The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-28
CURTISS WINS.
American Aviator Captures the
international Cup.
Flying at a Rate Of 1850 Miles
an Hour.
BLERIOT WAS CLOSE.
And Broke the Worlds Record
for One Lap.
Latham Did Not Start-Wright
Machine Slow.
BLERIOT WAS CLOSE.


cred the two laps of the course, 20
mflometers or 1912 miles. in 10 minutes.
so 3-5 seconds. This is at the rate OF
47.65 miles an hour. Bleriot, his most
formidable competitor, made the dis
tance in 15 minutes 5615 seconds. Lat
ham did not start.
Curtiss took advantage of favorable
weather conditions this morning and af-
ter a trial lap which he covered in a
minutes So 1-5 seconds. he made his
official record He did the first lap in
minutes 81 2-5 seconds and the sec
ond in minutes 53 Is seconds. Each
lap measures 6.21 miles and Curtiss
broke all previous records.
Bleriot waited until late hour this
afternoon before flying. He made his
first round in minutes 50 S-5 seconds,
which is two-f1fths of a second behind
the best time made by Curtiss.
Lefebvre, flying in 4 Wright biplane
also tried for this event but his time
was comparatively slow, being given at
20 minutes SO 2-5 seconds. Bleriot made
a round in the lap contest in 7 minutes,
a As seconds. This is a worlds rec
ord for the distance. Curtiss' best time
for lap made in the competition for the
international cup is minutes 53 Isl
seconds.
As Curtiss stepped from his machine
after having completed his two rounds
he said he thought he had given his |
rivals something to worry about.
Fast and Rough.
He said these two laps of the 10 metre |
course were the fastest and toughest
journey he had ever made in the air.
In front of the tribunes 1 was going |
Steadily he explained, but when I
got to the back stretch, experienced a |
most remarkable atmospheric. condI
ton. There was no wind but the air
seemed fairly to boil My machincI
pitched, and I was almost thrown out
of my seat The machine once or twic :
seemed literally to leap from under me.
Under ordinary conditions this curious
condition of the air would have pre-
vented my starting, but after the splen-
did time made in my trial and consid-
ering the circumstances, could not re
frain. AS a matter of fact my eX-
perience confirms my theory that my
machine is faster in turbulent air than
In dead calm.''
Curtiss's round in the International
made in z minutes So lis seconds does
not count in the speed lap contest, as
this event is the only race in which the
time for rounds does not count in the
lap competition.
The Prize
The international cup of aviation is |
known otherwise as the Gordon Ben
nett trophy. 1t is an object of art |
valued at $500, which goes to the /
winning club and $4,000 to the aviator
The 'course is two laps of the BethenJ |
aerodrome or 20 kilometres: Curtiss
comes from HammOndsport n. 7, This |
is the first time he has flown against |
formidable competition. His machine !
is bi-Dlane.
The French spectators were greatly !
disappointed that this coveted prize !
not won by a F'renchman but they |,
and thousan nds of other enthusiasts
from many countries crowded around
Curtiss and showered congratulations |
upon him for his wonderful achieve |
ment.
Curtiss came to his decision to make
a trial suddenly.
II a
of enthusiastic Americans. including
Cortland F. Bishop president of the
American club, Commander F. L. Cha
pin. the naval attache at Paris. and I.
Bentley Mott, the military attache, the
machine was run out on the field
Curtiss made no preparation other
than to change hic coat for a leather
Jacket. With no trace of excitement he
climbed into the seat and gave the
order to start the prope1lers Running
along the ground a snort distance for
a flying start the machine lifted lightly
and circled between the timekeepers ana
the tribunes. Then mounting gradual
ly until he had reached a height of 45
feet Curtiss crossed the line at a ter
rifle pace. The aeroplane small and
compact and with trim lines, looks more
like a racer than aEy of the others here
and as 1t sped away straight as an ar
row exclamations of admiration arose. |
Clips the Corners.
Clipping the corners closely C,,1rtiss
continued at a uniform height until he |
had passed the last pylon. He then |
descended sharply to get the bencfi. OF |
gravity. and crossed the finish line less
than dozen feet above the ground a
few seconds afterward the white ban /
was hoisted. indicating that record |
had been broken and the AmericanS
broke out into wild cheering. The
aeroplane was towed back behind the
line and Curtiss was showered with
congratulations. He replied modestIv
that this speed was what he anticipatsi1
and he expressed perfect satisfaction
with the way in which his aeropiars
had behaved. The time for this tria
heat was minutes 55 1-5 seconds |
Curtiss explained. however. that he
had encountered peculiar air currents
yard" where he said the air seemed to |
boil"
The American announced that he
would start Immediately for the inter |
national His gasoline tank was re-
filled and he got away in fine style. He
rose to a greater height than on his |
trial in order to escape the turbulent |
air currents.
The Big Event
The weather conditions were IDEAL
today for the contest for the inter-
national cup of aviation, otherwise
the James Gordon Bennett trophy, to |
be awarded to the aeroplanist who |
makes the best time on two rounds of |
the course, the distance of 12.42 |
miles. This is the main event of
aviation week.
There was a slight haze over the
plain early this morning, but the |