Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-26
Fifteen Thousand Rubber Necks
Were Stretched on the Field
of Betheny.
saw RID.YAlLED M0N0PLANE
Her Propeller Demolished when Mn
chine Struck HedGr-sIenu Cur
tiss Has Ills Diplane IN Per-
feet shape ana VIII Risk
II No More Practicing.

Rheims. Aug. H.-Acropianes flying In
straight lines or making wide turns or
wheeling abruptly. travelling slow and
fast and low and high was the spectacle
offered 1900 persons on the feld OF
Betheny to-day. Two slight accidents
occurred. NJ. Dumanest. driving an
Anto,nctte machine. came to the ground
sideways and broke ono OF the runners
Of his aeroplane and VI. Goffroy. in an
Esnault Peltcrie monoplane with bright
red tails. had accomplished flight Of a
kilometre when the machine struck a
hedge. demoil:hing It's propeller II will
require two days 10 repair this latter
injury.
This was the second last practice day
before the commencement Of the prize
flights Of aviation week and many Of
the aviators took advantage OF the
beautiful weather TO try out their craft.
Glenn II. Curt,ss the only American
who Is to compete IN the races COM
mencing Sunday. was given an ovation
after a successful practice night Of seven
minutes. Although the motor Of his
machine was a BIT errot,c the hiplnne
sped straight on ". course and without
swnying Mr.. Curtiss declared he now
tention Of further risking demolishnR
his machine in useless preliminary
fights
CROWD CHEERS LITTLE FELLOW.
Hubert Latham also was applo udcd
for a spectacular flight Of ton minutes
and the crowd broke into cheering as
Mr. Blerot, driving small 40-horse-
power monoplane. made series Of
mnno,ievres
Mr.. Sommer who recently. though
unofficinlly beat Wilbur Wr,ghts record
for duration OF fight. speeded across
the plateau during the afternoon and
was lost to sight in the haze When he
reappeared and landed he enrounced
that he had made a voyage TO the vii
lage OF vinny and return.
During the evening Count De Lam
bert and Mfr Lcfebvre. both plotting
Wrigh. biplanes. braved the breeze and
simultaneously made evolu'ions which
demonstrated the ease and facility with
which machines Of the Wright model
may he sailed. 1cfebvre was practicu-
larry skilfu, in handling his craft.
George y. Cockburn. the Britisher
and Henry Farman and NJ. Fournier
brought out their machines during the
afternoon and practiced starts.
The aviators are chuckling tonight
over an offer received by Augustus
Post. secretary OF the Aero club OF
America from Frenchman weighing
go pounds. who says he will eive 500 &c
each and every aeroplanIst who will take
him with them In their flights.
SAYS HE FLEW FIRST.
Mr.. Curtiss was not greatly SURPRISED
when informed that the Wright brothers
had brought suit against the Aeronauti,
society OF New York alleging that III
Curtiss machine infrinees certain OF the
patents. He said he had known for SOM
time that something of this nature wa
contemplated but ne failed 10 see how
IT would result In anything but lot o
litigation.
There Is nothing TO support the charg
OF infringement" Mr.. Curtiss declared
The best answer TO this is the fac
known 10 everybody that We made publ
| flights In America long before III
wrights did. am confident that III
court Will uphold u.s.