The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-05-05
KING OF THE AIR.

| "Ouoe1IuI Fedt-"IDS pSOJOOO
Prize by the Performance.
Manchester, Eng, April 2S.-The
first aerial derby for a prize offered
by an Englishman has been won by
Frenchmen, and handsomely. Upon
landing here Louis Paulhan was
given a tremendous ovation and IN
stinted praise foe his remarkable feat.
At the same time his less experienced
but nc less plucky competitor is being
showered with congratulations over
his splendid attempt and because he
had shown himself a good loser. AS
soon as Graham White learned OF
Paulhan's success he called for three
cheers for the victor. Paulhan, win
ner OF the $4,000 prize for the first
fight from London to Manchester
made within "a hours and with not
more than two stops, arrived at $50
O'Clock this morning, almost exactly
II hours after he left London last
evening.
White, who got away from the me-
tropOlis one hour later, again met
misfortune and was obliged to de-
scend at Polesworth and abandoned
the race after having covered a little
more than half the distance. White,
who is hardly more than a novice in
the art OF aviation, encountered
treacherous wind currents which
thrice turned his machine around and
he also experienced trouble with his
motor. But for the Englishman's
i'll luck and lack OF experience there
would have been close finish.
Paulhan was benumbed with the
cold and thoroughly exhausted when
he reached here. A great crowd
awaited and gave him a sportsman
like welcome. Manchester first saw
the French aviator few minutes
after five o'clock coming steadily as
steamer on smooth sea and head
ing directly for the field which he had
chosen as a landing place. Flying at
height of 400 feet Paulhan came
over a clump OF trees and then bring
ing his biplane around with a beau
tiful curve, he landed exactly in the
center of the field. He seemed dazed
and benumbed and swayed as he
walked down the field All he could
say was: Il am very cold, but very
happy"
Paulhan did the last "a miles in ex-
actly "a minutes, understanding the
special train bearing his wife, Henri
Farman and other friends who ac-
companied him.
When at PoleswOrth, White, when
told of the Frenchmen's success,
mounted the seat of an automobile
and cried: "Ladies and Gentlemen:
The $4,000 prize has been won by
Louis Paulhan, the finest aviator
that the world has ever seen. Com
pared with him | am only a novice.
Three cheers for Paulhan."
The crowd gathered about the En-
glishman, gave the cheers heartily,
following that with a round of cheers
for White, who said: ''There is no
longer an opportunity for me to win
the prize, but l mean to get to Man
chester and by aeroplane."
Speaking OF the flight which he
made, White said: "Iwas completely
turned around three times by the
wind. l tried my best to get along
against it, but unfortunately it was
no use and | was forced to come
down. [ managed to get over the
telegraph wires and got a start over
the track OF the railroad at Roade,
by aide OF signal lights, but over a
good many miles about Rugby Isaw
no signal light and there was consid-
able wind. | could see clouds racing
across the moon and when daylight
came the breezes were still vigorous
and the dust troubled me lot"
Following example of the French
man before daylight this morning
White was in the air at $50 o'clock,
more than an hour before Paulhan
started from Lichfeld, so miles
further north. White passed Rugby
just before daylight, flying at q great
height and with terrific speed in an
effort to make up the distance he had
lost by his late start yesterday. He
kept up his speed, following the rail-
way line as we'll as he could in the un-
certain light over Nuneater and
Atherstone, and while he was COM
PEELED to descend at Polesworth was
only 10 miles from Lichfeld, from
which point Paulhan had started but
a moment before. Paulhan upon
ascending at Lichfield sharply at
400 O'Clock this morning was hur-
ried on by the news that White al
ready was in the air and approach
ing Lichfeld Paulhan encountered
a sharp southwest wind which, while
toward the end Of his journey made
it almost impossible for him to keep
firm grasp on the levers, helped him
on his way.
An immense crowd was gathered at
the field where the machine was stored
over night and along the roads lead
ing northward and they gave the
Frenchman encouraging cheers, al
though their sympathies naturally
were with their fellow countryman.
AS he flew gracefully over them the
French aviator made a wide circle to
get his bearing and when he had de-
termined his course he mounted to a
good height, just missing a tall elm
tree in the ascent. Then he sailed
directly for Stafford, the aeroplane
swaying perilously in the wind. Paul
han followed the railway line all the
way to Manchester, usually at a
height OF 800 feet. but ascending to
700 feet when passing over towns
and the people who turned out to
cheer saw but speck in the air.
| White was one OF the first to tele-
graph congratulations to his rival.
His message read:
Il take the earliest opportunity OF
Offering my heartiest congratulations
on your splendid performance. The
better man has won"
TO sum up the aerialrace, Paulhan
left London at $50 O'Clock last even
ing and reached Manchester at $50
O'Clock this morning. He descended
| at .ichf field of 81 q n,olool- L.. -