Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-03
DRIVES A BABY WRIGHT
9,714 FEET ABOVE EARTH
tombstone Flies to Highest Altitude Ever
Reached in an Aeroplane and Interna-
tional Aviation Meet Is Over.

New York, Oct. s1.-A baby" Wright
roadster, with Ralph tombstone at the
wheel. glided gracefully TO earth in the
twilight at the close Of the international
aviation meet at Belmont Park this even
ing with the Paragraph registering a new
worlds record for altitude. The little
ma chine of only 35-horsepower was up
OLA feet, exceeding by 52S feet the height
attained in France on october by Henry
Wynmelen OF Holland.
But Johnstone's sky climbing feat was
not the only notable incident Of the clos
ing day of the meet. Claude Grahamc-
White, the athletic Hriton who carries
away the Gordon Bennett trophy. which
takes the next International tournament
to England. sharpened the sporting APP
petite with n challenge to John r.
Mosnnt the Chicagoian, to race again
from the park around the Statue of
Liberty in New York harbor and return
Moisant, who won $1,000 for his fast
flight around the statue yesterday. refused
to consider the challenge unless Grahame-
White agreed to fy in n 50-horsepower
| Bleriot n machine equal in power to his
| own. Grahame- White. who made the
| statue fight in a 1W-hcrsepower Blcriot
declined to entertain this counter offer ST
| that tho chance for another thrilling ligh,
| over Brooklyn IS off
Grahame- White thrilled the spectators
when at the close of speed race with
j. A. McCufdy OF the Custiss team his
| propeller snapped. his monoplane dur
into the green sward in front of tn,
| def nd nd tn
underneath It, lie was uninjurcd. how
| ever and won the race.
Moisant's winning of the $1,000 distance
prize offered by the Aero Club OF Amer
lea was the other big event of the day
| He Travelled approximately 81 I-2 miles In
two hours In landing after winning the
event. he smashed his propeller and broke
a running wheel. but escaped unscathed
II was in a pretty purple haze NJ
| there" said tombstone after he had An
ishcd his world record flight, and say
| but 1t was cold. had a couple of sweat
ers on. beside my rubber suit and face
mask. but even then at times 7 felt freez-
| ing
| Several times completely lost sight
of the earth, but when I shot clear of the
| haze / could see. away down below, build
ings and residences which looked like toy
blocks. I have been flying only since last
June but It sure was the most satisfac'
| tory trip I have ever made"
The Wright brothers were jubilan'
over Johnstone's success. 1t was the
| first time he had ever flow their tiny
roadster and he had set a new mark
for aviators of the world. Arch Hox.
sey. his friend and rival climber. en-
| thusinstic and friendly but nwardly
| envious and with professional pride
piqued, was one OF the first to congrat-
ulate tombstone.
AS the crowds about the judges
stand cheered and cheered the an
nouncement of Johnstone's wonderful
feat, ]. Armstrong DreXel then swoop-
ed down to earth. He had been com
peting in the clouds with the Wright
pupil, but had attained only $3.50
feet" tombstone had easily won the
grand altitude event with it's $4,000
DriZp.