Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-13

things. He makes his biplane dip
and circle until the spectators hold
their breath in fear. Once while
passing the grandstand he threw up
both hands. waving them above MS
head in acknowledgment of the APP
plause. Such a procedure is certainly
reckless and spectacular enough 10
please the most blase Individual
While Paulhan was up, Roy knaben-
shue suddenly shot into the air in ms
dirigible. As he rose shout OF ap-
proval burst from the thousands
Watching the flight. From the under
rigging of the dirigible floated huge
American flag. AS courtesy TO
| Knabenshue and as a salute to the
flag, the band struck up one or the
national airs.
Round and round the field Knaben-
shue scared. He attained height of
nearly 700 feet, but owing to the
wind finally came to the ground. The
ascent was made just to show the
spectators what a real classy dirigtble
flight is like. It was beautiful dem
onstration of skill and daring and
none but a master aviator like dab-
enshue could have made it.
Bishop Conaty was one of the most
interested spectators in the boxes He
cheered until he was hoarse. Every
time a particularly good flight or
daring bit of aviation held the atten-
ton of the spectators Bishop Conaty
was the leader in the applause.
Particular rules have at last been
adopted. All persons must keep off
the course proper. Photographers are
allowed on the north side of the
course. The rules were formulated
because of the objections to having
persons on the course raised by the
aviators.
In coming to earth the aviators fear
an accident, and So asked to have the
course cleared at all times.
In the first trial for speed Glenn IA.
Curtiss established a record for the
course, making the circuit of 1.6l miles
in 2 minutes Is 20 seconds. Paulhan
best time for the same distance was
2:27 is. Curtiss' time for AZ miles
was 7 minutes IA 1-5 seconds.
c. r. Hamilton made his test flight
in a slightly modified type of Curtiss
biplane. He has put two propeller
blades on his engine. This allows
greater force to the engine. He may
be able to break number OF speed
records with the new propeller.
Picturesque Scene
The big white tents of the foreign
aviators and the headquarters of Glenn
H. Curtiss, hope of America for the
laurels OF this meet, in the foreground.
the local aviators tinkering in their
open-air shops, was a cluster of cow
boy sheriffs, looking for trouble.
The morning passen with no move
ment from the tents. Toward noon
Miscarol in a Bleriot monoplane new
down the far end of the course ana
whetted the appetite of the crowd
which had grown by this time TO ire
mendous proportions.
rrrhn
lips of the mob, had been straining to
get away in the air all morning, ana
shortly after noon he began prepara-
tions in earnest. His new engine tested
to his satisfaction. He called MS
mechanicians and took his seat
cranking of the propeller, at last an
answering whir. A cyclone generated
in the rear that lifted the hair of the
four men bending at the tail
Paulhan waved his hand gaily at his
wife, whistled to his little dog, lifted
his arms as though he were about to
fly without any aid but his own daring
spirit, and the sIids left the ground.
Over bumps and rough field for a few
yards, a faster whir from the machine,
and a lift that carried him into the up
per currents
Curtiss idled near by, watching from
narrowing eyes. He turned abruptly
as Paulhan went around the pylon
marked course the second time, and re-
marked to two women who were talk
ing with him:
'5Well, it is time l started to work.
He entered his tent and peered into the
engine his men worked over.
These two men-Curtiss keen and si-
lent, Paulhan boyish and daring-rep-
resent the great contest of the meet.
After his first flight Paulhan hardly
gave his engine time to cool before he
tried another flight, this time with Mas
son as passenger. Apparently the flight
was as easy as the first, but he did not
rise as high.
At 2 o'clock things began to happen
The balloons and the dirigibles driven
by Knabenshue and Beachey crawled
over the course The Curtiss machines
were dragged to the white marked
starting place in front of the judges
stand. The maneuvering over and above
the balloons and drigibles lifted the
crowd to a wild spirit of shouting and
waving. A band played swinging waltz
music and the official starters and
markers took their places. The cowboy
sheriffs were busy chasing photograph
ers away from the line of start.
Curtiss Comes from Tent
Then the silent Curtiss issued from
his tent and the megaphone announced
lndL he WOulu lIy Loi tliC SpCSd lSNoiN u
of the course. Clad immediately
with a Scotch golfing cap pulled over
his eyes, he took his seat and gave
the signal After a short trial flight
he increased his speed to the rate of
431a miles an hour. The time given for
! the course of more than a mile and a
half was 2:13 3-5. No sooner had Cur
tss alighted and stroHed carelessly
away into the crowd again than Paul
hans manager announced that the
Frenchman would seek to take the
speed honor from the American.
The sporting instinct of the spec
tators was aroused. Here was
clean-cut contest. The course was
cleared with difficulty and Paulhan
started again. Then it was seen that
his engine had less power. His turns
were not so sharp. The result of the
second lap, which he designated as the
one that he wished timed, was four
teen seconds under Curtiss' record.
The Frenchman kept on flying, how
ever, until he had gone round the
| course six times and the sight of his
| craft buzzing through the air had be-
come so common that hundreds turned