The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-24

Rheims, Aug. 23-There being no exist
ing rules FOR a new sport Ike aviation.
the committee finds itself obliged 20 mod
ify lis regulations as the meeting pro-
ceeds and different conditions develop.
This morning It was decided that en-
trants might start for the Champagne
prize until $50 D. m. with extension 10
$50 O'Clock II no competitor had made
fifty kilometers by $50 o'clock. No com
petitor reached this distance. although
Paulham came within half a kilometer of
doing IT,
Nine minutes before the time limit, $50
p. m. Glen Curtiss' American biplane was
brought out The weather conditions
suited Mr. Curtiss exactly, for the flags
on the grand stand were perfectly sun.
and when the Official signal cone was
hoisted, K showed that the wind was
under six miles an hour
Makes Good Flight.
The machine rose in splendid style. and
few steadily and faultiessly. and evident
ly at high speed. Cheers broke out from
the Americans in the grand stand. and
there was considerable betting as 10
whether CUrtiss would be able 10 break
Bleriot's record OF S:42 % for once around
the course, which had been made earlier
in the afternoon.
Before Cartiss lad been sailing four
minutes the CRY went up from the
press box that he was down. but
II was soon discovered that this was
a mistake. IL was a Wright aero
plane which was lying on the ground
that had been taken for the Cur
tiss machine. incidentally, it may be
stated that the difficulty in seeing
and following biplanes, even with glasses.
when against a hilly background. IS an
argument in favor Of their use for mill
tary purposes.
Curtiss flew on at much the same
height. but the circuit was complete and
the machine landed as easily and lightly
as a bird.
Sets New Record.
After an anxious wait OF q few minutes
the official notices came that the record
had been broken and that the time was
0:S;S5 SIS for the ten bilometers.
Mr.. Curtiss was Immediately over
whelmed with congratulations from all
buy the machine at Mr.. Curtiss' price.
For nearly three hours before 40 there
was an absolute lull in the proceedings.
The weary wait was accompanied by the
crowd with a patience that received its
reward. for Paulham. on a Voisyn ma
chine. started at 4;S2: lie Febvre on a
Wright biplane, two minutes later. and
Sommer. on a Farman, FIVE minutes after
lie Febvre.
The first veritable race in the air then
began. lie FebvTe caught UP With Paul
han and passed him, and. at the end Of
one round, was n minute and q half
ahead. Sommer dropped out during the
first round lie Febvre came down in the
third round but for two rounds the
race was most exciting. the competitors
being very close together. Paulhan con-
tinued until he had completed nearly six
rounds. covering. according 10 the official
announcement. thirty-five miles in IS
minutes and 45 seconds.
-Four Sail Together.
While this was going on. four other
air machines Of varying types were sail
ing past the grand stand at the same
time, while others still Qt was impossible
70 say how many, for nobody could
keep track Of them alp were in the air
at other points along the course.
Bleriot made three starts during the
afternoon. the last OF which was in his
100-hOrsepOwer machine in which he
made one round Of the track IN min
utes and A seconds.
Half a minute after Bleriot started
this round, Latham took out the most
powerful Antoinette, and. for a few
minutes it seemed as II the rivals in
channel crossing were 20 renew their
competition on land. But Latham's luck
appears to be gone, and he soon de-
scended.
As the regulations for the Champagne
prize required each competitor at least
20 cross the starting line to-day. al
though he win be allowed 10 try TO bet
ter his record on the three other days
during which it Is on the programme,
no less than twenty starts were made
during the afternoon
Many OF these starters did not 20 very
far. and by evening the countryside was
dotted with aeroplanes more or less dam
aged. Glenn Curtiss said he saw at
least six Of these as he passed around
the course on his record-breaking flight.
Other Records Of Day.
For a comparison OF the time made by
Curtiss and Bieriot. already given, the
next best rounds during the last two
days are appended:
lie Febvre. SIS as; Farman, 9:OS %:
Latham. 9:l3 As: Tissandier. s:25 Is:
Lambert 9S3 S-5, while the longest flight
Of the fourteen officially recorded was
Coclfburn in 1l:A
The following are the Official scores
for to-day's trials in the competition for
the Champagne prize:
Paulham. IS kilometers and lie Febvre
= kilometers. while eighteen others
qualified for further efforts on Wednes-
day, Thursday. and Friday
Flooring That VIII Please You. &C
a foot Iihbev &. Co efh ard n Y axa