The Washington times., 1909-08-27
LATHAM LOOKS BEST
IN GRAND PRIX RACE
Paulhan's Chances Shattered
by Accident to His
Machine.
FALLS IN THE WIND
AND BADLY DAMAGED
Glenn H. Curtiss Still Has Splen-
did Show for First
Place.

RHEIMS. Aug. 27.-Hubert Latham
will, in all probability, win first honors
in the Grand PIix de la Champagne
with his record flight yesterday Of nine
ty-seven miles IN hours and IS seconds.
Paulhan, his most dangerous rival. set
out today to win back the honor that
on Wednesday evening was believed to
be his, but his bi-piane fell. as the re-
su.s Of heavy winds. early in today's
trial, and smashed a wing. Paulhan
was not hurt. as the machine fell when
not at a great height. The craft was
so badly injured that 1t is not believed
that it can be put in shape for another
long-distance flight
II is probable. therefore. that Latham,
Paulhan and Comte de Lambert viii
carry on the hrst three prizes for dis
lance, Latham first, Paulhan second,
with a flight of S3s miles, and Lambert
third, with one OF 7102-5 miles.
There viii be some satisfaction for
Americans if this is the mai order. for
Lambert used a Wright machine in his
fight yesterday.
Louis BieTiOt generally picked TO win
the Coupe Internationale tomorrow. dis
PEELED all dount as to the fitness of both
himself and his machine by making a
splendid flight OF twenty-five miles ia a
high wind.
Blenot Not Out.
As result Of Bleriots accident yes
terday. when hiz machine fell and was
badly twisted. his friends were afraid
that he would suffer in the Coupe In
shows that Bleriot ana his machine are
as good as new" The flight was
stopped by an increase in the velocity
Of the wind. Bleriot not caring TO take
any needless chances.
Glenn II. Curtiss, the only American
taking part in the flights is still be-
Neved to have a splendid chance Tor
first place IN the banner event of the
week, the Coupe Internationale. While
Bleriots monoplane has shown greater
speed than Curtiss' bi-pIsne. the Ameri-
can contends that he has not pushed
his machine 10 the limit.
Absolutely no thought Of dark
horse" winning the big race, has oe-
eurred &c the crowds that flock daily to
the Plain Of Bethany. Bleriot, Latham
and Lefebvrs are the three Frenchmen
who have qualihed for the race, and
the machines Of neither Latham nor
Lefebvre have shown speed that ap-
pr0aches that Of Bleriot's and Curtiss'
machines.
There Is much complaint today OF the
recording, both as 70 time and distance,
the results of the different flights AS
an example. Lathams flight Of yester-
day is announced as all the way from
g miles 70 lg2 miles. and his time
from 2.05 TO 2.l8. Just what viii be ac-
CepLed as official is not known.
Starts On Record Trip.
n. Latham in his great fight yester-
day started al 2:20 on what is known
as the No. type OF the Antoinette
monopIane. a reconstruction Of the ma
chine with which he made the second
attempt to cross the channel. The avi-
ator covered the first round in minutes
= % seconds al an impressive height,
but without attracting much attention,
for so many attempts have be61 made
By the Antoinette machine and so little
Las been accomplished that the public
was not very eXpectant
When three rounds naQ been covered
general interest was aroused. for il ap-
peared that Latham was endeavoring
10 establish record The sight was
really worth enthusiasm. for the wind
which at first had been only three
metres, gradually increased until ii at
tanned at times a speed OF ten metres
second When five rounds, equal 10
fifty kilometres, had been covered the
storm began. IL grew on the outskirts
OF the aviation ground. Black banks Of
clouds were massed up all around AL
though only a few drops Of rain fell
near the stands ii was evident that the
aeropianes on the opposite side Of the
field were being drenched.
Enthusiasm Grows.
NJ. Latham covered Eve rounds in a
minutes 4S seconds. As each successive
round was completed and the Official
distance increased 70 sixty. seventy,
eighty and ninety kilometers the en-
thusiasm Of the spectators grew bv
leaps and bounds Desfening cheers
arose from the grandefand. the SYM
pathies Of the crowd being with the
young aviator. every one present hoping
70 see him beat M. Paulhan.s record
one hundred kilometers We're reeled
Ct IN ] hour y minutes u seconds. Still
NE aefoplane sew at a height Of about
one hundred meters. Then 10 10 80
and 10 kilometers were accomplished
with the same regularity and the same
graceful ease. n. Paulhan's record had
been beaten by a large margin. The
public and the aviator were now hope
ful OF seeing record Of $50 kilometers
Every eye was fixed on the machine
when II commenced the sixteenth
round Tor il was known that the gas6-
lene supply was running low and that
q descent must be made before long
Brings Machine Lower.
n Latham also was aware HIS fuel
was almost exhausted. for iu this round
he brought his machine much lower III
order 10 decrease the gliding distance.
The stop came At the extreme end OF