The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-21
Altitude Record Is Broken When
Reachey Climbs 12,2so Feet on
Last Day OF the
Meet.
PROMOTERS ARE LOSERS
Chicago People Could See Without
Paying and There Is a Deficit
Of About $780,
600.

CHICAGO, III. Aug. 21.-When Lin
coin Beachey descended into Grant
Park from a height at which II. Cur
tiss biplane had been barely visible,
his barograph record showed an alti-
tude of 1920 feet.
Declarations that the worlds rec
ord had been broken were made, fol-
lowing the reading of the instrument
by Capt. G. G. Culver, the army expert
In charge of the delicate height record
ers. but formal announcement of the
official record Of the aviation was
withheld.
The barograph--a recording aneroid
barometer-will be tested thoroughly
and the reading taken again before
the officials directing the big meet
will authorize statement that the
high mark for aeroplanes has been
passed.
Beachey was confident that he had
gone higher than any other aviator
during the last nine days. and Capt
Culver was emphatic in his declara-
tions that such an error as was dis
covered after the announcement that
the altitude record had been broken
two days before would not be discov-
cred again.
The mistake in ascertaining the
height reached by Oscar A. Brindley
in Wright biplane on Friday was
said to have led to extreme caution in
the handling of Paragraphs. After
Brindley's return to earth 1t was an
nounced that his record was 11,726
feet. but the celebration test-placing
the instrument under air pressure ov-
er night-brought corrected reading
Of 5,76s feet.
Exhibition flights will be given to-
day by all of the ayiators as a benefit
performance for the widow of St.
Croix tombstone who fell to his death
in Lake Michigan shortly after Will
liam Badger Of Pittsburgh fell and
was killed near the grand stand last
Tuesday.
The grand duration prize, the chief
financial plum of the meet, was won
by G. P. Rodgers of the Wright team.
who was in the air more than twen-
ty-f1ve of the thirty-one and half pos.
sible flying hours. The total prize
was about $4,000. Rodgers will re-
ceive half of this sum and the residue
will be divided among the next high
est duration flights.
C1-r,;xL 49, zlI.e r~,, :,
winner, taking total of nearly s14,
00e.
The twelve-mile speed event for BIZ
planes was won by Eugene Ely in 13
minutes, 17.2 seconds. Lincoln Beach
ey was second in 13 minutes, 356 sec
onds.
The fastest mile and third lap for
the week was made by Earle Ovington
In one minute and 90 seconds.
The 12-miie open event yesterday
was won by Ovington in IL minutes,
2S.2 seconds. Rene Simon was second
In IL minutes, 56.4 seconds.
Promoters of the meet stand to lose
about ss0,000, Although a great sue
cess from flying point of view, the
total receipts We're only s125,000 and
the expenses, it is asserted, will total
more than 100000.
The young Chicago millionaires who
promoted the meet attached their
signatures to 100000 guarantee
fund, and IL is expected they will have
to dig deep into their pockets to make
good the deficit. The promoters are
considering plan Of asking Chicago
business men for subscriptions to help
meet the expenses
The enormous expenses of the meet
include more than sS0,000 offered as
prizes for which the aviators COM
peted and like amount to pay the
army of officials. clerks. attendants
and ushers required to handle the
crowds. Erecting seats for $4,000 per-
sons. advertising, printing and Incl
dentals brought the total up above
5000, 900.
Probably the chief reason why the
receipts were kept down was the fact
that the flights could be witnessed
from Michigan boulevard and the open
space in Grant park. nearly as we'll as
from the grand stands. Another rea-
son was the arrangement of the en-
frances to the course, which COM
PEELED pay-seat holders to travel more
than half a mile from the center OF
the business district, while the free
seats were more accessible.