Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-24
RECORD MADE
BY AMERICAN
IN AEROP[.ANE
GLENN s. cuRTlss MAKES FAST
EST LAP IN INTERNATIONAL
RACES AT RHEiMs-WRIGHT
MACHINES SWEEP BOARDS.

MACHINES SWEEP BOARDS.
Rheims, Aug. 23.-GIenn S.
Curtis, the American aviator,
made a record here today when
he covered one lap, distance of
6 1-5 miles, in minutes 80 sec
onds, official time.
Rheims, Aug. 23-Several hours
saved the first day of the first flying
race meeting the world ever has seen
from dull failure. In that time six
machines for short time, were in
the air at the same time.
They followed each other so quick
ly that it was impossible to keep
track Of them as they sailed past the
grand stand. Before all six had finish
ed, six others had started, raising the
enthusiasm of those watching to a
high pitch.
The morning opened fine, with con-
siderable wind but the results of Sat
urday's rain were visible. Astone ap-
preached the grounds, horses could be
seen pulling automobiles out of the
mud
On the road approaching the stands
carloads of dirt We're being emptied
everywhere, but it was impossible to
reach the stand without walking ankle
Ideep in mud. 1t seemed as If the earth
twa.s taking it's last revenge on the air
taHd that the mud was likely to pre-
went any flying.
Only One Real Flight Before Noon.
At 1920 a horse towed out an r.
e. P. aeroplane which failed to ac-
complish anything. At IL o'clock Paul
Tissandier took out Wright biplane
| but flew only hundred yards. Louis
Bleriot managed to fly for two min
utes and Hubert Latham for Ave
Ferber was unable to start The wind
was too strong for all these machines
| Lefebvre, who ID a self taught pilot
guiding one of the Wright machines
/ made the only real flight before noon
Despite the wind, he covered nearly
| two miles of the course in nineteen
minutes. Ferber made second at
tempt to fly, without success. Louis
Delagrange on a Bleriot monoplane
skidded round on the ground
| These were tests for who should
represent France in the contest for
the international cup. AS result the
committee decided that Lefebvre, who
covered two miles and Bleriot, who
made three-ffths of mile, had shown
the best form and they were chosen
as the French representatives, while
| the third was to be the one who did
the best twelve miles in the speed
race.
Latham Flies the Prettlest.
This was all over before o'clock
Nothing else happened until 4:45 p
M, except that the band played and
the people began to think Of going
home, when, at 4:50, the wind dr.
ped dead and the artificial birds came
out. Latham came first in the pretties1
| if not the longest flight of the day
| and rounded the track twice at great
1 height. He did twelve, miles in 1888
thus becoming the third French rep
resentative for the international cup
AS he sailed away with the utmos
steadiness rainbow appeared and i
/ seemed for a moment as If he were
about to pass over it.
In quick succession Sommer, Cock
| burn, Delagrange and Fournier start
4 ed, following each other after a few
minutes interval They were alof
4 for; some minutes together. Then lie
Efebvre, Bleriot and Bunau Varilla fol
lowed. The latter is a youth who hat
4 flown only a few minutes before thi
race
When Lefebvre finished the thre,
rounds he gave an exhibition of fame.
flying in front of the grand stand
turning sharply and making fgur,
eights, which caused great enthusiasm
among the spectators.
Official Results for Speed Prize.
}. The official results. for the spec,
prize for the three rounds of tn,
track were announced as follows:
Tissandier-28 minutes. So seconds
L Count de Lambert-29:0 OF.
E.sIsefebyre-
iE "a & fi;;Paulham--32:49.t
? RSonme 49,
j. This was a. great showing for tn
Wright machiness which came in first
second and third. In fact, yesterda
was entirely a Wright day, as LIZ
Z febvre's first nineteen minute f1igh
was the finest performance of the da
: when the wind is taken into account
Smiths Homecoming.
: Des Moines, Aug. 23.-(speciaI)-