Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-28

Curtiss and Latham aeroplanes, but
certain changes have been made in the
pitch of LefeVre's propeller, which it is
believed has given him increased speed.
Furthermore, they are convinced that
Lefevre will be able to make ap-
preciable gains in time at the turns,
and consequently they have not aban-
doned hope of winning the Gordon
Bennett trophy.
Paulhan's mechanicians worked fu-
riously to repair his machine, but when
it was apparent at $3.50 p. m. that 1t
would be impossible TO complete the
necessary changes in time for the
aviator to start this afternoon Paul
han filed a protest with the committee,
claiming that he had been fouled by
De la Grange and requesting the post
ponement of the finals in the grand priX
until tomorrow.
Wind Abates
Later the wind abated and Roger
SOmmer got away at 4:01 p. m. He was
followed by Latham at 4:21 in his No.
10, the machine in which he made
seventy kiIOmeters yesterday.
Henry Farman went up Immediately
after Latham. Latham completed his
first round in the fast time of S:54 40.
At the end Of Sommer's second round
his time was 21:34 2-5. His first round
was completed in 1854 1-5, In the be-
ginning his machine seemed to be under
poor control and drifted with the wind,
but later it became steadter. Sommer
descended during the fourth round.
Latham completed the third round In
26:45, and the fourth in 1876 20.
Both Farman and Latham gave chase
after Sommer, and a remarkable race
ensued. Farman gradually OVerhauled
Sommer, while Latham, flying 100 feet
higher than the leaders, approached
them rapidly As Farman neared SOM
mer the latter, who was on the same
level, evidently caught the wind of the
leaders motor, for his aeroplane
dropped and almost touched the ground.
Then soaring wide and with Latham in
his monoplane high above the two bi-
planes, the three machines rounded the
turn into the stretch in front OF the
tribune together. It was like horse
race. and a thrill of excitement went
through the spectators Latham moved
rapidly to the front and crossed the line
first. Farman was second and Sommer
bad third.
Wrishts Do Not Compete
None of the Wright pilots had started
at p. m. and as all contests must be
ended at 7:3O, it is physically impossible
for them to beat Latham's time for the
Grand PriX de la Champagne.
Latham's time at. the end of the fifth
round was 4O:54 2-5. During the next
two laps Latham mounted higher than
the two biplanes, and it was evident
that he was going much faster. His
time at the end of the sixth round was
53:1S Is, while Farman's at the end of
the fifth was 51:21 10
Bleriot, in his No 16 started out at
500 and Tissandier followed him few
minutes later.
The contest tomorrow for the inter
national cup, known otherwise as the
Gordon Bennett trophy, to go to the
aviator who covers two laps, or 1242
miles, in the shortest time, is regarded
as the principal event of aviation week.
Both the Wright and the English
machines are considered too slow 10
stand any chance and the contest con-
sequently lies among Bleriot, Curtiss
and Latham.
BIeriot's big machine is being fitted
up with new wings and propellers, and
the pilot announces he will try out his
aeroplane this afternoon.
Both Bleriot and his engineer agree
tlrat the motor was not damaged yes
terday when the machine ran into
fence surrounding the tribunes.
Latham's Record in Danger
At the completion Of the fourteenth
round it was seen that Latham's dis
tance record, only four kilOmeters more
than fifteen laps was in danger and
the completion of his seventeenth lap
put him ahead Of the record of
hours, SO minutes, "a seconds, made on
Wednesday by Paulhan. Latham at
the end of his seventh round had been
in the air l hour, minutes, 2S 20 sec
onds at the end of the eighth round
his time was ! hour, II minutes, 20 10
seconds; the ninth, l hour, 20 minutes,
25 2-5 seconds; the tenth, l hour %
minutes, 2S 2-5 seconds, and the
eleventh, hour, IS minutes, 1-5 sec
onds. He alighted after having COW
cred a distance of Ill kilometers, or
6S.93 miles.
Bunau-Varilla and Captain Ferber
also brought out their machine for
practice flights and soon five aero
planes were circling around the course.
At this hour the spectators were
treated to a rare sight. The military
dirigible balloon, Colonel Renard,
came up from the south and maneuV-
cred over the plain at a height of 1000
feet. The tiny aeroplanes were swoop-
ing around beneath the balloon and
it seemed as though they were pre-
pairing to attack the aerial monster
that dominated the scene. The dirigible
balloon Zodiac was brought out of its
shed back of the tribunes and dragged
to the field by 100 men tugglng on its
ropes.
The Zodiac then ascended and pre-
pared for it's race with the Colonel
Renard.
Bunau-VariIla and Captain Ferber
ended their flights in the "Aeropane
Graveyard" at turn in the course.
The committee overruled Paulhan s
claim that he had been fOuled early to-
day by De la Grange and requested
the postponement of the finals in the
Prix de la Champagne until tomorrow