The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-29

wind. which had arisen to a twenty
five miles an hour force, caught hlS
aeTOplane and slammed 1t over to-
ward the club house.
Latham was at that time only fifteen
feet in the air. and his machine, caught
i'm an eddy, spun and seemed about 10
crash into the big crowd or men and
women on The lawn in mont or the
building BY Herculean effort Latham
managed to keep his aeroplane level and
slammed over the heads OF the crowd
less than a yard above them. Franticai-
Nv ne damned his plane upward and
finally Scraped over the top Of the
judges stand, clearing this structure by
inches ONLY
He then descended in the field almost
unnerved by his narrow escape, while
the crowd went frantic ana cheered
lnadlv for several minutes
Latham had covered the fifteen laps
when he was forced 10 descend in .
minutes 80 and 5000 seconds.
Afraid For Spectators.
After landing, Latham declared that
his aeropl1ne had gotten completely be-
yond control. 'on account OF the gusty
wind. 1T was a miracle" he said. that
did not crash into the club mouse. I
vas not frightened on my own sccounr,
bUt ! was unneryed by the danger IN
which / was putting SPECTATORS
The failure OF Latham 10 finish took
away from France any hope OF Win
ming the Gordon Bennett race Latham
and lie Blanc were the only two
members to try for the cup on the
French team. Simon, the French sub
stitute. declined TO enter when he
learned that he would be given no
guarantee of expenses If he partici-
pated.
When they saw that France no
longer had q chance, Latham and lie
Charles X. Hamilton, and endeavored
TO give him as many pointers as pos
Sible about the course. The French
men were particularly anxious for the
cup to remain in America. now that
France was out of the running
Shortly after the accident TO Brook
ms, the WrightS announced that they
would make no effort in the Gordon
Bennett race It was probable that
John & Moissant. the crCsS-caannel
fiier, would, therefore, be substituted
as the third member Of the American
team
Weather Conditions Perfect.
With the coupe internationaIe d avia-
ton TO be contested for by the fastest
aeroplanes in the world, the eighth day
Of the second international aviation
tournament opened with practically per
feet weather conditions. The prize was
the Gordon Bennett trophy for speed.
The terms called for a start any time
after $3.50 o'clock this morning. the race
10 be completed by $50 in the afternoon.
The winning aviator will receive 5000 in
tiOnal trophy will be held for one year
by the recognized club of the country
which the winner represents.
The trophy was first won by Glenn II.
I CuTtiSS, Of HammOndspOrt, " Y, who
lifted the cup in the first contest held
under the auspices Of the Aero Club of
France on August D. 1903. near Rheims
BY winning last years race tine Aero
Club OF America secured the right to
hold this years international tourna-
ment in this country.
Walter BrOOkins in the famous little
pocket edition Of the Wright machine
was a keen faVOrite for tOday'S race.
lie Blanc. Latham, Radley, and Ham
ilton were regarded as strong con
tenders. especially the two daring
Frenchme1 and tEeir fast monOplanes.
Early Morning Workouts.
There were early morning workouts
for the pig race, and the railbirds
were kept busy plugging for the
speeders. lie Blanc, Radley, GTahame-
White, Hamilton, and Drexel all did
mle-a-lninute workouts before sun
rise.
2 hey took no chances of injU Ing
+ themselves or their machines, but
p soon tt-tultltu A44tll ldAE DIS anu ut-
livered their aerOplanes to their a.
tendantS to be frightened up for The
supreme struggle
Under tho conditions Of the race the
aviator completing the 100 kilOmeters
in the shortest length OF time was to
be declared the winner.
The early starting hour Of $50 was
set for the beginning of the big race,
because under the rules the contest
ants in this event were permitted to
alight for repairs or for any other
/ reason as often as they wished.