Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-12
PAULHANA AMUSES,
CURTISS THRILLS
PASSENGER Is CARRIED WITH
AVIATOR
Attempt to Break Two Records at
One Time Is Not Successful.
Shortens Time for Leaving
the Ground

Although the program stated that
yesterday was Los Angeles day, for
long time it appeared a real Paulhan
day, but when Glenn H. Curtiss started
his record breaking stunts it was ap-
parent to all that "Curtiss" day might
have been the appropriate designation.
It was late in the afternoon before
Curtiss regarded conditions as proper
for worlds records, and, although the
"Flying Frenchman" was amusing the
crowd by his daring flights, Curtiss was
patient. He acknowledged before his
first successful attempt at breaking
records that he was willing that Paul
han should have all the glory, but he
wanted the records.
The first attempt of Curtiss was to
lower the record Of distance in leaving
the ground after starting the engine.
Breaks Record
Before the crowd realized what had
taken place the official announcement
was made that Curtiss had made
worlds record by rising SO feet from
the place he had started his engine.
The previous record for flying ma
chine to get under way was 100 feet,
made by De Ia Grange.
Encouraged by his initial success,
Curtiss announced that he would at
tempt to break the combination record
Of distance covered before leaving the
ground and time getting off the ground
after the starting of his engine.
Although the combination effort was
not successful, Curtiss broke the
worlds record for time getting off the
ground, establishing the phenomenal
record of 62-5 seconds. the best pre-
vious record being seconds. The
space covered before the ascent was
1251a feet.
With two worlds aviation records
established, Curtiss became enthusiast
tic and made a flight in his racing ma
chine, carrying a passenger. Before
the attempt he announced that the ma
chine he was to use was built purpose
ly for racing and not for carrying pas
sengers and that it was the second
time in his aerial career that he had
made the attempt, the FIRST having
been made at De Nuncio, Italy.
Amid the plaudits of the crowd Cur
tiss circled the field, accompanied by
his manager Fanciuli. The machine
was speeded at the rate of 90 miles an
hour and for the first time it dawned
on the thrilled spectators that flying
machines were practical and not
mythical theory.
Paulhan Interested
In the meantime Paulhan became in
terested and announced that he would
attempt to break the newly made Cur
tiss records. His first attempt to lower
the Curtiss record of distance before
leaving the ground was a fiat failure
After much manipulation of his motor
he made a second trial but the official
scorer announced that Paulhan had
covered 191 feet before leaving the
ground The Frenchman was disap-
pointed and stated that the meet was
not finished, and he would show some
real speed and record breaking stunts
in the next few days.
Just to show that carrying passen-
gers in airships is possible and that his
first attempt was not a tluke, Curtiss
scared above the grandstand, this time
accompanied by Clifford Harmon, the
famous New York balloonist.
At the time of this event there were
four machines in the air, Willard steer
ing a Curtiss machine, Hamilton i'll a
Curtiss and Paulhan in his Farnam.
1t was the first time that four machines
were in the air simultaneously, and the
crowd arose in frenzied appreciation.
During his flight Willard made the
most consistent record and now holds
the honor of having made the first per-
feet score for trips about the course.
Wives Fear Accidents
That the wives of noted aviators are
skeptical as to the safety of aerial
stunts was demonstrated on two occa-
sions yesterday afternoon. When Paul
han attempted a flight in his Bleriot
machine, Madame Paulhan rushed on
the field and demanded that her hus-
band make no attempt to fly.
1t was not the fault of Mrs. Fan
ciulli that her husband accompanied
Curtiss in his attempt to fly with a
passenger.
Fanciulli, the genial manager of the
Curtiss camp, had started in the ma
chine before his wife was aware of the
fact. Although well posted in matters
pertaining to aviation, Mrs. Fanciulli is
not willing to risk her husbands life,
and as the machine sped by the grand
stand at the rate of fifty-five miles an
hour she became excited.
When the flight was over Mrs. Fam
ciulli rushed to the field and told herl