Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-14
AVIATORS RACE OYER CHICAGO
International Contest Begins for
Eighty Thousand in Prizes.
EVERY MAN PAID FOR EFFORT
Rules Give Minimum of Two Dollars
Minute for All Time He IL In
the Air in Daily
Flights,

CHICAGO. Aug. ia series of accidents
that put three aeroplanes out Of commits
sion without injuring their drivers, to-
gether with a downcast sky that threat
ened to develop into a downpour at any
minute, did not serve to mar the success
of the opening of the International Avia-
ton meet here today.
While no records were broken, the num-
Der OF aviators participating and the total
time spent in the air exceeded the antici-
patton even of the flyers.
Arthur B. Stone and his mechanic, in a
Queen monoplane, suffered the most serious
accident, their fall resembling that In which
Moisant met his death. The men had risen
to a height of forty-five feet when q sud-
den gust of wind struck the car, and, as
Stone attempted a sharp turn, the airshep
overturned. Both men fell under the aero
plane, but missed the engine and escaped
practically unhurt.
Almost Immediately afterward Frank G.
Coffin, by an earthward sweep, struck the
monoplane in Which Rene Simon was ris-
ing, disabling Simonls car so 1t could not
be used.
The machines driven by st. Croix john
stone, James Y. Martin and Captain PAU
w. Beck also sustained Injuries while
alighting In no case was the aviator hurt
Incomplete arrangements for handling
the aviators and lack OF preparation for
events necessitated doing away with the
program and only part OF the listed
events took place. Instead the aViators
started at once after endurance and alti-
tude marks, attracted by the 81 offered for
each minute of sustained flight
Earl I. Ovington was the winner in the
chief events that were started. In his
monoplane he defeated Thomas Sopwith In
the twenty-mile monoplane race, making
the fifteen laps in g minutes and Is sec
onds. Sopwith ended the race in six sec
onds greater elapsed time. Simon ana
Stone both were entrants in this event, but
were prevented by accidents from starting.
Ovington also won the fourteen-mile race
across water, the course being two trips
from the judges stand around crib,
three and one-half miles out in Lake Michi-
gan. Ovington completed the course in
II minutes and 10 seconds. Sopwith again
was second with II minutes and 20 sec
onds, Stone, who had obtained another
machine, being third in 10 minutes and 30
seconds ]. ]. Frisble entered protest
to the decision, having been called down
by the frantic signals of judge, who
had been told the race had ended.
Unofficial estimates gave both the alti-
tude and endurance contest to w. G.
Beatty. Owing to the confusion Of cars,
the judges were unable to keep track of
the identity or starting time and at a late
hour had been unable to figure the official
winners of either.
Unofficial timers recorded Beatty as hav-
ing been in the air two hours and forty
five minutes and having an altitude of
$500 feet.
A. L. Welsh was second with a total
time OF two hours and three minutes;
C. P. Rodgers was fourth, remaining in
the air two hours and one minute.
1t was reported among the aviators to-
night that Lincoln Beachey probably would
be disciplined for violation of the associa-
TONS rules prohibiting taking unnecessary
risks. Twice Beachey descended from high
attitudes in sharp spirals that brought tho
occupants of the grandstands to their feet
At one time his car stood nearly perpen-
dicular and 1t was feared he would be un'
able to recover.
He also had narrow escapes In the gen
eral speed contests when he made a score
Of trips around the course driving not more
than ten feet above the ground.
Repeatedly IL was thought the planei
had caught on the ground. but each time
the car rose in safety.
1t was after midnight when the judgeI
finally completed their conference and an
nounced the official results of the five
events on the afternoon flying program
At that hour the officials announced tina
both A. l.. Welsh and w. @. Beatty had
broken the American record for elapsed
time in the air while carrying one passen