Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-08-25
AR FLIGHTS At RHEIMS
Quick Wit Prevented Fatal
Mid Air Catastrophe.
Contestants Make Some Test Flights,
During Which There Is II Mar
row Escape of Two Ma
chimes COllidin2.

Rheims, August 19.--The American
today added a dramatic feature to the
trial flights of the aeroplanes entered
for the contests of Aviation Week by
skillfully guiding his machine above
another aeroplane and averting col
lision in the air that seemed immi-
nent.
The feat was accomplished when,
for the first time in history, three
heavier-than-air craft were maneu-
vered at the same time. All were fly
ing rapidly when suddenly Curtiss
saw M. Dumanset in an Antoniotte
monoplane approaching at right an
giles and ON the same level with him.
AS quick as flash Curtiss realized
the danger, and, elevating his planes,
his machine instantly shot upward
and scared safely over the French
man. The thousands of spectators
who lined the aerodome watched the
maneuver with bated BREATH but when
they saw it successfully and bril-
liantly carried out they applauded the
American wildly. The third machine
in the air at this time was that Of NJ
Dissander.
of the aeroplanes for two days, sud-
denly died out at sundown and the
aviators rushed to the sheds and
dragged out their machines.
Count de Lambert, on a Wright
model, was the first of the aviators to
start and made a complete circuit of
the aerodome NJ Dissander, also on
Wright bi-plane, followed him.
Then the Curtiss machine, looking
smaller and more compact than the
others, was placed in position for a
| fight. Curtiss still was 1imping and
used in walking gnarled stick, but,
| like NJ. Bleriot, who before crossing
the English channel in his monoplane
threw aside his crutch. Curtiss
mounted the seat of his bi-plane un-
encumbered.
Where will you land?" be was
asked
Right here" answered Curtiss, and
smiling he started his motor. After
short run over the ground the aero
plane ascended and made wide turI
and then described evolutions bacl
and forth over the aerodome. Mean
time, G. Dumanset had started across
the field in one of the ntoniotte ma
I chimes.
Suddenly it seemed to the crow6
below that a collision between hin
and Curtiss was inevitable, but th'
! American proved a quick thinker ant
gracefully turned his machine upward
and steered it swiftly over that of Du
manset.
Curtiss, true to his word, LANDED
without accident at his place Of start
| ing, after having been in the air fou
minutes. The altitude reached b.
him was $50 feet, fifty feet highe
than any of the others.
Count de Lambert and NJ. Tissande
each made flights of twelve minute
during the evening and Hubert La
than took few short spins about tn
course and was given an ovation b.
the spectators. M. Bleriot came ou
on the field with his monoplane, bu
i darkness prevented his making
flight.
Mr.. Curtiss tonight joined the othe
experts in a statement to the effec
: that aviation is fine weather sport
but that people must not expect fight
to be made in all sorts of weather
Personally, Mr.. Curtiss said, he di'
not intend to take any risks. He ha
decided not to enter the passenge
carrying contest, as he has no hop
of defeating Bleriot in it. He intends
instead, to devote himself to the spec
contests.