Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-09-02
CURTISS WINS IN
AVIATION CONTEST
CAPTURES GORDON BENNETT
TROPHY IN MASTERFUL
EXHIBITION.
BLERiOT AND LATHAM CLOSE
CONTESTANTS-AMERICAN
VICTOR POPULAR.
WHITE AND MRS.
ROOSEVELT CONGRATULATE
VICTOR.

Rheims, Aug 30.-The International
cup OF aviation known also as the
Gordon Bennett trophy, was won Sa--
urday by Glenn H. Curtiss, American
aviator, in the fastest aerial Journey
of 12.42 miles ever accomplished by
man. His time, Is minutes and so 80
seconds, was only 80 seconds Iastei
than that made by Bleriot over the
same course. The other TWO pilots
who represen ed. France, Latham and
Lefeybre, finished respectively in II
minutes and 81 seconds and 20 min
utes and AZ 3-5 seconds. The race lay
between Bleriot and Curtiss, with La
than as a possible outsider Fortune
favored the American. An accident
two days ago to Bleriot's machine,
with which he held the lap record,
was a serious handicap, since he had
no opportunity to try out the re-
paired machine.
Curtiss decided at 10 o'clock IN the
morning to make the race and after
trial trip, in which he clrcled the
course in Z minutes and 55 is Sec
onds, lowering the worlds record nine
seconds, started Immediately on his
attempt to win the cup. He handled
his machine in mastery style, espec-
tally at the turns which he took on
the down grade. The first round,
measuring CPL miles, was made in Z
minutes and 81 2-5 seconds, the sec,
ond round in minutes, 90 Is seconds,
another worlds record.
This remarkable showing on the
part Of the American created cOnster
nation in the BIeriot camp. The
French favorite made the trial but
could do no better than Z minutes,
So Is seconds for the round. The
four-bladed propeller was changed to
two, but this proved slower stilF and
the original propeller was replaced
Meantime Lefevbre in Wright BIZ
plane, flew over the course, but this
was five minutes slower than that OF
Curtiss.
Shortly after five o'clock Bleriot
ana Latham crossed the line in quick
succession. Bleriot went by the trib
unes at a terrific pace and for mo
ment the Americans feared that Cur
tiss would be beaten. He finished the
round in almost the Identical time OF
Curtiss' fast lap, covering the ten Kill
ometers in minutes and SO 3-5 sec.
onds, bu. his speed seemed appreci-
ABLY to decrease on the last round
and before he reached a final turn
stop watches showed he had lost
While the French crowds were dis
appc nted no foreign victory could
have been so popular as that of an
American.
Tie judges Immediately ran up the
American flag on the signal pole and
the bands played the Star Spangled
Banner. There was great rejoicing
among the American spectators.
Ambassador Henry White, accom-
panied by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt,
Miss Ethel Roosevelt, Quentin ana
Archie, had arrived in time to wit,
ness the flights by Bleriot and La
ham from a special box placed at
the disposal of the party.
When the American flag went up,
Curtiss, who had refused to accept
congratulations until it was officially
announced that Bleriot's time was
slower than his, was escorted, or
rather dragged from the shed, to the
ambassador box by several hundred
~, +l,,,rioC+ic kp7oriconc Whites FIRST
words were:
4 came to see you win and you
have done it."