The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
WILL ATTEMPT
TO CROSS ALPS
Pretty Contest In Prospect For
Aviators
500 eco PRIZE rs OFFERED
Cry of Indignation Goes Up Over Treat
mcnt of Convicts While Being
Transported to Settlements
in Guiana
$50 eco PRIZE Is OFFERED

Just been offered to the daring airman
who first crosses the Alps. Nearly all
the Freoh aviators of fame have al
ready entered their names and some
are actually training already.
The route for this sensational aerial
voyage Is from Brieg. 24oo feet above
sea level, through the Simplon Pass
10000 feet, Domodossola, over Lake
Maggisre, to Milan. 1t will take place
about September 20, during the Milan
aviation week. The start Will be made
from a meadow above Brieg, close TO
Lauenen. The aeropianes will follow
the Saltine valley, rising up toward the
pass, and probably about that time
thew will fiy above the white solitudes
of the SHOWS.
The first part of the voyage Will be
relatively easy, as the mountain rises
with q gentle gradient and the descent
beyond the pass, as far as 1selle, leads
to a wide valley. But farther on, to-
ward Ponteorcola, the route becomes
marrow and rocky, and assumes the
characteristic aspect of an Alpine
gorge, The aviatotrs will fly between
apart. After Domodoesola is passed
the journey is easy. The valley Is
Wide, green and level along the course
of the Toce. The aeroplepes will cross
Lake Maggiore from Tondo TOGO to
Aroma, and, traversing the plains OF
Lonhardy, will ny above Milan. An
observatory ON the Simpion, united by
toaeDhone With Brke6 and Domodossnla,
Nr~> ptsy rnunHr11nn fta aerial
currents, Special trains will run along
the Simpfon line and endeavor to fol-
low the flights from the mouth Of the
tunnel to the Eoa1, while motor cara
will be stationed along the route. Avia-
tors VIII bo allowed ~ hours to com
piete the Journey with an unlimited
number OF stops
all pilots, but viii be confined to those
who are invited to participate, because
the committee is DESTROYS to exclude
aviatprs who have not already demon
strated their skill In long aud difficult
voyages. 10 far It seems to be prob
abie that this sensational flight will
resolve itself into an epic struggle be-
tween the most famous champioAs OF
aviation and that the best known types
OF aeroplanes VIII engage In the con-
test for this triumph,
A great CRY Of Indignation has gone
up all over France against the more
than inhun,an way In which convtots
are being treated while being trans
ported from France to the convict set
Elements In Guiana. and 1t cannot be
DEVILS Is more then awful and an alb
solute Disgrace to France.
The wretched men arc taken from the
citadel In tho he de Be, escorted By q
battalion OF infantry with dxed beyo-
nets. Chained In pairs and wearing
blouses, rough trousers and black wool
en- caps, they wepd their weary way to
the quay, some of the most hardened
affecting a devil-may-care demeanor and
whistiing tunes, while others, who are
most refined, walk with their eyes bent
ON the ground, and often with tears
stealing down their pale checks. When
they reach the pier they are put on
barges, which carry them to Tho ship,
and on a command from the deck, Send
the prisoners up they climb tho lad
der. As soon as they are on board they
lay down their handles and then de-
scend by a staircase to the iron cages
or .bagnes," of which there are four
between decks, separated from each other
by a passage, in which seamen are on
guard fully armed As soon as the con-
victs have been thus installed tho trans
port sails away.
How do they fare in the matter of
food? Bread Is distributed every morn
ing, and twice day a party ascends
to the deck with vessels which are filled
with provisions at the rate of Il por-
tons in each. At one meal there may
be Goldfish. cooked with rice at another
bacon with potatoes or beans or lentils.
The pans having been brought down to
cages the convicts devour their con~
tents.
In the afternoon, when the weather
Ia favorable, and If they are well away
from land, they may go on deck In parties
of LOO at time for half an hour and
breathe the invigorating air. When even
ing comes a hammock is dealt. out to
each convict, who suspends 1t to the
ceiling of his "bagne' and SO gets what
sleep he may.
As might be expected. great precau-
lions are adopted on board, as many Of
these men are miscreants Of the most
desperate type. Four guns loaded with
grape stand In readiness to work havoc
In their ranks II they should revolt and
when they are permitted to go on deck
a hose connected with the boilers is with
In reach Of the sailors on guard, who
can promptly play on them II they be-
tray the faintest symtom of rebelling.
me site Oh a. DdltIeuelQ at the gates
of Paris. lie Bourget, has been acquired
by an English company, with quarter
of million capital. as a new aviation
ground under the name Of "Aeropolis. /"
The project is to establish grandstands
for the public and sheds for the avia-
tors round a track containing a thou
sand acres. On the outer fringe lots will
be sold for building purposes and houses
with pretty gardens attached are project
ed. I hear that Sir Hiram Maxim, and
the English admiral. Sir Charles Camp
bell, are closely identified with the en-
terprise and will become the Engiish d.
rectors on a board which is interna-
tional in its constitution.
Flying will begin on the new ground In
October Amongst the projects is to es-
tablish a grand prix during June, which
will attract Its crowds Of visitors just as
does the grand prix Of Longchamp or
the grand steeple at Auteuil. Being SO
very close to Paris the new ground, If
it proves a success at all, will doubt
less be an enormous one.