The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-29
BIG AIR RACE ON.
Aeroplane Flight From Paris to
Turin Is Started.
Twelve Out of 81 Competitors
Got Away Early.
GARROS In THE LEAD.
Two Complete the First Stage Of
the Journey.
OthersD Descend atVarious Points
Along the Route.

Paris. May 2e.-Profftfng by the les
sons of last weeks catastrophe, when,
at the start of the Paris to Madrid
race, NJ. Berteaux, the minister of
war, was killed and Premier Monis
badly injured, the organizers of the
second great air contest. from Paris to
Turin, sent the competitors away with
record speed and precision Sunday.
Not the slightest miRhap marred
the occasion. The new minister of
war, General Goiron Antoine Monis.
son of the premier, who was slightly
injured in the accident a week ago,
the italian ambassador, Sfgnor Tittoni,
and several high officials were allowed
on the field, but were kept well behind
the starting, line.
The weather was perfect Twelve
out of twenty-one competitors were
out for the start when the signal bomb
was fired at 6 o'clock this morning.
The machines were sent off in rapid
succession, ten leaving within few
minutes and the entire number being
away by o'clock.
The other nine entrants, including
Pierre Vedrine. the F-enchman who
won the Paris to Madrid race. will
start today or Tuesday.
ne IlTSl TO cross the line was RO-
land GarroS, who, after making many
plucky efforts to finish in the Paris to
Madrid flight, was forced by mishaps
to abandon the race. Garros drove a
monoplane. He was followed by
Andre Beaumont, who rapidly over
took Garros and arrived first at Dijon,
the initial recording station of the long
journey.
The two continued in the same or
der, reporting at Lyons and finally
landing at Avignon. They covered the
645 lkilometers (401 miles) from the
aerodrome, n short distance outside
Paris, to Avignon, in g hours and As
minutes. and 13 hours and 81 minutes,
respectively, and decided to spend the
night there. They planned to to fin
ish the other 220 kilometers of the
first stage of the fight to Nice this
m orning. a total distance of S65 kilo-
meters, or SIS miles.
The other competitors, early in the
journey. were the victims of mishaps,
but nothing more serious than 1.-The
them, Henri Molla, representing
France. and the German aviator. Frey.
had got as far as Dijon up to o'clock
in the evening.
The American, Henry Weymann,
was particularly unluckv. After two
stops because of engine trouble, he
was forced to make a landing in q field
near Troyes. The propeller of his ma
chine was twisted and part of th0
frame broken, but he himself was not
hurt.
The race was organized by the Paris
Petit Parisien and the prizes aggregate
more than 100000. The second stage
of the journey is from Nice to Rome.
the recording stations being Genoa and
Pisa, and the third stage Is from Rome
to Turin. the official stopping places
being Florence and Bologna.
The total distance is a little more
than 1900 miles and the competitors
have until June Is to accomplish the
distance.
All Having Trouble.
Avignon, France, May ga series
of slight accidents impeded the progress
of the airmen competing in the Paris
Rome-Turin fight which was begun
yesterday just outside the French capf-
tai. Practically all OF the aviators are
repairing their machines and are keen
ing in the contest
Rolane Garros and Andre Beaumont,
| who were first and second respectively,
| to cross the starting line yesterday and
who arrived here last night continued
their fight today from this city to
Nice, the end of the first stage. burt
| both men met with motor trouble. Gar
ros was forced to land a short distance
| from Avignon and Beaumont came
| down at BrignoleS.