The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-13
FRENcHMAN BREAKS WORLDS
RECORD sv GOING MORE THAN
FOUR THOUSAND FEET.
A THRILLING SPECTACLE
Curtiss, the American Aviator. Wins
Speed Contest Around Course, but
Foreigner Makes Himself l6oi Of the
Crowd by His Daring Dash Into the
Blue Depths Of the Heavens.

Aviation Camp Los Angeles. Jan IL
Louis Paulhan. the French aviator
broke all officials and unofficial rec
ords for altitude in a Farman biplane
late this afternoon. 1t is estimated
that he rose to n height of more than
1000 feet. As methods of measure
ments are not exact. this may be ques-
toned. but IL is certain that he exceed
cd Hubert Latham's record. made Mt
Mourmclon. France. December I. 1909.
which was given at between 1.6n0 and
l.So0 feet, or. at least, ] 900 feet.
The judges record of Paulhan's al
titude, which was still to be sane
toned officially. Is 1924 meters. ap-
proximately 5000 feet. The time in the
air was 80 minutes, 461-5 seconds. The
time Of descent was seven minutes and
30 seconds.
Paulhan is the idol of the mob to-
night. He made his great record short.
ly after losing the speed record of the
course of Glenn H. Curtiss The
Frenchman, using an engine which had
just arrived from Paris, had been al
most constantly in the limelight all
afternoon. He had circled the course
again and again. skidded and dipped
and swung corners in daring fashion
that made his wife shiver.
The sun was low toward the sea
and the shadows had begun to gather
as he made his decision to go higher
in the air than any man in heavier
than machine ever had attempted
The wind barely stirred the feathers
in the hats of the women that blocked
the grandstand in solid masses Of color.
cortlandt r. Bishop. president OF the
Aero club of America. stood in front
of the grandstand, enthusiastic over the
beautiful scene that stretched out be-
fore him.
Il never saw such perfect weather
for aviation" he remarked. "we ought
to have the altitude record broken
today
A minute later Paulhan rose in the
air. HS bent low his gray capped head
and smiled smile of promise as he
made short circle over the mass of
craning spectators. Curtiss had felt
the higher currents and came down
Hamilton had landed tamely Paulhan
pointed north. went up 1000 feet.
passed over the center of the field
again. as though to take another last
look at the faces of human beings, then
turned nofIn ana up again.
Reused to Frenzy.
BY this time there was Just one
thing in all the universe for the crowd
the man and his air-conquering ma
chine. rapidly becoming a speck In the
gathering twilight. At the estimated
height of l.3n0 feet. Paulhan described
a great circle. rs If feeling the cur
rents. BY this time he WAS a mile and
IL half from camp. When word had
spread that he had beaten the worlds
record the vast throng Was reused to
frenzy and he still was climbing. He
had taken Jacobs ladder of dreams To
the threshold of the stars.
Two thousand feet and still climbing.
Sense of distance almost lost from the
earth. No one would have been sur
prised IL the man ana his little wings
had been swallowed M in the void.
AT 5 o'clock the machine became
palmer. Paulhan began to descend. He !
came down easily in front of the grand
stand. after being in the air nearly 81
minutes. As he leaped from his ma
chine. cheeks glowing and eyes flash
ing. he was grabbed by his friends and |
carried to the edge of the grandstand. |
NutTt iiiS H'stu ~ TIC
of cheers that came in his honor.
Another Treat.
Paulhan gave the crowds another
treat earlier in the afternoon The |
balloon New York which had assembled |
from Huntington park early in the day. |
came drifting toward Aviation camp. |
In it was Nine Paulhan. among other |
and when the f>renchm1n
caught sight of il he sprang to his |
Farman machine. snapped out instrue- |
,ions to his helpers and in a flash |
darted off At that moment Beachey |
and Knabenshue. in their dirigib.es. |
had passed over the grandstand and /.
also started toward the New York. But |
Paulhan. rising in a wide circle to a |
height of GOO feet. sailed a mile or |
more over the adjacent fields and the |
fringe of trees that line the camp on |
the north until he had approached |
close enough to gaily hail his wife in |
the balloon. and then. sweeping down. |
paid his respects to Beaehey and Kna- /
benshue.
Friahtsnsd Owl.
Low around a fence post gopher
owl fluttered in fright: at the height
of the telegraph poles great yellow !
sphere dangled. preparing TO drop: |
still higher a eigarshaped bag with a
man clinging To a spidery frame un-
der il. ducked and Nhirred at will.
above them ail-500 feet in the air-a
smaller slighter creation SCARED in
disdain of them ali-this WAS the SYM
Continued on Page Four.)