The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-11-01
Went 9,7l4 FEET
INTO THE AIR
Record For High Flying Es
tablished by Ralph John
stone at Belmont Park

New YORK, NOV. IA baby Wright
"cloudster' with Ralph .Johnstone at
the helm, glided gracefully to earth
in the twilight at the close of the In
ternational aviation meet at Belmont
park last evening with the Paragraph
registering new worlds record for
altitude. The little machine of only
thirty-five horse power had been up
9,71i feet, exceeding by 52S feet the
height attained in France on October
l by Henry w. Wynmalon, of Holland.
But Johnstones sky-climbing feat
was not the only notable incident of
the closing day of the meet. Claude
Grahame White. the athletic Britisher,
who carries away the Gordon Ben
nett trophy which takes the next in
ternational tournament to England.
sharpened the sporting appetite with
challenge to John B. Aloisant, of
Chicago, for another race from the
park around the statue of liberty in
New York harbor and return. Moi
SAINT, who won $4,000 for his fast
flight around the statue yesterday,
ignored the challenge.
Then White, denied an
other chance for a visit to Miss Lib
erty sent a thrill through the spec
tators, when at the close of speed
race with J. A. ID. McCurdy of the
Curtiss team. his propeller snapped,
his monoplane dug into the ground
in front of the grand stand, turned
turtle, and buried the aviator under
meath. He was uninjured and won
the race.
Moisant's winning of the $4,000 dis
tance prize offered by the Aero club
of America was the other big event of
the day. He travelled approximately
81 1-2 miles in two hours. In land
ing, after winning the event, he
smashed his propeller and broke a
running wheel, but escaped unscatch-
eL.
Il was in a pretty purple haze up
there said Johnstone after he had
finished his record breaking fight,
"and say but it was cold. had a
couple of sweaters on besides my
rubber suit and face mask but then at
times l felt as if freezing.
Several times l lost complete sight
of the earth, but when l shot clear of
the haze I could see away down be-
low, buildings and residences which
looked like toy blocks"
The Wright brothers were jubilant
at Johnstone's success. 1t was the
first time he had ever flown their
tiny machine. and he had set new
mark for aviators of the world.
Arch Hoxsey, his friend and rival
climber, was one of the first to con-
gratulate Johnstone. enthusiastically
and friendly but inwardly envious and
with professional pride piqued.
AS the crowds about the judges
stand cheered the announcement Of
Johnstone's wonderful feat, ]. Arm
strong Drexel swooped down to earth.
He had been battling in the clouds
with the Wright pupil. but had at
tanned "only" $3.50 feet. Johnstone
had easily won the grand altitude
event with its $4,000 prize.
1t was an ideal day for the closing
of the tournament. The air was clear
and crisp, the sun shone from clear,
blue sky, and there was just enough
wind to stir the row of flags along the
top of the big grand stand. The first
event of the day began a few minutes
after the sharp crack Of the opening
bomb. 1t was the two hour distance
race for purse Of $500, donated by
members of the Aero club Of America.
The purse was split so that there
were three prizes.
The report of the bomb had hardly
died away when far across the field
the white wings of monoplane shot
up from the ground and swept toward
the starting line. 1t was Moisant
and he was flying the same machine
with which he won the statue of lib.
erty flight. Bud" Mars, of the Cur.
tiss team. and Simon and Latham o,
the French team, followed.