Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-08-23
Lefebvre Makes New Speed Record il
Preliminary Contest.
wR1GHTs MAKE BEST SHOWING
Their Machines Only Ones to Make
Required Three Laps.
LAMBERT MAKES FOUR CIRCLES
UefebFe and TiHsander Negotiate
Three Each and Cut Number of
Fights and Other DIffic-
cult Figures.

RHEIMS. France, Aug 22.-The spectacle
Of six aeroplanes simultaneously winging
their flight in huge circles over the plain
at Bethany, was remarkable feat OF the
opening day of aviation week. At the fin
ish Of the flight there was great burstof
cheers over this wonderfully impressive ex-
hibition Of mans mastery of the air, which
dispelled all doubt in the minds Of the
thousands present that a new era Of To-
comotion confronts the world.
Yesterdays storm left the sky banked
with Clouds with intermittent showers and
high winds and the eliminating trials Cor
the selection of the French representa-
tives for the Gordon Bennett International
cup, which Is TO be contested next Satur-
day, were spoiled. Only Lefevre, who less
than two months ago. adopted aeroplane
plotting as a profession. with a Wright
biplane. Bleriot, Delarange, Esnault-Pel-
. terle and Captain Ferher braved the gusty
puffs. LeFebvre alone succeeded In me-
gotiatlng the complete circuit of the course
He remained in the air for sixteen minutes
in a twenty-five mile wind, breaking the
speed record heretofore held by Tissaudier,
covering. ten kilometers in minutes, 651s
seconds.
OF the others entered in the trials,
distance to qualify, thus leaving the COM
mttee TO select the remaining representa-
tive from the best achievements in the
subsequent events.
Three-Lsp Speed Contest.
The rain and wind prevented any at
\ tempt in the two other events on today's
programme speed contest Of three laps.
and a lap contest, for which any round
counts-until shortly before dark. Then
suddenly the rain ceased and the wind fell
to a dead calm. The sky pilots soon
were busy in getting their machines out
of the shed and the air buzzed with the
hum Of motor exhausts. Latham was first
away, ascending high from the start. He
passed the cheering tribunes at a height
of $50 feet, and the ovation which he re-
ceived, was all lthe heartier for his piucky
though unsuccessful attempt to cross the
English channel. Lambert Somer, Cock
burn, Delagrange and Feurnier followed
in quick succession, and as Latham was
completing the first round, now at a
height of 300 feet, six aeroplanes, like
huge gulls, were lowering over the field.
Fournier was first down, falling head on
into a haystack as Lambert swept around
into the second lap, his machine seeming
to cut into a brilliant rainbow which IL
Illuminated the sky. Round and round the
aeroplanes circled, disappearing into the
distance, only to reappear along the course.
Air Full of Big Birds.
Meanwhile Lefebvre started afresh, and
was followed by Leblanc Bunau-Varilla,
Tissandier, Ferber, Bleriot and Paulham
until the air seemed filled with mammoth
birds.
Latham came down after finishing the
second round, the others gradually dropping
out until only three Wright machines re-
mained aloft. Lambert captured four and
Lefebvre and Tissandier three circles each.
Lefebvre concluded with thrilling demon
stration of the maneuvering capacity of
his machine. circling around the starting
point cutting several figure eights and
swooping down over the people in front Of
the tribunes, Lambert finishing at the
same time. During this exhibition Lambert
and Lefebvre passed each other twice and
gave other evidences of control over their
machines. The Wright aeroplanes alone
completed the required three rounds, time
being q follows;
Tissandier. 2S minutes 50 seconds; Lam
bert. % minutes 2 seconds.
The other machines made records only
In the speed lap contest. Sommer covering
the distance in cminutes, "a seconds.
Lambert. o minutes SO seconds; Paulham,
10 minutes 80 seconds; Tissandier, min
utes 26 seconds; Bunau Varilla, II minutes
Sc seconds; Latham. minutes, A seconds
and Cockburn, II minutes Sc seconds.
Curtiss Does Not Compete.
There was great disappointment among
the Americans at the failure OF Glenn
II. Curtiss TO appear, but he explained that
he has only one machine and cannot af-
ford to take chances of a mishap. He is
reserving himself. he says, for the Gordon
Bennett cup which he wants to take back
to America. Curtiss is the favorite for
that event, as the experts believe he has
the best chance II he can go the dis
tAnce.
Not q single accident marred the day
ana the crowds returned to Rheims en-
thusiastIo over the new sport and the
future OF the aeroplane. All the principal
automobile manufacturers have repre-
Bentatiyes here watching the contests
with a view q embarking In the manu-
facture Of motors Lieutenant Commander
f.. L Chopin. American naval attache, is
here having received cable instructions
from the navy department to attend the
contests and report back to the depart
ment Most OF these other foreign mill
tary attaches at Paris also are present
ana tomorrow a general French and Eng
ush mission which has been attending
The manoeuvres at ChalOns win be here.
President Farrieres and the members OF
his cabinet, together with many other
notables. are expected TO witness some Of
.sAe contests Tonight the city OF Rheims
peave a grand concert and ball in honor
OF the visitors.
Engine strikes Trolley Car.