Evening star., 1911-08-13
Escape Serious Injury When
Their Machines Fall.
MANY FLIERS AT CHICAGO
Opening Of International Meet De.
clared q Success.
NO RECORDS ARE BROKEN
But Unusual Number of Entrants
Adds Interest to the Sport.
Weather Unfavorable.

CHICAGO. August ia series of
accidents that put three acroplanes out
of business without injuring their
drivers. together with downcast sky.
that threatened to develop into a
downpour at any minute. did not serve
to mar the success of the first day of
the International aviation meet today.
While no records either for height,
speed or endurance were broken. the
number Of aviators participating and
the total time spent in the air exceed
ed the anticipations even Of the fliers.
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
They had risen to a height OF forty
five feet. when a sudden gust Of wind
struck the machine. and when Stone
attempted a sharp turn, it overturned
Both fell under the car. but fell clear
Of the engine and escaped without in
jury.
Strikes Rising Car.
Almost Immediately afterward Frank
c. Coffyn. by an earthward swoop struck
the monoplane in which Rene Simon was
rising, disabling Simons car so that 1t
could not be used
The machines driven by ST. Croix John
| stone James V. Martin and Capt Paul
w. Beck also sustained injuries while
lighting. 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
| started after endurance and altitude
marks attracted by the 81 offered for
| each minute of sustained flight.
Ovington the Winner.
Earl L. Ovington was the winner in the
two chief events that were started. In
his monoplane he defeated Thomas Sop
| with in the twenty-mile monoplane race
| making the fifteen laps in 23.51. Sopwitf
ended the race in six seconds greater
elapsed time Simon and Stone botf
were entrants in this event, but were pre-
| vented by accidents.
Ovington also won the .fourteen-mils
race across water, the course being two
trips from the judges stand around a
crib in the lake. OvingtOn completed the
course In 17.13. Sopwith again was sec
Ond with 11.20, Stone, who had obtained
another machine. being third with 1890
J. ]. Frisbie entered a protest to the de-
cision, having been called down by the
frantic signals of a Judge who had been
told the race had ended.
Judges Unable to Agree.
The judges were unable to announce the
official results of today's events up to a
late hour tonight. conference was
held, but even then, the judges say. they
were unable to agree.
Unofficial estimates gave both the alti
tude and endurance contests to W. G.
Beatty. Owing to the confusion of cars
the judges were unable to keep track OF
their identity or starting time, and at q
late hour had been unable to figure the
official winners OF either. Unofficia
timers recorded Beatty as having beer
in the air two hours and forty-five min
utes, and having reached an altitude OF
1900 feet. A. l.. Welsh was second. with
total time Of two hours and three min
utes. C. P. Rodgers was third, remain
| ing in the air two hours and one minute