Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-24

RHEIMS, August o3.-Genn Fl. Curtiss.
/! the American aeronaut, and NJ. Paulham,
representing France, divided the honors
| of the second day of aviation week. The
| former in a flight just before dusk, low
| cred the speed record for the course,
which measures six and one-fifth miles,
| to minutes and 81 2-5 seconds. The lat
ter made two flights of 4a1a and IS kilo-
meters, respectively. in the endurance
test for the PriX de la Champagne. "a
kilome .er is about tive-eighths of a mile.)
Mr.. Curtiss' trip began just as the time
limit for the start of the Prix dc la
Champagne was expiring. Amid the en-
thusiasm of the French spectators NJ
Bleriot only a few minutes before had
clipped sixteen seconds off NJ. Lefebvres
record, made yes .erday, with his power
full SO-horsepower monoplane.
Suddenly, at an end of the field. cry
went up:
THE American is starting."
Cortlandt Field Bishop. president of the
Aero Club of America, was in the crowd
which surround d Mr.. Curtiss machine
With a preliminary run along the
ground Of 100 yards the machine rose
lightly and shot by the tribunes at
high rate of speed. Mr.. Curtiss mad the
last turn under the mistaken impression
that the finish line was closer He de-
scended so close to ear h that many
thought he had touched it, but. perceiv-
ing his error, he mounted quickly and
easily, crossing the line high in the air.
An instant later the signal was hoisted
that he had made a record.
Mr.. Curtiss said that he had not pushed
his machine to tn limit of its'speed. add
ing that the most interesting incident OF
the flight was the view he had of his
fallen rivals strewn around the course.
II is the intention of the American aero
naut to await the international event for
the James Gordon Bennett cup on Satur-
day, for which he is the favorite. after
which he will try for the Prix de la
Vitesse the final of which will be con-
teSted Sunday.
Endurance Test Record.
NJ Paulham alone made a record in
the endurance test yesterday, but NM.
Lefebvre. Sommer, Sanchis-Pesa, Bleriot,
de la Grange, Lambert, Cockburn. Bunau-
Varilla, Gobron. Latham, Tissandier and
Farman qualified with flights varying
from 200 meters to twenty-five kilo-
meters. the majority contenting them
selves with covering sufficient distance to
get within the limit. During NJ. Paul
hams long flight chance races took place
between him and NM. Bleriot and Le
febvre. the two latter outspeeding the
high-1ying Paulham. Bleriot appeared
willie KAUFMAN WdS COlIlDlbllIiS Ills lOuT III
round and with his eighty horsepower
monoplane swiftly overhauled and passed
under the biplane. leaving it far behind.
Two monoplanes having been put out
of commission by slight accident in
landing, NJ. Latham succeeded in making
his best flight with an untried machine
with an aluminium propeller
Until Saturday, when the international
event will be decided the flying is likely
to be less interesting than during the
first w davS hIrf an bnc CT
ton week shows no sign of abatement
The policing of the course by French
soldiers and mounted dragons causes
general satisfaction. Squadrons of dra-
to escape on the gallop from some low
flying machine.
Among the hundreds of Americans here
are Mr. and Mrs. George Gould. Mrs. w
\. vanderbilt, Jr.; Mr.. and Mrs. Nat c.
Goodwin. William H. Crane and Mr.. and
Mrs. Louis Kittridge of Cleveland
Great Crowds on the Plain.
Blue skies and glorious sunshine, with
only trace of wind, made ideal condi
tons for this the second day of aviation
week at Rheims. Attracted by the sem
sational performances of yesterday, when
six aeroplanes We're seen at the same
time winging their flight in huge circles
over the plain of Bethany thousands Of
spectators came down on the early trains
from Paris. and when the dirigibie bas-
loon Colonel Renard appeared over the
field at 10 o'clock, having come from
Meaux, the tribune and fences lining the
field were black with people. The Rem
ard, which is the first of the dirigible
balloons to arrive, carried out a series of
evolutions above the plain.
Hubert Latham has been chosen as the
third aviator to represent France in the
contest for the, international cup. the Big
event of the week. which will be held next
Saturday The others are NM Bleriot
and Lefebvre. This decision was reached
by the judges this morning after careful
consideration of the elimination contests
held yesterday. NM. Tissandier. Paul
ham and Sommer are alternates to
Latham.
The Grand Prix de la Champagne car
ries prizes amounting to $4,000, the first
prize being $4,000. The money win be
given to the six aeroplanes travelling the
greatest distance without touching the
ground or replenishing their supplies of
fuel and oil. Strict watch is to be kept
that no aviator touches the ground or
comes within a certain specified distance
thereof