. 1t re-
turned against the wind and made
slower headway, but still kept in the
true direction for st. Cloud, which 1t
reached in the total time OF %
minutes, Is seconds. But instead Of
descending Immediately, Santos-Du-
mont made a broad sweep over the
Aero Club grounds, with the result
that another minute and rs seconds
were consumed before the workmen
seized the guide rope. Thus, techni-
cally Santos -Dumont exceeded the
time limit by 40 seconds.
The enormous CrCwd which had
gathered inside and outside the
grounds gave the aeronaut tremen-
dous ovation. AS his basket came
within speaking distance. Santos-Du-
mont leaned over the side and asked.
Have | won the prize?" Hundreds or
spectators shouted Yes! Yes" but
the Count De Dion, a member OF the
committee, approached and threw
damper on the enthusiasm by saying:
"My friend, you have lost the prize
by 40 seconds" Numbers OF on-looK-
ers protested against this announce
ment in lively terms, but the Count
De Dion said: .,
THAT is the decision Of the COM
mittee, in accordance with the rules
Of the contest"
At this moment NJ. Deutsch himself
arrived at the club grounds, having
only shortly before that moment
reached Paris from Biarriaz. He ad-
vanced. embraced Santos-Dumont,
shook hands with him and said:
For my part, I consider that you
have won the prize"
The great crowd then gave the two
men an ovation, cheering heartily for
Santos-Dumont and Deutsch.
Santos-Dumont claims that he won
the prize because he reached the PARK
within the time and that the original
rules governing the contest made no
mention Of having to touch the ground
within the 80 minutes.
The dispute is due to the action OF
the committee which some time ago
modified the terms Of the contest oy
inserting the latter stipulation. San
tos-Dumont at the time protested ana
refused to be bound by the fresn
regulation and strenuously uphelo
this view with the Count De Dion and
other members Of the committee on
descending. finally declaring that. ne
had won the prize and would not try
again. If the money was withheld
1t was not his fault.
M. Deutsch said he would give 20
900 francs to the poor, notWithstand-
ing the decision of the committee, Dut
Santos-Dumont declined to accept the
offer as a solution Of the dihculty
There was a large assemolase OF
people at the Eiffel tower ana con,
tbc % cTneriment in other parts OF
paris groups of people gathering in
tho streets to watch the progress or
the elongated, yellow balloon with
its long guide rope hanging and white
canvas ltT vas propelIers whirling round,
while those below distinctly dis
tinguished the loud buzzing OF the
motor