Evening star., 1909-09-13

BRESCIA AVIATION GROUND, Sep
tember 13-M. Rougler made an unsuc-
cessful attempt yesterday afternoon to
beat the Curtiss performance Saturday,
when the American aviator in the con-
test for the rand Prx de Brescia, COW
cred the stipulated distance-5O kilometers
| in 40 minutes % Is seconds. NJ Rougier
hoped to lower this record. in which
event he would. have wrested the prize
from the American aviator.
NJ Rougier started at a quarter past
2 clock. when the wind was blowing
at less than three meters second. His
first fight around the triangular course
the end Of the second round the aviator
came down to replenish the petrol in the
tank. The delay thus occasoned being
counted. the second round was made in
10 minutes IL seconds.
The third round was done In ~ min
utes 21 % seconds, the fourth in IL mn-
utes 10 Is seconds, the fifth in II min
utes Q seconds, making total of 1 hour
8 minutes 53 3-5 seconds. The sixth
into account, was executed in II minutes
80 seconds.
Mr. Curtiss thus won the prize. His
| share of the $4,000 prize is $1,000.
starting. his time being 8 lbs. NJ. Lee
blanc was second in this contest in . Sos.
NJ Bleriot has firmly declared he VIII
not fly again this year. He has just can
celed a contract TO Hy at Frankfort,
though the conditions there were very
advantageous for him. He executed his
last flight today, making four rounds of
the track. He was loudly applauded by
the crowd, to which he replied by smiling
| and waving his right hand, while he held
his machine with his left, which was
| hurt.
Gives Up Altitude Prize.
| Mr.. Curtiss made an attempt to win the
altitude prize, now held by M. Rougier,
who Saturday attained a height of 1l6
| meters. Mr.. Curtss made the public
marvel at his skill and audacity. but did
not get higher than eighty meters. The
presence in the air simultaneously of Mr.
Curtiss and NJ. Bleriot was one of the m
! teresting sights of the day.
| Mr.. Curtiss, after trying high flying for
| the first time says he found it very easy
| Without wind, he said, it would suffice
| for the motor to work well. He closed
| his display by a short flight, accompanied
| by the poet, Sgnor Gabrielle d'AnnunZio.
| who thus experienced the sensation of
| flying In the gloom of the evening. Signor
d'Annunzio had previously flown with
| Lieut.. Calderara, who had not yet been
| fortunate at Brescia, but yesterday won
the Conte Oldofredi prize of 5000 francs
| for a one-kilometer flight done by an
| Italian. Lieut. Calderara flew In his
| Wright biplane, which has been recon-
structed at Brescia and furnished with
the new Italian rebus motor. He also
won the passenger prize carrying with
him Lieut. Savoia and covering seven
| rounds and half in a small circuit, in
stead of the six stipulated in the regu
lations.
The last day of the international con-
test brought out an immense crowd of
spectators, who came from all parts of
Italy and many foreign cities. The wealth
er conditions were exceedingly favorable.
only a gentle breeze blowing. Princess
Letitia the stepmother of the Duke of the
AbruZzi, was present and, surrounded by
her court, received all the foreign avi-
ators with special cordiality.
Congratulated by Princess.
The princess warmly congratulated
Mr.. Curtiss She said that she had fol-
lowed with the keenest interest the ef-
forts which are being made to solve
the problem of aeronautic navigation
and that she was looking forward to
the day when it would be possible to
make a long journey in the air. Then,
turning to the American aviator, she
said in English:
Would you take me with you?"
Mr.. Curtiss replied:
Il should be delighted if my machine
were fitted for carrying passengers"
|. He then explained that the small seat
which had been made for the purpose
of carrying passenger had been left
behind at Rheims Another had been
| constructed, but it would be hardly
| suitable for the princess, to accommo-
date Signor d'Annunzio for short
| flight.
Friends in New York Elated.
| NEW YORK. September 13.-Mr. Cur
| tiss' friends in New York are elated
| that he has gained new triumph. This
gives him the highest honors both in
France and Italy. and his records of
the last two weeks are regarded as the
most distinguished achievement in the
history of aeronautic sport.
| When he left New York August he
was probably the least known of all the
| aviators who had been named as en-
| trants at the Rheims tournament, and
| he took with him an aeroplane that had
never been assembled or tried He will
| return to this country with the high
est honors offered to the worlds COM
petitors.
Mr.. Curtiss is expected to return to
New York September 81. when he will
decide upon what flights 1t is possible
| for him to make during the Hudson
Fulton celebration. He will be given
luncheon and reception at the Lawyers
Club on the day following his arrival,
and after the celebration flights he will
| go to Chicago for a series of exhibition
flights and possibly to St Louis and
Indianapolis.