Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-29
Two Laps Are Made at Rate of 47.65
Miles an Hour.
BLER1oT FINISHES sECoE
His Time is Nearly Six Seconds
Slower Than Winners.
MRS. ROOSEVELT SEES FLIGHT
wife of Former President Attends
Races AZ Guest of Ambassador ans
Mrs. whtte-Other Records
Made During Day.

RHEIMS, Aug 2s-The International
cup OF aviation, known also as the James
Gordon Bennett trophy, was won today by
Glenn II. Curtis the American aviator in |
the fastest aerial journey Of twenty kilo-
metres u2R mies) ever accomplished by
man His time Is minutes bOB seconds
was only 5N seconds faster than that made
by Bleriot over the course. The
other two pilots who represented France. |
Latham and LeFebvre, finished respectively
in II minutes 80 seconds, and 20 minutes
47M seconds. Cockburn an Englishman,
ran into a haystack as he was maneuver-
ing for the start and did not cross the |
line. Several other machines which were
expected to start were not ready with the
time limit.
The race lay between Bleriot and Curtis !
with Latham a possible contender. Le-
febvre previous performances appar- |
emily had no chance Fortune favored the |
American. An accident two days ago to
Blerot's powerful machine with which he |
held the lap record, was a serious handi- |
cap. since he had opportunity to try |
the repaired machine
Curtlss starts Early.
Curtiss stole march on his rivals by get
ting away early. Finding conditions favor |
able at 10 O'Clock In the morning he de- |
cided to take no chances in the tickle !
weather and, after trial trip, in which he
made the circuit Of the course in 7:551b, low
ering the worlds record nine seconds he
started Immediately on his attempt to win |
the cup. He handled his machine, which
flew along at a speed never before wilt !
messed. in mastery style. especially at the
turns, which he took on the down grade. |
The first round. measuring 6.M miles, was
made in 1874. somewhat glover than the
trial time, but the second round was COW
cred two seconds faster, In 7:53M another |
worlds record.
This remarkable showing on the part Of
the American created consternation IN the |
Bleriot camp. The French favorite whose |
machine was equipped with fonr-bladed
propeller made a trial. but could DO no
better than g;bsM for the round Then. upon
the advice Of Santos Dumont. he subst- |
tuted a two-biaded propeller. but this
proved slower stiIl and the French began
TO doubt the ability OF their champion.
Bleriot replaced the original propeller and
tinkered with his machine for several
hours In the meantime Lefebvre, In a
Wright biplane but without hope OF win
ming. flew over the course. but his time
was five minutes slower than that of Cur
tiss.
The excitement grew steadily as o'clock,
which the public understood was the time
limit for starting in this event approached.
Bleriots and Lathams machines were run
out and everybody stood watching them. At
o'clock the crowds concluL ID that the two
French champions had defaulted and a
murmur OF protest arose, but minute
later It was officially announced that the
wording OF the rule had been misunder-
stood and the the rule allowed a start to
be made any time before $3.50 o'clock.
American Flag Goes Up,
A few minutes later Bleriot and Latham
crossed the line in quick succession
3leriot went by the tribunes at q terrific
ace and for a moment the Americans
pared Curtiss would be beaten. He fin
he'd the round In almost the Identical
me Of Curtiss' fast lap covering the ten
llometers in minutes 5SA seconds, but
is speed seemed appreciably to decrease
the last round and before he reached
final turn the stop watches showed
at he had lost. The French crowds
re greatly disappointed at the failure OF
lr countryman. but largely owing to the
pularity OF the wrights in France and
general French recognition of the won
ful stimulus Americanas have given to
science of aviation, foreign victory
d have been so popular as that Of an
irican
le judges Immediately ran up the
eTican flag on the signal pole on the
ekeepers' stand in front Of the tri-
nes and the bands played the star
,angled Banner" There was great re-
Icing anong the American spectators
AMBASSADOR eHnry White, accompanied
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Miss Ethel
,osevelt, Quentin and Archie had arrived
time to witness the flights by Rleriot
d Latham from a special box placed at
e disposal OF the party.
rs. Roosevelt COnsratuIates Winner.
When The American flag went up Curtiss.
no had refused to accept congratulations
W 1t was officially announced that
Crlots time was slower than his, was
corted. or rather dragged, from the shed
the ambassadors box by several hun
d enthusiastic Americans. Mr. Whites
st words were II came to see you win,
"a you have done t."
The ambassador then told how proud he
as that America had triunlphed and that
ne blue ribbon of the air would now be
fdefended by the United States. He con-
eluded by eongratulating Curtiss In the
name OF the government and the people OF
the United States and then presented Mrs.
White and Mrs. Roosevelt. as well as the
other members OF the party who added
their congratulations In warm terms
Quentin said. 1t was bully" at which
everybody laughed
Mrs Roosevelt expressed regret that the
ex-president not there TO witness the
\ American victory. Thousands watched the
scent from the lawn below the stand. The
entire parry then visited Curtlss In the
she'd where the hero OF the hour got in
the seat and explained how the machine
was controlled Later the ambassador made
the rounds Of several other sheds 10 con-
graduate the aviators. while Mrs. ROose-
Welt ana Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Bacon visited
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