New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-15
M|SHAPS MAR AIR MEET
One Machine Burned and Another
Sinks in Lake Michigan.
AVIAT0RS ARE INJURED
Hammond Dives Into Water from
Falling Aeroplane and Swims
Half q Mile.

Chicago. Aug IA series OF acctqente
anv NJ which might have proved fatal kept
the audience at the third day OF the inter-
national aviation meet here on tptoe OF
excitement all the afternoon. Two ma
chimes swooped into Lake Michigan. whence
their drivers, Rene Simon and Lee HAM
monG. were rescued by motor boats, calm
and collected. Hammond's machine was
not recovered.
Earle Ovington. driving new biplane'
grazed too close to one OF the pylones MARI
ing the end Of the course; one plane OF mis-
machine was wrecked. and the plpiane
started to fall. BY sticking to the car
however, Ovington managed to force MS
engine into action and the biplane giideh
to the ground. Ovngton was unn)ured'
but II was necessary TO add new plane 10
his machine.
J. A u. McCurIy. flying near the ground
approached too near the clubhouse OF the
Chicago Yacht Club The planes on MS
car struck number Of high voltage cleo
trio wires running to the clubhouse. and IN
a minute the canvas and oil covered wood
Of the planes We're on fire.
McCurdy leaped out and reached the
ground uninjured The plane fell few
feet further but too late for the fire TO be
extinsuished, and the aeroplane was con-
sumed
The wires cut by the plane trailed. dang
ling over the free seats, in which twenty
thousand persons were seated. The wires
were surrounded by a Gordon Of police and
guarded until electricians could repair the
damage and insure safety In the seats.
Simon Falls Into Lake.
Simons mishap in the water was more
sensational. although possibly less serious
than McCurdy's. The French aviator had
trouble during most OF the afternoon, the
engine on his biplane working badly. While
flying over the water a mile from shore the
engine stopped and the plane glided Into
the lake 1t remained upright, the broad
planes holding all but the lower wheels out
OF the water.
Simon. carrying an inflated automobile
tire for a life preserver, as do all the avn
ators, was In no immediate danger, and
when aid was offered from the hydro-aero-
plane which had been hying near he re-
fused TO leave his machine. With the aid
OF the hydro-aeroplane Simon's plane was
started and left the water successfully.
minute later IL fell again, this time over
turning Guards IN a motor boat who
rushed to rescue Simon found him perched
on the remains Of his plane, cheerfully
smoking. He was taken to shore In the
motor boat and the aeropiane was lowed
In.
Lee Hammond fell nearly three hundred
T. L., i- 81 I'D high dive q the
machine reached the water and swan for
half a mile 10 meet the rescuing motor
boat. The plane floated a few minutes and
then sank in one hundred feet of water.
Divers and tugs with graphing hooks have
been unable to recover IT, and II Is believed
IL cannot be brought to the surface. The
motor boat was more than a mile away
when Hammond's engine stopped and he
diyed into the lake. With the aid OF his
inflated automobile tire Hammond easily
kept ahoat until he reached the boat.
Perfect Weather for Meet.
The weather to-day was the best since
the opening Of the meet. With the hope
of meeting Harry Atwood who was known
70 he fying here from St. Louis, more than
the usual number Of machines went into
the air. and at one time more than score
could be counted lowering within sight OF
the judges stand
Both Oscar A. Brindley and Walter
Beatty went after the altitude record for
the day and remained out OF sight most OF
the afternoon. When the meet closed
Brindley could be seen high in the clouds.
He did not descend until il became 50 dark
IL became necessary to build bonfres TO
light the way.
Long after dark last night Brndley
slid quietly out Of the clouds and alighted
near the string Of campfire signals winch
blazed across the grounds. Brindiey for
two hours and a half had been maneuvring
seven thousand feet above the earth, much
of the time being out Of sight. When he
alishted from his bplane he said he was
neither tired. scared nor did he feel Ill from
his experience. He said he had been play
ing up in the clouds.
The following were the results in the
third days events at the international
aviation meet mere:
Earl ovington, 70 mile speed contest for mono
planes time 1881 Rene Simon, second, 1889;
Thomas Sopwith. third, 1894.
Fastest lap in monoplane race, one and one
third miles made BY Earle ovington; 1:o7 -
starting event-John j Frisble, first, left the
Garth in SIS IT, in Andrew Drew. second. OIL
It.; j. c. Turpin third. 81 # in.
Fourteen-miie 'cross-water event for mono
planes and biplanss-rhomas sopwith. nrst
Duration-Iames Ward. unoricial. 500. said
20 have travelled 200 miles.