New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-29
AMERICAS AIR VICTORY
GLENN n. CURTISS HINS
BENNETT TROPHY.
Makes I2.42 Miles IN His 4erO Opsdne
IN Is Minutes 50 80 Seconds,
Fastest Time on Record.

r7etheny Aviation Field. Rheims. Aug. 2s-
The international up OF aviation known also
- the Gordon Bennett trophy. was to-day
nv Glenn H. Curtiss, the American aviator in
,be fastest aerial journey of 20 kilometres 02.42
r0nesl ever accomplished by man. His time IL
minutes 20 SO seconds. was only : 3-5 seconds
easier than that made by NJ. Bleriot over the
same course.
The two other pilots who represented France.
Latham and Lefebyre finished. respectively. in
= minutes 81 seconds and 20 minutes AZ 80
ssconds Cockburn. Englishman, ran into a
hsvstack as he was maneuvring for the start
and did not cross the line. Several other ma
.hines which were expected 10 start We're not
ready within the time limit
The race lay between Blcriot and Curtiss, with
Latham as a possible outsider. Lefebvre on
rreyious performances apparently had no chance
Fortune favored the American. An accident two
savs aCo 10 Bleriot's powerful fast machine.
With which he held the lap record. was serious
handicap as he had nc opportunity TO try out
the repaired machine.
Curtiss stole march on his rivals by getting
.wav early. Finding conditions favorable at 10
O'Clock in the morning he decided 10 take no
chances in the tickle weather. and after trial
trim in which he made the circuit OF the course
,n minutes 30 Is secon !. lowering the worlds
,scord nine seconds he started Immediately on
his attempt 10 win the cup He handled his
machine. which few along at a speed never be-
fore Witnessed. in mastery style especially al
,be turns which ne took on the down grade
The first round measuring 62l miles. was made
in minutes "a 2-5 seconds. somewhat slower
than the trial. but the second round was covered
Two seconds faster. minutes 5S 10 seconds an
other worlds record.
TIME LIMIT APPROACHES,
This remarkable showing on the part of the
American created CONSERVATION In the Bleriot
camp The French favorite. whose machine was
equipped with a four-bladed propeller. made a
fial hut could do better than minutes oo+s
seconds for the round. Then, upon the advice
cf santos-Dumont. he substituted two-bladed
rropeller but this proved slower still and the
French began 70 doubt the ability of their cham
Mon Rleriot replaced the original propeller
and tinkered with his machine for several hours
In the mean time Lefebvre in a Wright bi-
plane but without hope OF winning, flew over
the course but his time five minutes slower
than that OF Curtiss.
The excitement grew steadily as O'Clock,
which the public understood was the time limit
Ion starting in this event. approached Bleriot's
ana L.athams machines were run out and every
body stood watch in hand. At O'Clock the
crowds concluded that the two French cham
ynns had aess aited and a murruur OF protest
sare but a minute later il was officially an
tauoed that the wording Of the rule had been
rsunderstood, and that the rule allowed a
Ekt TO be made any time before $50 o'clock.
vIcT(RY POPULAR.
few minutes later Bleriot and Latham
crossed the line In quick succession. Bleriot
went by the tribunes AT a terrific pace. and for
moment the Americans feared lest curtiss
would ie beaten. He finished the first round
almost in the identical time Of Curtiss's fastest
lap~ covering the ten kilometres in q. minutes
1855 seconds. but his speed seemed appreciably
70 decrease in the last round. and before he
reached the final turn the stop watches showed
mat be had lost.
The French crowds were greatly disappointed
the failure Of their countrymen. but largely
owing the popularity of the Wr1ghts in
France and tie general French recognition of
the wonderful stimulus Americans have given
% the science Of aviation, no foreign victory
could have been so popular as an American
The judges Immediately up the American
fag on the signal pole on the timekeepers
stand in front % the tribunes and the bands
played The star spangled Banner" There was
great rejoicing among the American spectators
Ambassador Henry White. accompanied by
Mrs Theodore Roosevelt Miss Ethel Roosevelt
Qgentin and Archie. had arrived in time TO wit
ness the flights hy Bleriot and Latham from
special box placed al the disposal Of the party
When the American flag went up, curtiss
Who had refused 20 accept congratulations until
y was officially announced that Beriot's time
vas slower than his. escorted, or rather,
dragged, from the shed TO the ambassadors box
by several hundred enthusiastic Americans.
Nr Whites first words WE'RE
I came 10 see you win. and you have done a."
MRS ROOSEVELT INTERESTED.
The ambassador then told how proud he was
hat America had triumphed and that the blue
rebon o. the air would be defended by the
United States he concluded by congratulating
cartiss in the name OF the government and the
people OF the United States. and then presented
Mrs White and Mrs. Roosevelt. as well as the
oher members OF the party. who added their
Congratulations in warm terms. Quentin said,
u was bully" az which everybody laughed.
Nrs- Roosevelt expressed regret that the
sfesloent was not there TO witness the Ameri-
san victory Thousands watched the scene from
'he lapn below the stand. The entire party
'aen visited Curtiss In the shed. where the hero
y the hour got in the and explained how
ne machine controlled. Later the ambas-
"oor made the rounds Of several other sheds TO
"'sratulste the aviators while Mrs Roosevelt
ena Mr. and Mrs Robert Bacon visited OF
re dirigibles and shown It's workings.
Later the party Witnessed the starts OF Blerot
'~feb're, DE Ia Grange and Bunau- Vara They
se~ bleriot just dark clip 52s seconds II
.lfusss fastest round in the international I'm a
'kiiometre flight in the lap speed contest
nshng the distance in minutes 47.b seconds
Ach is a new worlds record. and Henry Far
'A who yesterday won the Prix de la chain-
shs ADD 20 his laurels by carrying two pas
myers around the course.
Ambassador White expressed the opinion that
of n Will ha.y