The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-19
BEATS The WORLD
Louis Paulhan Makes a Cross
Country Flight
Of "A Miles and Returns in 60
Minutes.
GOES UP 2,13O FEET.
Probably Wins the $4,000
Crane Aviation Prize.
His Wife Follows in Auto Crying
and Praying.
iOES UP 2,1sO FEET.

Aviation Field Los Angeles. Cal,
Jan. 19.-Louis Paulhan, in his Far
man biplane has made the most re-
markable cross-country flight in his
tory.
on the wings of wind that other
aviators hesitated long to face. the lit
tie Frenchman rode from Aviation
Field to Lucky Baldwin's ranch. %
miles away, circled the old Santa Anita
race track and bucked his way back
to his tent In all he covered an esti-
mated distance of ~ miles in one
hour, two minutes, ~ seconds He
went down with the wind in 80 min
utes and came back against ii in 3S
minutes. When he climbed out of his
car he said his motor was cool as
when he started and that he could do
the trip over again at once.
In sheer beauty, and in contempt of
danger, the flight rivals that seen on
any of the aviation fields of the Old
World. The only test approaching 1T
in this country was that made by one
of the Wrights last fall, flying with an
army officer from Washington te Alex
andria.
Bleriot, Latham, Farman and Cody
have made fights nearly as long, per-
haps. but they have not come back.
minutes last fail. Farman took a 20
mile run to spend a day shooting with
a friend, but he landed at one end of
the journey.
Cortlandt F. Bishop, president of the
Aero Club of America, said that he
did not know of any flight equal to
Paulhan's. II is probable that the
Crane aviation prize of $4,000 will go
to Paulhan.
PauIhan maintained an altitude of
RI h
over the valley. His highest point was
= 2, 100 feet as indicated by the instru
ments in his car. Under him, speeding
over the country roads, were aUtomo-
biles, motor cycles and men on horse
back trying to keep near the machine
in the event that Paulhan should fall
or have to descend. Mrs. Paulhan was
in an automo bile praying and crying
When Paulhan reached the grand
stand on his return the crowd broke
through the barriers. The aviator
was lifted up and borne across the
field. His countrymen kissed him and
wept in joy.
At O'Clock with the wind blowing
strongly, it seemed the program would
have to be abandoned. and the crowd
began to call for flights.
Paulhan rose to the occasion. With
out any announcement his machine ap-
peared on the far west course, beating
against the wind. 1t came around and
over the heads of the crowd with the
wind, at a speed of 60 miles an hour
The fiat nose of his big white plane
pointed toward the mountains. 1t was
1909 o'clock. Hes off for the cross
country record of the world" announc-
ed the megaphone man.
For ten minutes the machine flew
onward and upward, straight toward
the snowline of the Sierra Madre
range. Old Badly Peak was the COM
pass point 1t lay in shining white re-
lief against the sky behind it. Through
the glasses Paulhan could be seen ris-
ing above the haze and taking a trail,
as it looked. to the summit. Soon he
disappeared from sight to those on the
field.
Bulletins were sent out and posted on
blackboard as the machine passed
over small towns on the way to the
was a great shout. Some one had seen
the airshtp. Soon it came into sight
blown from it's outward course and
on a line with Mount Wilson. The ma
chine became more and more plain
and even the experts watching and
timing were surprised at the speed
with which it returned. Mr.. Bishop
figured that it would take Paulhan
twice as long to come back against
the wind as it had to go with it. The
aviator had struck a milder current in
the high altitude and was coming home
on this.
Soon he was over the field and set
thing gently. The rush began. The
Frenchman stepped stiffly out of the
saddle and asked for cigar.
II will go twice as far some day.
he promised.