The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-28
American Entrant in Coupe
Internationale Goes 12.42
Miles in 1913.
BLERIOT BREAKS
HIS OWN RECORD
Story How Henri Farman Won
Grand PriX de la Cham
payne.

RHEIMS. Aug. 2S.-Glenn II. Curtiss.
the American entrant in the Coupe In
ternationale. covered the twenty kilo-
meters Q2.42 miles, in Is minutes 80 3-5
seconds this morning. His first round
was done in minutes 81 20 seconds and
The second round in Z minutes SO Is sec
onds.
Curtiss started flying shortly after 10
O'Clock. His time is the best yet made,
his second round being 20 seconds faster
than his best previous negotiation of
the course.
Bleriot, Curtiss' most feared rival,
made a trial trip around the course in
: minutes SO Is seconds, nearly 10 sec
onds better than his best previous mark
It is confidently expected that Cur
tiss' mark IN the Coupe International,
or Bennett cup contest, win win him not
only this event, which Is the blue rib
bon event Of the meet. 'but also the
Prix de Vitesse, or speed prize, and the
Tour de Piste prize. which is for the
fastest flight around the course. The
prize in the Prix de Vitesse is 5000, I'm
the Tour de Piste, 81 500 and IN the
Coupe Internationale, 5000 in addition
10 the cup, which is valued at $500
IefebVre proved bitter diSappoint-
ment I'm his Wright biplane. He made
the first round In minutes, IS 4-5
seconds, but on the second round his
machine acted badly and ii required
20 minutes. AZ 3-5 seconds to complete
II. Many thought that his poor show
ing was due to nervousness.
The weather today was the best of
the week and was ideal for flying.
Bleriot. Latham. and George Cockburn.
the three other contestants in the
Coupe Internationale Cockburn will
use Farman biplane, and is not be-
lieved to have a chance.
Farman's Flight.
Henry Farman's actual fight. by
which he won the Grand Prix de la
Champagne yesterday. flying for 8
hours, minutes, Sc rs seconds. was
about 100 kilometers O1SOs miIes). but
the last ten kiIometers were made after
half-past seven O'Clock at which hour
the official timekeepers ceased record
ing his time, in accordance with the
rules governing the contest
The real work Of the day did not be-
gin until about half-past four O'Clock.
by the appearance Of NJ. Latham on
his no. 13 monoplane
Latham had not been in the air more
than ten minutes when Henry Farman
and NJ. Roger Sommer both came out
on the Farman type Of biplane This
was unexpected, for Sommer had made
very few fights OF Importance. Mr..
Farman had only once been round the
course under official control
Farman passed ahead of Somuer and
Latham and took the lead on both
machines. Just as he was crossing the
timers line Sommer's motor weakened
allowing the aerOplane 70 drop and
wheel and touch the ground. In ac-
cordance with the rules he was obliged
70 go back without stopping BE en-
circled the timers box and passed over
the line once more, this maneuVer caUs-
ing him 10 fan far in the rear.
The AntOinette monoplane was so much
faster than the two Farman biplanes
that NJ Latham frequently fapped
both Of them. Thus Farman occupied
81 minutes and p seconds 10 make nifty
kilometers. While the same distance was
covered by ~. Latham in ~ minutes and
q seconds.
Like Graceful Bird.
Another striking comparison between
the two machines was in the elegance
of their lines and the beauty Of their
flights. NJ. Latham maintained an av-
erage altitude of eighty TO ninety meters,
advancing rapidly and gracefully like a
huge bird AS the sun lit up the yellow
canvas IL glittered on the aluminium
sides Of the boatlike frame and revolv-
ing propellers- The sight was most
magnificent.
Both Mr.. Farman and NJ. Sommer. re-
NAMED from six 10 twelve feet from the
ground, making the rounds with great
regularity In little more than ten min
uteE, but Dy comparison they were any
thing but Impressive IN their manner Of
flying NJ. Latham few eighty kfIO-
meters 80 1 hou- II minutes 20 Is sec
Onos. this being recorded in eight
rounds. one hundred kilometers were
MADE IN / hour . minutes % 20 seconds.
Ihen another round was made, givina, a
total official distance Of 10 Kilometres.
In ] hour IS minutes 8 l-5 seconds.
Ihen the fuel supply became exhaust
20 and on the outside Of the course the
kroplane settled down. uniniured hut
eelpiess. NJ Latham caused a sunnIv- Of
gaEolene 10 be sent out 20 him and an
hour later few back 10 the course. pass
ca ~ 'front.' of the grandstands and en-
tered the sheds.
NJ. Sommer Ends Flight.
When ". Latham was on the course
the two Farman machines attracted
comparatively little attention NJ. SOM
mer dropped to the ground after COW
ering three rounds He repaired his
motor and started a second time I'm the
Grand PriX races half an hour later. Il
was then too late for him 10 secure a
really important position the time not
being taken after half-Dast seven. and
MS temperance passed almost upper
ceiVed.
1t was after n. Latham dropped and
Mr.. Farman reeled on eighty Kilometres
and was still going well that the public
became really interested i'm this pom
oerous-looking. slow-going aeropiane.
moving but q few feet above The
ground. Although IL was not then be-
t** Rest Value in Town Aka
( STAG Hats. SI3
2 Sec the new snappy negllgee
models for late summer and early =
fall