Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-03
THE FLYING MACHINES
The Entries Made to the St.
Louis Contests.
A HIGH STANDARD
RULES APPROVED BY THE AERO
NAUTs OF EUROPE.
Mysterious Destruction Of Santos Du-
mont's Airship-Numerous Sugges-
tions-Success of the Wrights.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS

t1onS-SucceSS OF the Wr1ghtS.
BY WILLIAM F. CURTIS.
| Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
| Chicago Record Herald.
ST. LOUIS, September %, 1904.
OF all the many undertakings of impor-
| lance here at the exposition only one has fall
| ed, and that is the attempt of the manage
ment to develop aerial navigation. Two
years ago the gentle and genial Frederick
James V. Skiff conceived the idea that it
would give an impetus to aeronautic pro-
gress and add to the attractions of the ex-
position if a generous money prize were Of
| fered to competitors in that science. The
suggestion was adopted, and the manage
| ment appropriated 100000 for the encour-
agement of ambitious aeronauts. A grand
prize of 100000, the largest ever offered
| in the world for a mechanical achievement,
| is to be given to whoever will make at least
three flights over fixed ten-mile course at
a rate of speed of not less than twenty
miles an hour. The course laid out on the
exposition grounds is a right angle with
a long leg, and a short leg, the starting
point being at the angle. The competing
| airships are required to sail southwark
two miles, turn around a captive balloon
then back to the starting point and down
| the long leg three miles and return.
This course was laid out at conference
of experts in 1902. Octave Chanute of Chi
cago, formerly president of the American
Society of Civil Engineers. and recognized
the world over as an authority on aerial
navigation, was made superintendent of
tests and chairman of the committee of ar
rangements. Another member was Prof.
A Lawrence Rotch of Harvard University,
famous meteorologist and astronomer,
and the third was Santos Dumont a rich
uj1 tn hO hoe. hoo.
with flying machines all his life, and is to-
day recognized as the foremost and most
successful aerOnaut in the world. Mr.. Du-
mont accepted the appointment and came
from Paris with his secretary at the ex-
pense of the exposition authorities.
Mr.. Dumont's Experience.
These three gentlemen laid out course,
| named the prizes and prepared the rules
and regulations which were printed in a
dozen different languages and distributed
all over the world. Mr.. Chanute then went
to Europe and had personal conferences
with every aeronaut and aeronautic society
and club of any Importance. The rules met
with almost unanimous approval. The only
suggestion was to have them modified SO
as to make the test easier, which the man
agement refused to do. preferring to main
tain high standard. But a year later
Santos Dumont, who as l have just told
you, assisted in their preparation advised a
modification of the order to induce competi-
| ton, as. In his opinion. the science of air
| navigation had not yet reached the point
where the conditions of the contest could
be complied with. His suggestion was ac-
cepted. and the minimum speed was re-
| duced to eighteen miles an hour.
little later Mr.. Dumont demanded b.
guarantee amounting to his full expenses
| If he took part in the contest. This was
declined on the ground that it would defeat
the object of the competition for the expo
sition company to assume all the risks, and
| that it would not be fair for them to give
| guarantee to one competitor unless they
gave 1t to all. Mr.. Dumont then insisted
that the speed limit should be reduced to
fifteen miles an hour, and declared that he
would not come otherwise. The committee
was called together, and the rules were re-
vised, giving a graduated scale of prizes
100000 for a speed of twenty miles an
hour. $4,000 for speed Of eighteen miles
an hour and $4,000 for speed of fifteen
miles an hour. Dumont accepted these
| notifications, and came to ST. Louis with
twenty-four men and airship, upon
which he paid $1,70O freight, and an
nounced that he was ready and eager for
flight.
The directors of the exposition were anx-
ioIs that the first tsst should take place
on the Fourth of July, and offered to pay
all of his expenses If Santos Dumont would
be ready by. that date. He agreed and ac-
that 1t would be impossible for him to get
ready, but. the flight had been adver-
tised throughout the entire country and the.
money ndO DGeH pdlO the directors Q6C.lneO
to release him. Then occurred mysteri-
GUS incident which has caused much sur
prise and comment.
The Airship Destroyed.
The airship of Santos Dumont, which he
represented to have been made in Paris
expressly for the st. Louis contest, was
brought here in a large packing case and
placed in a house upon the aeronautic con-
course, just west of the administration
building, and Immediately beside the OBJ
servatory of Washington University. A
detail from the Jefferson Guards was made
| for it's protection. but Santos Dumont in
sisted upon having his own watchmen on
duty day and night, and accordingly quar-
| tiers were fitted up for them in the build
| ing. One afternoon the screws which
fastened the cover of the case were re-
moved and the cover was lifted off. showing
| the balloon in perfect order and lying coiled
| over a series of Stats. Toward night the
| superintendent of the grounds suggested
| that the cover be replaced. but Mr.. Dumont
| assured him that there was danger and
| that he would prefer to have it remain Off
| in order that the dampness in the case
might dry out.
Just after sunset Mr.. Dumont ordered all
of his men to new quarters outside the
| grounds saying that the rooms In which
| they had been sleeping were drafty and he
| was afraid they would catch cold The
| men had slept there ever since their arrival
| and had never intimated that there was any
| dissatisfaction. They seemed to be very
much mystified by the orders, but obeyed
! them and left the grounds. That left the
balloon unprotected except by the ordinary
| Jefferson Guards, who occupied room ad-
| Joining that in which II was kept. In the
| morning when Mr. Dumont came to the
| building he discovered that somebody had
| drawn a sharp knife over the folds of the
| airship In several places in such a manner
| as to leave twenty or thirty serious wounds
| Whoever did the mischief understood how
| to commit the greatest amount of damage
| with the slightest effort
| The exposition authorities Immediately
| employed detectives, but Santos Dumont
objected to their interference and would
| give them no assistance or information
| He appeared to be very indignant and left
I st. Louis Immediately, advising the man
| agement that he would hurry to Paris,
| obtain a new balloon and return as soon as
possible. His men remained here two
months after his departure, when they
| were recalled to Paris. Mr. Dumont has
1 taken no further interest in the aerial con-
] test and has had no recent communication
| with the exposition authorities.
There are various theories to explain the
incident. but none of them are entirely sat
4 isfactory. There Is no clew to the culprit
who cut the balloon Whoever did It was