Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-21
rive ACCIDENTS ON BETHANY FIELD
sumanest Comes Down Sideways and
Godfrey Hits Hed9e-ovation for
Curtiss, the American, When He A2-
pears-Two Aviators Demonstrate
With Wright Machine.
(By Associated Press.1

ing in straight lines. making wide
turns or wheeling abruptly, travelling
slow and last and low and high, was
tho striking spectacle offered $4,000
persons on the field of Betheny Today.
Two slight accidents occurred. NJ.
Dumanest, arriving an Antionette ma
chine, came TO the ground sideways
and broke one of the runners OF his
aeroplane, and NJ. Gofroy. in an Is
nanlt- Pelterie monoplane with bright
red tails, had accomplished flight
oil a kilometre wnen the machine
struck a hedge, demohshing its pro-
peller.
This was the second last practice
day before the commencement OF the
prIze flights of aviation week. The
weather was beautiful.
Ovation for curtiss.
Glenn Ii. Curtiss, the only American
who is. to compete in the races, was
given an ovation after a successful
flight of seven minutes. Although the
motor of his smachine was Bit erratic.
the biplane sped straight on its
course and without swaying.
Hubert Latham also was applauded
for a spectacular flight of ten minutes,
and the crowd broke into cheering as
NJ. BIeriot. driving small forty horse
power mOnoplane, made series OF
masterful maneouvers.
NJ Sommer, who recently, though
unofficially. beat Wilbur Wrights
record for duration of flight. speeded
across the plateau during the after
noon and was lost to sight in the haze.
1t was thought by the spectators that
he had descended, Gut after a lapse OF
time, he suddenly reappeared. When
he landed he announced that he had
made a voyage to the village of Vinny
and return.
Demonstrate Wright Machine.
During the evening there was some
wind, but Count De Lambert and NJ.
Lefebyre, both plotting Wright Di-
planes. braved the breeze and stimuli
demonstrated the ease and facility
with which machines Of the Wright
model may be sailed.
Lefebvre was particularly skiliful
in handling his craft. Once he wheel
ed abruptly over the heads of the
spectators, causing several women "a
scream with fright
George u. Cockburn, the Brit-sher
and Henry Farman and VI. Fourier
all brought out their machines during
the afternoon, but made no flights
contenting themselves with practicins
starts.
Fat Man Wants to Ride.
The aviators are chuckling tonight
ever an offer received by August Post
secretary of the Aero Club of Amer
lea. from a Frenchman, weighing 25e
pounds. who said he will give sl00 &c
each and every aeropianist who viii
take him with them in their flights
Nuns5er OF American are arriving
for the race.
There was a great oItburst Of en-
thusiasm when Bleriot and SommeI
crossing each others course in the
air. each politely dipped mis- machine
in salute.
Twenty-eight Machines on Grounds.
There is now a total OF Is machines
on the grounds. buf not all Of them
are ready fcr fight.
Mr. Curtiss was not greatly SUI
priscl when Informed that the Wright
brothers had brought suit agsinst ths
Acronartic Society 81 New York. al
iexing that the Curttss machine m
fringcs certain Of their patents ~
sad he had known for sometime thai
something q this nature was contcm
plated. bu: he failed tc see how y
would result in anything but a lot Of
litigation.
Glenn ". Curtiss. the American
was in the air at the same dino Al
Blcriot. and Sommcr. the two FrcncI
champions. As the three aeropianci
swept back and forth over the pIaini
AZ varying heights and rsncouvcrc,
Al the viii Of their pilots. an cuihus
isstic French spectator cried on
thcse three men are the vinncrA~