The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-29
American Is Victorious Over
His Confident French OD-
pOnents Al Rheims
.CURTISS GOES NEARLY
FIFTY MILES AN AOuR
Many Americans Gather Around Cur
tiss To Offer Congratulations,
and the Aviator Very Mod
estly Accepts Honors.

Betheny Aviation Field. Rheims. Au-
gust @.-The international cup of avia-
ton, known as the Gordon Bennett tro-
phy, was won today by Glenn Curtiss.
the American aviator. In the fastest
aeri' journey of 20 kilometers a2.4
niles) ever accomplished by man. His
time, 10 minutes. 3-5 seconds, was only
S-5 seconds faster than that made by
Bleriot over the same course.
The other two pilots who represented
France, Latham and Lefebvre, finished
respectively in II minutes, s2 seconds ana
20 minutes, II s-5 seconds Coekburn,
an Englishman, ran into a haystack as
he was maneuvering for the start and
did not cross the line Several other
machines, which were expected to start,
were not ready within the time limit
The race lay between Bleriot and Cur
tiss, with Latham as a possible ou.-
slider. Lefebvre on previous perform
ances apparently had no chance Fortune
favored the American. An accident two
days ago to Bleriots powerful fast m;-
chine, with which he held the lap record.
was a serious handicap since he had
no opportunity to try out the repaired
machine
Curtiss Steals a March,
Curtiss stole march on his rivals by
getting away early. Finding conditions
favorable In the morning he decided to
take no chances in the ickle weather
and after trial trip in which he made
the circuit of the course in minutes.
55 1-5 seconds, lowering the worlds rec
ord nine seconds, he started Immediate
ly on his attempt to win the cup. He
handled his machine, which flew along
at a speed never before witnessed. In
mastery style, especially at the turns
which he took on the down grade. The
first round, measuring 621 miles, was
made in minutes, 81 2-5 seconds, some
what slower than the trial time, but the
second round was covered two seconds
faster, Z minutes, 43 is seconds. another
worlds record.
This remarkable showing on the part of
the American created CONSERVATION in the
Bleriot camp. The French favorite whose
machine was equipped with a -blad-
ed propeller, made a trial but did no
better than minutes 7M seconds Then
upon the advice of Santos Dumont he
substituted a two-bladed propeller, but
this proved slower still and the French
began to doubt the ability of their cham
pion. Bleriot replaced the original pro-
peller and tinkered with his machine for
several hours In the meantime LET
abvre, in a Wright biplane, but with
out hope of winning, few over the course,
but his time was five minutes slower than
that of Curtss.
Excitement Increases.
The excitement grew steadily as s
o'clock, what the public understood was
the time limit for starting In this event,
approached. Bleriot's and Latham's ma
chimes were run out and everybody stood
watching. At 8 o'clock the crowd con-
ceded that the two French champions
had defaulted and a murmur of protest
arose, but a minute later 1t was Officially
announced that the wording of the rule
had been misunderstood and that the
rule allowed start to be made any time
before $50 o'clock, A few minutes later
Bleriot and Latham crossed the line in
quick succession. Bleriot went by the
tribunes at terrific pace and for
moment the Americans feared Curtiss
would be beaten. He finished the round
In almost the identical time of Curtiss'
fast lap, covering the 10 kilometres IN
minutes, SO S-5 second, but his speed
seemed appreciably to decrease on the last
turn the stop watches showed that he hal
lost. The French crowds were greatly
disappointed at the failure of their coun-
tryman, but largely owing to the popular
ity of the Wrights in France, and the
general French recognition of the wonder
full stimulus Americans have given TO
the science of aviation. foreign vic
tory could have been so popular as that
OF an American.
Victory for Curtiss.
The judges Immediately ran up tho
American flag on the signal pole on the
timekeepers stand in front of the tri-
bunes and the bands played THE Star
Spangled Banner"
There was great rejoicing among the
American spectators.
Ambassador Henry White, accompanied
by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Miss Ethel
Roosevelt. Quentin and Archie, had ar
rived in time to witness the flights by
Bleriot and Latham from a special box
placed at the disposal of the party.
When the American flag went up, Cur
tiss, who had refused to accept con-
sratulations until 1t was officially an
nounced that Bleriots time was slower
than his, was escorted, or rather dragged
from the shed to the ambassadors box
by several hundred enthusiastic Ameri-
cans. Mr.. Whites first words were: Il
came to see you win, and you have done
it,
The ambassador then told how proud
he was that America had triumphed and
that the blue ribbon of the air would now
be defended by the United States. He
concluded by congraruiatlng Curtiss in
the name of the government and the peo-
pie of the United States, and then pre-
sented Mrs. White and Mrs. Roosevelt
es we'll as the other members of tho
Marty who added their congratulations In
warm terms
Mrs. Roosevelt expressed regret that the
ex-President was not there to witness the
American victory. Thousands watched
the scene from the lawn below the stand
The entire party then visited Curtiss in
the shed. where he sat in the seat and ex-