East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-01-21
Big Inter ali1naI Aviation
Meet Ends With Grand
Climax
HAMILTON HAS NARROW
ESCAPE FROM DEATH
Last Day of Big Flying Carnival Was
tons Machine Breaks Crank Shaft
and Only Presence of Mind of Avia-
tor Saves Him-Curtiss Defeats
Paulhan in Mad Race About Course

Aviation Field, Los Angeles, Jan
21.-As dusk gathered over the old
Dominguez ranch last night four fly
ing machines that had been circling
in the air in rivalry of the meadow
larks that for so many centuries have
held dominion there. settled softly to
earth. The masters of these newest
air craft walked TO their tents, the
great crowd filed down the roadway
and the. first international aviation
meet ever held in America was over.
Al was peaceful and but few knew
that one man had been near death
IN those last few minutes Charles
X. Hamilton was returning from a
15-mile flight toward the ocean.
While a mile from the aviation field
the crank shaft of his machine snap
ped. To a ship it would have meant
g helpless drift upon the see. To the
aeroplane it mant so little that no
one in the crowd noticed anything
wrong.
Hamilton shut off his engine and
so leveled and swayed his planes that
he was waited gently down. touching
with scarcely a thud. 1t was the best
| piece of emergency handling of ma
chine that has been seen at the meet.
Curtiss and Paulhan-the great rivals
of the meet-furnished excitement for
the closing day. Paulhan went up at
| S25 o'clock for an endurance flight
After he had gone two or three laps
| of the course, Curtiss started on a ten
lap speed trial half a lap. or more
more than "a of a mile. behind Paul
han. Instantly it was seen that
great race was on-the first real race
of the ten days.
The two airships. full power on,
came over the grandstand with the
speed of express trains. Curtiss, ii was
plain, was gaining. He crept swiftly
on Paulhan's heels and on the third
lap after starting he reached Paul
han. flying above. The Frenchman
for few seconds held his own. then
Curtiss in his American machine.
forged ahead by nose, a length, and
finally by half a lap. It was no race
after that. The. American machine
was demonstrated as the faster be-
yond question.
AS Curtiss rushed over Paulhan, he
received the greatest applause that
any of his efforts have evoked
Paulhan went on until he had trav-
eled GA miles and had been in the
air nearly an hour and a half. Cur
tiss came down after 30-mile trip.
This race gives the whole story of
the meet. The Curtiss machines have
won all the prizes for speed, quick
starts. perfect landings, and those
events where a light swift machine
showed best.
Paulhan has won all the cross coun-
try. passenger carrying and endur-
ance tests. having a heavier. slower
machine and an engine which he
trusts completely.
Paulhan has taken more than S15,-
600 in prizes. and has broken the
worlds records for altitude and for
cross country flights alone and with .
passenger,
Curtiss has broken no worlds rec
ords and probably will take less than
$4,000 in prizes.
Hamilton and Willard have taken
second and third prizes in most Of the
events.
The meet ended with n perfect day
and all the aviators at their best A
unique parade. showing the evolution
of travelling was the feature. It was
headed by old Ezra Meeker. of Oregon .
trail fame, seated in the prairie school,
uer that took him over the plains
hauled by oxen. After him came cow
boys automobiles, burros. carriages, .
balloons. drigibles and finally the va
rious builds Of airships. ending with .
multiplane that looked like q har-
vester. Curtis and Paulhau walked
behind the procession like bashful
school boys
4 medal presentation took place
after this. then Paulhan went up on
his endurance flight.