Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-13
PAULHAN MAKES
RECORD FLIGHT
SCARS OVER 41OO FEET ABOVE
THOUSANDS
FRENCHMAN GIVEN SAN DIEGO
MEDAL FOR WORK
Fifty Thousand People Cheer For
egne-Curtiss Breaks Course
Observation-Disclosures and
Balloons also Busy
Continued FROM Page one,


quick French words: "I will go up one
mile. That Curtiss shall not beat me.
l will win that San Diego trophy"
And he did just what he said ne
would do!
If Nine. Paulhan had had her way
the bird" never would nave
gone into the air She has tried sew
eral times to prevent him from MAX
ing flights, for she says she fears he
will be killed. 1t was for this reason
she was not notified of his intention
of breaking the altitude record before
he started. Her only information
came when the announcer called
through his megaphone: "Paulhan will
now try to break the altitude record
But by that time Paulhan was 200
feet in the air and was waving his
arms in a farewell to his pretty wife
below
The sun was low in the west, for 1t
was Z minutes past o'clock when
Paulhan suddenly started the engine
of his new powerful Farman biplane
down in the field 200 feet north of the
grandstand. There was scarcely any
wind stirring. Even the feathers on
the women's hats did not move, so
quiet was the air. The sky was bright
and blue, dotted here and there with
a tiny white cloud. Courtland Field
Bishop, president of the Aero Club of
America and chairman of the Judges
stood in front of the judges STAND.
He had Just remarked that finer
weather for aviation never had been
known, and added that records would
be smashed by any daring flyer who
attempted height.
With a whirr and a dozen quick ex-
plosions Paulhan was off into the air.
Along the ground his machine flew
for 300 feet, and then suddenly lifted
into the air. He sailed to the west,
straight for the sea. AS he got well
into the air the announcer called
through his megaphone that Paulhan
would try for the altitude record.
Then the spectators, thousands OF
them skeptical of results, settled back
into their seats to wait for the final
descent.
Greeted by National Hymn
But they did not remain seated for
long, for Paulhan, circling far to the
south and west, raised higher and ever
higher until, when he came SAILING
over the grandstand, he had attained
the great height of 1900 feet. The an
nouncement was the signal for the
band to play La Marseilles," and the
crowd to break forth into cheers.
Some little hint of what was going on
below must have been carried to Paul
han, for he waved his hand to those
below.
Again and again he. circled the field,
each time going higher and higher.
Each circle took him higher. 1t was
as though he had taken Jacobs lad
der to the threshold of the stars.
Up, up, up he went-20O0 feet, and
still he climbed. So high was he that
he scarce seemed to move. The strong
est field glass could not distinguish
him more than a large speck in the
sky He circed far to the south and
west and eevry eye was upon that
moving speck. Some cheered, some
shuddered. One walked up and down,
wringing her hands, while tears
streamed down her cheek. She was
Nine. Paulhan, the fond mate of the
man-bird.
Necks were craned until they ached.
1t would not have surprised one of
those thousands to have seen the speck