The Washington herald., 1909-08-30

Rheims. Aug. @.-The international
aviation meeting had a glorious eadiag
to-day.
Curtlss went out FOR he speed prize
at 3.S0 and covered eighteen miles in
2i:l5 Is, but being under a penalty OF 10
per cent. in addition 70 3 per cent each
for contesting on Sunday and Tuesday in
the same race. his time became 27:51 %
Then the committee discovered that he
was driving a different aeroplane from
the one he used on his previous appear
ance IN this race. so he was penalfzed
another 5 per cent making his time
&11 2-5.
The next best time recorded thus far
was Lambert's 29.2o.
Made New Attempt.
Latham decided to make another at
tempt for the prize. Taking out the ma
chine he had previously driven. he COW
cred the course in ISIS Is. This machine
being penalized per cent. made his time
26.3S1-5.
1t was now 4:3O and Curtiss had until
Z to recover first position. AT 5:2S he was
OF His laps were made 7:49 2-5, 7:4SR-5.
and 7:iS Is. making his total time with
the penalty 25:49.
This time was not attacked. and con-
sequently he won the 1,OOO-franc prize.
Latham took second prize, 5000 francs:
Tissandier, third, 5000 francs. and Lam
bert. fourth, 1000 francs.
Curtlss went for the lap prize after
ward His time was 7.5l s-5. which left
the honor with Blerlot. who had made the
distance in 7:47 3-5
Earlier in the morning Bleriot was out
in his powerful machine, when suddenly
the motor stopped and the propeller
ceased revolving. The machine fell and
smashed the overheated engine. which
set fire 10 the escaping petrol Soon
everything that could be burned was
reduced to ashes
As soon as Bleriot fell assistance was
rushed to him. and he was quickly in the
nurses hands. His injuries. considering
that he had fallen twenty yards, proved
slight. but his nervous system received
a terrible shock. When he appeared for
luncheon or the stand his left hand was
! bandaged and he walked with a slight
limp. He was heartily cheered.
joke OF the mefNlmE.
His was not the only accident Brequet
taking out an unwieldy aeroplane OF his
own invention. which has been the joke
Of the meeting. as it has never left the
ground, attempted 20 get into the air
The machine pitched onto its left wing
and it's tail went up until the apparatus
was standing on its head. Brequet was
dumped out and slightly injured. He was
fixed up in a short time, but his appa-
ratus win take long time to repair.
The meeting has emphasized the defeat
Of lighter-thah-air machines by heavier
than-air-machines. A dirlgible balloon
race figured in each days programme
The military dirigible. Col Renard, made
several appearances, and the smaller
dirigible. the Zodiac. made enc, which
was not too fortunate. but to-day each
succeeded in making the five laps which
| the race demanded. The Col Renard's
time was Ss:49 and the Zodiac's S5:0l.
Between 1870 and o'clock no less thar
sixty-six aeroplanes passed and repaSseC
before the grand stand. Young Bunau
/ Varilla. whose father gave him ar
aeroplane for winning his law degrees
/ learned to fly at this meeting He GOV.
cred seven laps in ! hour 50 minutes OF
his first trial
Latham was finishing the third roun,
for the speed prize when he overtocl
Delagrange and passed him. Then, a.
Latham slowed down to descend. Della
grange overlook him. and Latham's mas
terry Of his monoplane alone prevented I
disaster.