Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-27
vtDR|NE WINS
MADRID
AERIAL FLIGHT
Aviator Showered
With Roses and Kisses by
Spanish Women When He
Arrived at Capital Today.

Madrid, May 26.-Pierre Vedrine,
the French aviator, arrived at the
Spanish capital from Burgos at 500
o'clock this morning, being the first
contestant to complete the third stage
of the Paris-to- Madrid aviation race.
He covered the distance Of 40 miles
between Madrid and Burgos, where he
landed yesterday from st. Sebastian,
in two hours and forty minutes. Gill
bert and Garros are still stalled in the
mountains and it is not probable they
will be able to finish within the time
limit. Vedrine on landing at the Getafe
aerodome, jumped from his aeroplane
and flung himself on the ground to
rest a frantic crowd soon rtshed up.
however, and bore the aviator on their
shoulders to the tribunal. On reaching
the Judges platform he was. showered
with roses and kissed repeatedly by
women.
Later, on complaining that he was
still numb from his flight, he was re-
moved to an infrmary, where he re-
ceived medical attention and short,
but much needed rest. On reappearing
at the aerodome, the Frenchman smil-
ingly delivered the messages which he
had brought with him from Paris and
was congratulated on his magnificent
flight by the civil governor of Madrid
on behalf of King Alfonso.
Flies over Mountain crags.
Vedrine left the suburbs of Burgo.
sin in ideal weather and few over
Aranda de Duero, forty-eight miles
south of Burgos, at a good height and
great speed.
At Bocequillas, where the airman
was greeted by great crowd Of wild
ly shouting peasants, Vedrine buckled
down to the task of crossing the
dreaded Somosierra pass, which is
1900 feet high. Higher and higher he
climbed until he had attained an alti-
tude of $500 feet The aviator then,
straight as an arrow, flew over the
crags and snow-capped peaks until he
reached the immense plains Of San
Augustine. Having left the mountain
range behing him, Vedrine dropped
closer to the earth and finally reached
the aerodome at Getafe, where he
alighted with the greatest ease. amid
the plaudits OF thousands OF enthusiast
tic spectators.
The Paris-to-Madrid race was begun
May 81 under the auspices of the Petit
Parisien, which offered prize Of $780,
O00.. In addition the Spanish aero
club gave prizes amounting to $4,000
and King Alfonso offered special
prize for the fastest speed over the
Spanish section. The journey was
divided into three stages, Paris to
Angouleme, Angouleme to ST. Sebas-
tian, and st. Sebastian to Madrid. a
total distance Of about 600 miles.
Twenty machines were entered for
the race, but as a result Of the tragic
accident when the start was made
from the Issy Les Moulineaux avia-
tion field, which resulted in the death
Of M. Berteaux, the French minister OF
war, and the serious injury to Premier
Monis, all but three of the aviators
withdrew. OF these Pierre Vedrine,
who reached the Spanish capital this
morning, was the favorite.
He covered the first stage Of the
contest, z79 miles, in three hours and
thirty-nine minutes, breaking all rec
ords for a long-distance country
flight. On the second stage, between
Angouleme and St. Sebastian, vedine
had narrow escape from death. One
OF the planes OF his machine grazed
the peak Of huge rock, near the
Spanish town of Fuenterrabia. AL
though the plane was bent, Vedine
continued his flight and finally reached
st. Sebastian. The distance Of the
second leg of the contest was 200
miles. The third stage Of the journey
st. Sebastian to Madrid, was the most
difficult OF the entire flight. The 266
miles of the route was almost entire
Iy over desolate ranges, the crags
varying from 1900 to 5000 feet In
heighth. A fall meant certain death
and it was practically impossible to
make fresh start in the mountainous
country.