Evening star., 1909-08-28


style. His time for this round was min
utes So 1-5 seconds. This broke Curtiss'
own world record, made half an hour pre-
yiously His total for the twenty k1lo-
meters u2.42 miles) was 10 minutes 80 go
seconds.
Bleriot, in his No 90, crossed the line
at 1890 His number was at once
hosted to the signal yard, but no sig
nal showing the contest In which ne
was engaged was raised. This caused
specifically that the pilot apprise the
committee in advance whether he Is
trying for the international or the lap
record
was blowing from three to five meters
a second.
Bleriot after completing single
round alighted No time, however. was
announced. the timekeeper saving only
that 1t was slower than Bleriots earlier
round. which he made in minutes ana
sS is seconds.
The official explanation of the failure
to hoist a signal designating the con-
test is that the commissioner was with
Bleriot when he started from a distant
part Of the field and did not have time
to notify the signal station until after
Bleriot had finished
Astonished by Curtiss' Speed.
Curtiss' competitors showed plainly
their astonishment at his remarkable per-
formance. and they hastily completed
their preparations to compete with him.
Bleriot made a trial with his big ma
chine. but his time was Z minutes 5S 10
secondS slower than any one of Curtiss
rounds. -
Shortly after II o'clock Lefebvre, with
q Wright biplane, made an effort. but his
speed was manifestly inferior, and at the
last turn of the final round he lost con-
sideraby by swinging out too far.
This obliged him to take reverse
curve to pass in front of the timekeepers
His total time for the distance was ~
minutes SO % seconds. almost five min
utes slower than Curtiss.
Bleriot, upon the advice of Santos-Du-
mont removed his four-blade and sub
stituted a two-blade propeller. He then
made another trial. but the time or
minutes IA 20 seconds. proving unsats-
factory, the machine was taken back 10
the shed.
Curtiss lghtened the weight of his ma
chine for the run today by substituting a
small gasoline tank for the heavier one
carried earlier in the week
Thousands of visitors of all nationalities
made their way to Curtiss shed to con-
graduate him upon his splendid flight.
AS the day advanced the breeze gradu-
ally increased, and at quarter before .
it was blowing from four to seven meters
a second.
Bleriot started on third trial round
shortly after 3 o'clock. but stopped after
passing the first turn.
Curtiss has been invited to go to Ber-
lin and fly over the same ground as Or-
willie Wright. and he is disposed to accept
the invitation. :.
Latham Goes One Round
Hubert Latham made a trial lap shortly
after $3.50 o'clock. He went around only
once and flew directly back to his shed
His time is estimated. unofficially, at
minutes and 10 seconds. the best he has
done.
Mr.. bishop has made a protest against
the apparent irregularity in the hosting
of the Bleriot signals. and the commit
tee has decided to post every contest in
which an aviator starts Immediately after
he crosses the line.
AS Curtiss stepped from his machine
after having completed his two rounds
in Is minutes so 3-5 seconds, he said he
thought he had given his rivals some
thing to worry about.
Continuing the conversation he SAID
these two laps of the ten-meter course
were the fastest and toughest journey he
had ever made in the air. In front OF
the tribunes | was going steaay the
American explained, "but when I got to
the back stretch I experienced most re-
markable atmospheric condition. There
was no wind, but the air seemed fairly
to boil. My machine pitched, and over
the grave yard / was almost thrown out
seemed literally to drop from under me.
Under ordinary conditions this curious
condition of the air would have prevented
my starting. but after the splendid time
I made in my strial and considering the
circumstances, could not refrain.
''As a matter Of fact, my experience con-
firms my theory that my machine IS
faster in turbulent air than In a dead
calm
Curtiss' round in the international. made
in 7.53 1-5, does not count In the speed lap
contest, as this event Is the only race In
which the time for rounds does not count
in the lap competition.
At 800 o'clock this afternoon the mill
tary dirigible balloon. Colonel Renard.
Unanswered over the field at a height OF
1900 feet. Subsequently the dirigible came
down and made a round of the course,
covering the ten kiiometers in 1857 1-5.
PROTEST NOT ALLOWED.