Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-26
BIG CROWDS CHEER AND SHOUT
Covering Eighty-three Miles in Little
Over TWO Hours and Ffty-three
Minutes, Daring Frenchman Comes
Down Only Because Tank is Empty
exhibition Flights.
(By Associated Press.)

RHEIMS, Aug 25.-Another sensa-
tional exploit was added to the mar
wells OF aviation week today when
Paulhan, the plucky French aviator,
broke the worlds record in a wonder
full flight OF hours 80 minutes and
"a seconds. During twenty minutes
of the time Paulhan had heavy rain
and windstorm to contend against.
The previous official record for time
in the air was made by Wilbur Wright
at lie Mans, December 81, hours,
20 minutes, % 1-5 seconds.
Paulhans new record for distance
was about 134 kilometres. or IS
miles. He made thirteen circuits OF
the course. AS he was coming down
the home stretch Ior the last time
TIE dirigible Col Renard appeared to
the westward. plowlng its way ma
jestically through the smoke of the
city of Rheims.
Machine Tank Empty.
When Paulhan finally came down
it was because the Sc litres of es-
sence, which he carried in his tank
was exhausted.
He said, Immediately after he land
ed, that both. the machine and the
self-cooling gnome motor had stood
up perfectly and that he could have
continued indefinitely if the tank had
been replenished
Starting in a twIeve knot breeze
Shortly before four o'clock with the
avowed intention OF completing the
so kilometres before five o'clock 10
bar his less venturesome rivals who
desired to await calmer air, Paulhan
not only accomplished his original pur
pose, out continued to circle the vast
plain until his tank was literally
empty.
Battles Against Wind and Rain.
Even when a shower accompanied
by a high wind suddenly broke. the
intrepid pilot did not falter. He bat
tied in the teeth of the rain and
wind up one length of the course and
the thrilled spectators watched the
struggle against the elements in spell
bound admiration.
Going down on the wings Of the
wind Paulhan made up for the time
lost in fighting against it. Fortunate
~ the storm was of brief duration.
AS the time approached when II
was evident that he would beat the
Wright record. the excitement was IN
tense and the crowds rushed out OF
the tribunes. each time he passed,
cheering and shouting words OF en-
couragement.
An Enchanting Picture
At one moment there was an en-
chanting picture, as :se aeroplane
fioaied in the limpid blue beneath
beautiful rainbow, which the ap-
preaching dirigible. Col. Renard was
siIhouetted at the black clouds bank
ed I'D On the horizon.
AS Paglhan, in turn broke the time
and distance records tie ju5ilation OF
the spectators was beyond dcscri2-
ton.
Exhibition fights meanwhile were
being given BY Sommer. lie Bianch.
Latham. Rcugier, Tlssandier. Blerct.
GobrOI and Bunau Vsrilla. and al
though they offered a wonderfully I'M
pressive sight as they hccled and cir
clcd about in the gathering dusk.
they we're almost forgotten in the IN
tcnsity Of Interest as 10 now far Paul
han would 80.
Glenn ". Curtiss. the American
aviator. made a Jas; round lowering
his own time for the Sis miles to
s minutes. n 3-s seconds. cniy 10
seconds behind that Of Bleri0t
Psvlhan Not an Inventor
PauIhan is not an inventor but sim
pIy an operator. who tonight has
taken rank AZ the worlds greatest
professional The belief y unanimous
that be Won the P1x Dc Champagne
today. although the managers Of the
Wright machine intimate that they
vi have = NY for 81 Tomorrow. The
~ day Tor shis event - Friday.
rrfsbrve. With = - lircs tank.
sn out this afternoon m an ATTEMPT
"a the prize, but Tire tank Developed