The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-31
FARMAN is
NOW CHAMPION
kngllshman EClipsss All AvIa-
ton Records.
FLIES OVER II8 MILES

Wins Gndursnss Contest For Time and
Distance BY Wonderful Flight That
Was Only Ended BY Time Limit and
oarSness-his Victory a Complete
Surprise.
Rheims. Aug. 9s.-Henry Fa-man.
tes English aviator. . hitherto I'M
kpoVn quantity In the aviation con
tsst in a ship built OF his own design.
broke the worlds records for Duration
and distance in a heavier than air ma
chine and won the Grand Prix de
ChRmpagne-ths endurance contest
BY remarkable flight recorded as
$50 kilometres. 1i1.77 miles. in 3
hours. minutes and So SIS seconds.
He actually covered 1896 miles. A
few minutes after In the evening. un-
der the rules. the umekeepers could
not keep a record. The other fiiers
finished in the order named:
Records e. Other Aviators.
Hubert Latham. in monoplane No.
20. iSt kilometres. 500 metres. time.
hours. is minutes. 9 IS seconds
metres: Count de Lambert. bipIane.
HIS kilometres. Hubert Latham. in
monoPlane No. IS. III Kilometres: NJ.
rtssandiere. biplane. Ill Kilometres:
Roger Sommers. biplane. so kilome-
tres. NJ. de Lagrange. monoplsne. So
kilometres. NJ Bleriot. monoplane. -
Kilometres; Glenn II. Curtiss. biplane.
80 kilometres. NJ Lefebvre. biplane.
81 Kilometres.
Although Farman's brilliant career
a. an aeroplanist should have warned
the sharps that he was a dangerous
competitor his victory was a com
plete surprise. he had been preparing
his machine secretly and had been al
most forgotten. Indeed. after he start
"a. keeping close 10 the ground. while
Latham and Others were soaring in
spectacular fashion. high In the air.
Farman attracted no attention until
be bad hown SO Kilometres
Flying In Darkness.
Round and round be went as regu-
larry as clockwork. always hugging
the ground taking no chances and
avoiding any attempt al display. Rec
ord after record fell before his method
ical flight. Dusk came. darkness fell
and twinkiing lights appeared in the
villages on the distant hills Lanterns
were hung on the towers marking the
limits OF the course and shone like
beecons set for the mariner at sea
The judges no longer could tell wheth-
or the record breaking aeroplanIst was
aging. and the search from the grand
a..
dozen automobiles raced 10 strategic
points 10 make sure that Farman was
sull in the air. The crowds in the
stands waited patiently. content that
all records had been broken. Finally
At 7.So o'clock the announcement was
made that the timing OF the aeroplan-
list had ended under the rules. Ten
minutes more and suddenly out OF the
darkness ghOstly thing appeared in
front OF the tribune and came to
earth on the starting line
A great cheer arose and hundreds
OF persons saulted the fence 10 be
FIRST 70 greet the hero OF the moment
Mr.. Farman appeared almost over
come by the long strain he had under
gone He smiled family as he shook
hands with those about him. but his
face was white and his hama cold
He almost tainted as he was helped
out Of his seat Then a score OF per
sons lifted him aioft and bore him in
triumph on their shoulders and bore
him to the presidential tribune. where
n. Millerand. manager OF public
works. was waiting 10 receive him
The enthusiasm was boundless
Finally. however. the roar Of cheering
ceased and NJ. Millerand in the name
OF the French government congratu-
lated Mr. Farman
y DO So" said the minister. not
only for the wonderful achievement
you have accomplished. but as a brave
man and for the example you have set
for others"