Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-26

q I1I@L1J INI1I~1NlAJ, i. dllNOB
~ Aug. 25.-Another sensa-
tional exploit was added to the
marvcls of Aviation Week" to-
day when Paulham, the pluckY
French aviator, broke the worlds
record i'll a wonderful flight of ?
hours So minutes "a seconds.
During twenty minutes of the
time, Paulham had a heavy rain
and wind storm to contend with.
The previous official record for
time in the air was made by Will
bur Wright at Lemans, Decem-
Der 81. and was ? hours 20 min
utes % Is seconds. The unoffi-
cial record was 2 hours 81 min
utes 25 seconds, made by Som
mer at Marmellons.
Paulham's new record for dis
lance was about 134 kilometers,
or eighty-three miles. He made
thirteen circuits of the course
and the wind squall passed as he
was coming down the home
stretch for the last time.
Fuel Was Exhausted
simultaneously the dirigible Colonel
Renard appeared to the westward,
! plowing its way majestically through
! the smoke of the city of Rheims.
When Paulham finally came down.
it was because the fifty-six litres OF
| essence which he carried in his tank
was exhausted. He said the machine
and the self-coOling motor had stood
up perfectly and that it could have
continued indefinitely if the tank had
been replenished.
No one who witnessed the flight now
entertains the slightest doubt that aer-
ial navigation with heavier-tha
machines has a glorious future.
Starting in a 12-knot breeze shortly
before 4 o'clock, with the avowed in
tention of completing the so kilometers
before o'clock to bar his less venture
some rivals. who desired to await calm
er air. Paulham not only accomplished
his original purpose, but continued to
circle the vast plain until his tank was
empty.
Battled with Wind and Rain
Even when a shower, accompanies
by a high wind, suddenly broke The
pilot did not falter. He battled in the
teeth of the rain and wind for ten min
utes up one length of the course, an0
the thrilled spectators watched lhe
struggle against the elements in spell
bound admiration. When he succeeded
in rounding the turn, the excite nen-
and enthusiasm broke into a frechied
roar.
Going down on the wing of the wind.
Paulham made up for the time los lH
fighting it. Fortunately the storm was
brief. AS the time approached V1eA
it was evident that he would beat the
Wright record, the excitement was in
tense and the crowds rushed out of tIa
tribunes each time he passed, cheerins
and shouting words of encouragement
AS Paulham, in turn, broke the time
and distance records, the jubilatiOn OF
the spectators was beyond description.
The Americans joined the French and
other foreigners in paying tribute.
Exhibition Flights Made
Exhibition flights meanwhile We're be-
ing given by Sommer, Leblanc, Latham,
Rougier, Tissandier. Bleriot, Gobron
and Bunau-V -Varilla, and although they
offered a wonderfully impressive sight
they were almost forgotten in the in
tensity of interest as to how far Paul
ham would go.
Shortly Paulham descended near the
back turn and announced that the COM
mittee had granted him permission to
replenish his tank on the field to per-
NIT his return with his own power.
While they waited, Glenn H. Curtiss,
the American aviator, got his machine
for an effort to beat Bleriot's time of
Yesterday, and he made a fast round.
lowering his own time for the six miles
and on-fifth to S:11 3-5, only seven and
one-fifth seconds behind that of Bleriot.
Wife Greeted First
It was dark when a great cheer arose
as Paulham descended gracefully in
! front Of the tribunes. The fence was
! torn down in the rush to reach him,
and he was borne on the shoulders of
some of the most enthusiastic among
the spectators, the crowd escorting him
to the box of the Marquis de Polignac,
president OF the committee on aviation,
to receive congratulations and to have
his health drunk in champagne.
In the midst of the mad enthusiasm
Paulhams eye rested on a face in the
crowd below. Instantly he stretched
out his arms, and turning he broke his
way through the throng in the tribune,
a moment later throwing himself into
the arms of his wife. His mother and
father also were there to embrace and
to weep. and finally to carry him off
in triumph.
Paulham is not an inventor, but
an operator, who tonight has taken rank
as the worlds greatest professional
aviator.
The belief is unanimous that he won
the Prix de Champagne today although
the managers Of the Wright machine
intimate that they will have try
for it tomorrow. The final day for
this event is Friday.
Paulham in order to maintain his
advantage over his rivals announced
Continued on Page Two