Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-30


won by Curtiss quite handiy, nOtwith-
standing his penaiization.
Curtiss only missed winning the lap
speed contest from Bleriot by a small mar
gin. He captured second prize in that
event, which was over the fun circuit
Of ten kilometers. or SCI miles, raising
his total money winnings for the meeting
to 5000 francs, beside the international
cup, which goes TO the Aero club Of Amer
lea. inscribed with his name.
As In yesterdays contest. an accident
the only serious one OF the ~meeting-re-
moved Bleriot, the Americans most dan
gerous competitor, from today's three-lap
speed contest.
Bleriot's escape from death was a mar
row one. He had passed the first turn
in the Prix de la vitesse when the rudder
suddenly failed to respond. The machine
turned completely over three times. land
ing with such force that the petrol tank
burst and, catching fire from the hot mo-
tor. enveloped the machine and pilot In
flames. Before Bleriot could extricate
himself, he was burned about the face and
hands, but, fortunately. not seriously.
With Bleriot out Of the contest, Latham
r remained Curtiss' only serious rival. The
race was intensely exciting. Latham, with
No. 49," started only four minutes ahead
Of the American. who gave chase. Curtiss
overhauled him in every kilometer, finish
ing less than 400 meters behind the French
man. The time by laps was: Latham.
s:47s. 1889, 2s:S2%; Curtiss, 7:49ts. 16 :OO7s,
24:15h.
M committee first posted Latham's time
with one-twentleth penalization as 27:B1s6.
giving Curtiss the victory, as the others
who had taken part in the event had not
approached the mans speed. Latham,
however, refused to accept defeat and
brought out NO. o." With this he flew
Considerably faster, his time being recorded
at 1888, 1903, 25:1S%. The time, but not the
amount of penalization, was posted and
the race was exciting, as the penalization,
which was only one-twentieth, would bring
the time 26:sSb, seven seconds less than
that made by Curtiss. No official informa-
ton could be obtained beyond the fact that
the judges were awaiting reports from the
field commissions at $50, after which no
start would be possible.
Curtiss. however, who said he had been
obliged thrice to muffle his motor on the
previous flight on account Of pitching, de-
clared his confidence to do better in another
attempt, and decided to try again. Within
two minutes his machine was out and
speeding across the line. He flew higher
than he had ever gone before, Keeping the
throttle wide open and making each round
at swifter speed than in any Of his previous
efforts. The first round he covered in
7:493t, the watches showed ID BIN at the end
Of the second round and they were snapped
at 1928 at the finish. With his penaliza-
ton Curtiss' time stood at 25:492s and this
gave him the race by almost a minute
margin. But when he learned the second
round had been traversed in 1855, less than
one second from Bleriot's lap record, he
insisted on making another effort, but
failed to equal the Frenchman's time by
four seconds.
The official summarizes:
Prix De La Vitesse: First, Curtiss, penali-
cation one-tenth, 2S:49H; second, Latham,
No. 49," penalization one-twentieth, 20 1915;
third, Tissandier, without penalization,
% :5sIs; fourth, L~efevbre, without penaliza-
ton, 20 100; Delambert, 20 :O2; Latham, mo.
b." penalization one-twentieth, 29;11%;
Paulhan. 80 :4s%; Bunau-variIla, penaliza-
ton one-twentieth, 42:25%; Sommer, 1;1s:33
The Prix De latitude, 1000 francs, to
be awarded to the aeroplanists attaining
the highest altitude: Won by Latham, who
reached a height of 1876 meters (about 400
feet); Farman second, with ITO meters;
Z All lnlFui " HeleTsi FtOuBlST IOuTLn,
So meters.
The passenger-carrying contest was won
by Farman. With two passengers he made
the circuit Of the course in 1873, and with
one passenger, 9:52%. Lefebvre, with one
passenger. completed the lap in 11:2O%.
The lap speed contest went to Bleriot,
who covered the ten kilometers in 7:474S.
Curtiss was second, with 7:4s96.
Bunau-Varilla, with 100 kilometers, won
the Prix De Mechaniciens. Rougier was
second, with 80 kilometers.
The dirigible balloon Colonel Renard cap
tured the Prix Des Aeronauts, a prize Of
1000 francs for the best time in circuits OF
the course. 80 kilometers. The time was
1:1449. The Zodiac covered the so kilometers
in LIS :O1.
The altitude and the weight-carrying con-
tests were the most interesting events of
the day. Farman, mounting in great cir
Giles, went three times as high as the flag
above the tribune. He moved back and
forth over the heads of the spectators
amid the greatest enthusiasm. Latham's
feat was more spectacular and set the peo-
pie wild. Rising first to a height Of 200
feet, he made an almost complete tour of
the plain. Then mounting up, reaching d
height Of almost 500 feet, he flew high
over the captive balloon, executing grace
! fuI rfrcles