Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-29
AMERICAN
AERONAUT
WINS CUP
CurtiSS Secures Bennett
Aerial Trophy
AVIATOR MAKES FASTEST AIR
FLIGHT RECORDED
BLERloT ONLY REAL OPPONENT
TO WINNER
Worlds Record Is Also Made by Rep
resentativs of United States in
His Trial Trip over
Course
RLERloT ONLY REAL OPPONENT
TO WINNER
[By Associated Press.l

tBy Associated Press.l
n ETHENY AVIATION FIELDS,
II RHEIMS, Aug. 2S.-The interna-
~ tionaI cup of aviation, known also
as the James Gordon Bennett trophy,
was won today by Glenn II. Curtiss,
American aviator, in the fastest aerial
Journey of twenty. kilometers (l2'4Z
miles) ever accomplished by man.
His time, 10 minutes 80 3-5 seconds
was only 5 3-5 seconds faster than that
made by Bleriot over the same course
The other two French pilots, Latham
and Lefevre, finished respectively in
IL minutes 80 seconds and 20 minutes
473-5 seconds. Cockburn, an English
man, ran into a haystack as he was
maneuvering for the start and did not
cross the line. There We're no other
starters.
The race lay between Bleriot and
Curtiss, with Latham as a possible out
slider. Fefevre on previous perform
ances apparently had no chance. For
tune favored the American. An acci-
dent two days ago to Eleriot's powerful
and fast machine, with which he held
the lap record, was a serious handicap,
since he had no opportunity to try out
the repaired machine.
Curtiss Steals a March
Curtiss stole a march on his rivals
bv getting away early. Finding COndi-
tions favorable at 10 o'clock in the
morning, he decided to take no chances
in the tickle weather, and after a trial
trip, in which he made the circuit OF
the course in minutes So 10 seconds,
lowering the worlds record nlne sec
onds. he started Immediately on his at
tempt to win the cup. He handled his
machine in mastery style. The first
round, measuring 6.21 miles, was MADE
in minutes 81 2-5 seconds, and the
second round was covered in Z minutes
Bib seconds, a worlds record. rms
remarkable showing on the part OF the
American created CONSERVATION in the
Bleriot camp.
T,efevre in a Wright biplane, but
without hope of winning, flew over the
course. but his time was five minutes
slower than that of Curtiss.
Excitement grew steadily as O'Clock
approached. Bleriots and Latham
machines were run out. A few minutes
later they crossed the line in quick
succession. Bleriot went by the
tribunes at a terrific pace and finished
the round in almost the Identical time
Of Curtiss fast lap. covering the ten
kilometers in 1853 3-5, but his speed
seemed appreciably to decrease on the
last round and before he reached the
final turn the stop watches showed he
had lost.
Frenchmen Disappointed
The French crowds were greatly dis
appointed at the failure Of their coun-
trv1nan. but largely because of the
popularitv of the Wrights i'm France
and the general French recognition of
the wonderful stimulus Americans have
given to the science Of aviation no
foreign victory could have been so pop
ular as that of an American.
The judges Immediately ran up the
American flag, and the bands played
the Star Spangled Banner There
was great rejoicing among the Amei-
can spectators.
Ambassador Henry White, accom-
panied by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt,
Miss Ethel Roosevelt quentin and
Archie. arrived in time to witness the
flights of Bleriot and Latham
When the American flag went up
Curtiss, who had refused to accept con-
eratulations until it was officially an
1ounced that Bleriot's time was slower
than his. was escorted, or rather
dragged, from the shed to the ambas
sadors box by several hundred en-
thusiastic Americans. Mr.. Whites first
words We're:
II came to see you win and you have
done it,"
The ambassador congratulated Cur
the people Of the United States, and
then presented Mrs. Roosevelt and the
other members of a large party who
added their congratulations. The en-
tire party then visited Curtiss in the
shed, where the hero Of the hour got
into the seat and explained how the
machine was controlled.
Witness Other Starts
Later the party witnessed the starts
Of Bleriot Lefevre, LeGrande and
Bunau- Varilla They saw Bleriot just
at dark clip 2-5 seconds off Curtlss'
fastest round in the international race
i'm a ten -kilometer flight in the lap
specd contest, making the distance in
minutes, Al 4-5 seconds, which is
new worlds record. They also saw
Henry Farman, who yesterday won the
Prix de la Champagne. add to his
laurels by carrying two passengers
around the course.
Curtss came to his decision TO make
p trial suddenly. At l0:1l a. No sur
rounded by a group of enthusiastic
Americans, including Cortlandt r.
Bishop, president of the Aero club OF
America; Commander f. l.. Chaplin,
T.S.N., the American naval attache ar
Paris, and r. Bentley Mott, the mill
tary attache the machine was run out
ON the field
CurtSS made no pFepdfa ZION olI'I
than to change his coat for leather
Jacket. with no trace of excitement,
he climbed into the seat and gave the
order to start the prOpellorS.
Running along the ground a short
distance Tor a flying start, the ma
chine lifted lightly and eircled between
the tImekcepers AMI the trihunes.
Crosses Line Rapidly
Then, mounting gradually until he
had reached height Of forty-five feet
Curtiss crossed the line al a. terrific
pace.
The aeroplanc. small and compact,
and with trim lines looks more like "A
racer than any of the others here, and
as it sped away straight as an arrow
ordinations OF admiration arose from
the crowd.
Clipping the corners closely. Curtiss
continued at d uniform height until he
had passed the last pylon. He then
descended sharply, to get the benefit Of
gravity, and crossed the finish line
less than a dozen feet above the
grouid A. few seconds afterWard the
while ball was hoisted. indicating that
a record had been broken and the
Americans broke into wild cheering.