The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-20
Winds Are Too TreacheTOus
 for the Airships
WAITING FOR ANOTHER DAY
Some Fine Exhibitions of Flying Are Given But the Bird-Mcn Will Wait for Better Weather
 For Trip

| Brig. Switzerland, Sept iber 1s.- Though the weather wasl 4npropitious for the bold undertakiS ,, MT. Wey- man, the American, ana George Chavez, the Peruvian, attemp' d the cross-Alps not until they had given pretty exhib- tions of high flying that promised bet ter success in fair weather During the night stiff breeze was blowing in the Simplon Pass and the mountain peaks were hidden in a dense fog. There seemed little prospect that the competition would begin today. However, after daylight the wind had gone down and although it was still cloudy the intrepid Chavez and Wey- man decided to risk flight.
 They got away with encouraging cries from an enormous crowd that was disappointed yesterday and that had feared bad weather would compel another postponement today.
 Chavez left the starting ground, a little quadrilateral plateau overlook ing the Rhone valley, first and imme- diately began to rise in sweeping spir- als until he had an altitude above the towering mountain wall opposite. Then he disappeared over the granite should CT that marks the entrance to the Sal tine gorge. A moment later the watch CTS at that point saw the monoplane wheel and gradually descend until it alfghted on little grassy slope at the foot of the sheer cliffs.
 Weyman,. who started a few mo- ments after Chavez, was on his way remained in the air only eight minutes. He ascended to an altitude of about 1700 feet, where he encountered baf- fling wind. In landing at the bottom of the Rhone valley he bent wheel of his biplane.
 Chavez explained that he had reached an altitude of about $500 feet when he was caught In violent wind He ob- served that the summit of Simplon pass was obscured by heavy clouds and decided to return rather than chance landing farther on among the rocks. He announced that he might try again later in the day
 The other aviators who propose to try for the cross-Alps prize are Cattaneo and Paillette. The American uses biplane and the other monoplanes. The terms of the competition provide that the flight may be made between any time today and September 26. The start must be near this point at the head of the Rhone valley and the av1ators must fly over the Simplon Pass and down across Lake Maggiore to Milan, Italy. To clear Simplon Pass 1t will be necessary for the aviators to maintain an altitude of some 1000 feet during the first half-hour of the flight The total distance to be covered is 75 miles down and smoking fires and other signals will point the way.
 Later an official examination of his barometer showed that Chavez attained a height of 7546 feet. This Is within Ss3 feet of the Peruvians world altitude rec ord which has been officially placed at S409 feet
 The wind blew strong throughout the day, preventing any further attempt at making the flight over Simplon Pass dur ing the day.
 New Entrants for Aviation
 New York, September 19.-Word was re- ceived today by the managers of the in ternational aviation tournament to be held at Belmont Park October 22-30 from Cordtlandt F. Bishop, president of the Aero Club of America, who is now in Paris, that four more leading French aviators have been engaged to take part in the meet. They are Count de Lesseps, Auburn. Simon and Leon Morane.