The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-09-03
GLENN CURTiSS WINS INTERNAL
TlONAl CUP OF AVIATION
AT RHEIMS.
R BEATS HTS 6THfR HHI ( HViafHRS aWaT0RS
Flies 12.42 Miles in IS Minutes, so 3-5
Seconds, Record Time.-Mrs. Roose-
welt and Ambassador White
Among the Spectators.

Bethany Aviation Field. Rheims.
The international cup of aviation,
known also as the James Gordon
Bennett trophy, was won by Glenn
II. Curtiss, the American aviator,
In the fastest aerial Journey Of 20
kilometers 0242 miles, ever accemp-
lishcd by man His time, Is minutes
so 3-5 seconds, was made only 5 3-5
seconds faster than that made by Ble-
riot over the same course. The other
two pilots who represented France,
Latham and Lefevre. finished respec-
lively In II minutes 80 seconds, and
20 minutes AZ 3-5 seconds.
Cockburn, an Englishman, ran into
| a haystack as he was maneuvering for
the start, and did not cross the line.
Several other machines, which were
expected to start, were net ready with
In the time limit.
The race lay between Bleriot and
Curtiss, with Latham as a possible
outsider. Lefevre on previous per-
formances apparently had no chance.
Fortune favored the American. An
accident two days ago TO Bleriot's fast
machine was q serious handicap, since
he had no opportunity to try out the
repaired machine.
Curtiss stole a march on his rivals
by 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 trial trip, in which he made
the circuit of the course In Z minutes,
55 1-5 seconds, lowering the worlds
record 9 seconds, he started imme
diately on his attempt to win the cup
Still Startles Frenchn+en.
He handled his machine. which flew
along at a speed never before wit
messed, in mastery style, especially at
the turns which he took on the down
grade The first round, measuring
6.21 miles, was made in 7 minutes 81
2-5 seconds, somewhat slower than the
trial time, but the second round was
covered two seconds faster, minutes
SO 1-5 seconds, another worlds rec
ord
This remarkable showing on the
part Of the American created cOnster-
nation in the Bleriot camp. The
French favorite, whose machine was
equipped with a four-bladed propeller.
made a trial. but could do no better
than 7 minutes 5S 1-5 seconds. for
the round. Then upon the advice of
Santos -Dumont, he substituted a two
baded propeller but this proved slow
er still, and the French began to
doubt the ability Of their champion.
A few minutes later Beriot and
Latham crossed the line in quick sue
cession. Bleriot went by the tri-
bunes at a terrific pace and for a
moment the Americans feared Curtiss
would be beaten. He finished the
round in almost the identical time Of
Curtiss fast lap, covering the ten
kilOmeters in 7 minutes SO 3-5 sec
onds, but his speed seemed appre
ciably to decrease on the last round,
and before he reached the final turn
the stop watches showed that he had
lost The French crowds were great
ly disappointed at the failure of their
couhtryman. but largely owing to the
popularity OF the Wrights in 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 popular as that Of an American.
Mrs. Roosevelt Present.
Ambassador Henry White. accom-
panied by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt,
Miss Ethel Roosevelt. Quentin and
Archie, had arrived in time to witness
the flights by Bleriot and Latham
from a special box placed At the dis
pOsal Of the party.