The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-08
FrenChTnan Thrills BaItimo- reans By Daring Feat
WINS PRIZE OF s5OOO
DeLesseps and Drexel Also Perform Well in the Competitions, One Win ming Altitude Prize and the
 Other Coming Second

Baltimore November 7.--This morn ing Hubert Latham was probably the only aviator in Baltimore, if not in the United States, who believed that he would accomplish a flight of nearly 25 miles, about half of it over this city Tonight Latham is hailed on all sides as hero who has accomplished the impossible, and, establishing a new record for over city flight, has disclosed new possibilities Tn aviation.
 The incentive for the flight was a prize of $5000 offered by the Sun and the Evening Sun for a trip over pre- scribed route from and returning to the aviation field, where Baltimore's aviation meet is now in progress.
 There was to be a short detour for the benefit of Ross Winans, a wealthy invalid, who, unable to leave his home, offered an additional $500 if Latham would come within his range of vision. All this Latham accomplished. He varied his altitude from 400 to 20o0 feet and had to contend with wind blowing at from seven to fifteen miles an hour. He used his 50-horse power Antoinette and was in the air 42 minutes, making no stop after leaving the field until he returned thereto. It is estimated that the flight, which Is understood to estab-
  was witnessed by half a million peo- pie who crowded every point of want age about the city.
 Whole City Watching
 At 12 o'clock the whole city seemed to begin watching Some minutes later the city hall bell began signalling Latham had started.
 Borne by the stirring breeze which aided him greatly, Latham flew straight and true for Fort McHenry, and when he was almost directly over the historic ing in a general northwestern direction stcered for the crowded "grandstands" in the skyscraper district.
 Arriving over Baltimore street in the neighborhood of Calvert street he made another turn and in a second or two was off for Paterson park.
 Soon he was again headed northwest and bound for Druid Hills park, and then turned again toward Charles street. Curving round the Belvedere hotel he flew to about the line of Cal vert street and there, some 2000 feet up, performed a series of aerial gyra- tions.
 Then he struck off for the skyscrapet district again. Over the Sun building he wheeled westward and near the edge of the city bore away southwest for the
 
 overwhelmed with congratulations by his fellow aviators and friends.
 Real Competitions
 There were real competitions at the aviation field today, Latham being first in the duration and also In the distance contests. Count Jacques de Lesseps in his Bleriot took second prize in the alti- tude and In the duration trials, and J. Armstrong Drexel sailing Bleriot, won the altitude with 1886 feet. Three min utes before the closing bomb was fired Willard began short flight in Curtiss biplane.
 Lathams flight over the city did not count in his duration score, as 1t was finished before the official opening of the days flights.
 After flying in the baby Wright bi- plane from the station to the course, Hoxsey made a bad landing and dam aged the machine. It will be repaired in time for tomorrow's flights, however, Hoxsey, who is expected to try to take the worlds altitude record from John stone while here, was unhurt.
 Summary:
 Hourly distance won by Latham (An- toinette). 10 laps. unofficial, there being question of some pylons having been cut No competition.
 Hourly altitude won by Drexel (Ble- riot), 1886 feet; second, De Lesseps (Ble- rioD, 1722 feet.
 Totalization of duration: Won by Latin am H minutes 31 seconds: second, De Lesseps, 30 minutes 42 seconds.
 Standing of prize winners: Latham, s6500; Drexel. $500; De Lesseps, $500.