The Detroit times., 1913-07-08
Weather At Chicago is Ideal for
the Bird Boats Long
Cruise
SOCIETY FOLK GATHER
TO SEE THE CRAFT OFF
Tour Will Take Seven Days
Numerous Stops Will BE
Made Around Lakes

a CHICAGO, July S.-A light breeze
thai scarcely ruffled the surface OF the
Iaka. cloudless skies and the weather
mans word that "all Is wwell, greet
ed the entrants in the 90o-mile Chicago
to Detroit fiying tests before starting
the long reliability run.
Aero enthusiasts, aeroplane manufac-
turers and designers, and a score OF
sportsmen, who are considering taking
up misunderstanding as u new division
ningled with big crowd of the mere
" curious who gathered along the lake
fro&t to watch the last spins. The
chicago and Columbia Yacht clubs
hoh open house for society folk, VINO
nooaed to witness the start Of the
6Su1se, announced at 1890 p. m. But
,nv6 of the ~ original entries were
acnsduled to start.
Accident that damaged the bird craft
~ Glenn L. Martin and Weldon b.
Cooke at the 18th hour. caused Cooke
TO cancel his entry, and Martin 70
ABILITY to get their craft out Of the
!1ao<ories halted the other entrants.
The ave aviators. scheduled TO start
0nsthe first lap TO Michigan City, Ind,
m;
Tony Janus, flying Benoist; Beck
With Ravens and logan Villas, in
Curtis machines. Walter Johnson, in
= Thomas, and Roy |. Francis, flying a
Patterson.
X Crowds of spectators numbering
aero and hydro-aeroplane enthusiasts
from all over the country gathered at
the Chicago and Columbia Yach clubs
whArves near the start and sent up
s9raat cheer as the bird-boats took the
water. A feet of high powered motor
boats and tugs, filed with aviators and
S0nIcials Of the Illinois Aero club. pre-
ceded the racers TO the starting point.
Lincoln Beachey, noted aviator who
retired from the game several weeks
ago. fired the shot that signaled the
startN
Th6Speedy motor boats. dashing out
Of thS&course to make way for the
were quickly outdis-
tanCed by the latter as they alternate
IL rose from the surface for short
flights and then dipped and sped over
the lake for all the world like flock
OF sea gulls. AS the rear bird-b boats
returned to the water after a short
hight shower of spray would hide for
= moment the leaders.
The race which started today Is the
1rst. reliability race for flying boats
and y brought out the latest designs
In he9 vier-than-air craft that are equal.
- at home In the air and on water.
The prize Is handsome silver troph~
cup but the entrants hope TO reap 9th
er rewards through exhibition events
~ cities along the route. where they
mr. scheduled to check in. Although
the government was not known to
have sent any representatives here TO
watch the boats, they are being watch
% ut long distance. and there is proba-
bility that the war department will
negotiate with the owner OF the boat
that stands the trip best for a hydro
oeroplane for the government.
First place will not OF necessity go
10 the boat which finishes first at De-
.4rott Each -AydEe-aeFepiane- starts
with . score OF 10000 points, and will
ne penalized as are entrants in auto
mobile reliability runs for being late
ut controls, for engine trouble and 9th
or technicalities.
The first OF the fiiers is expected 10
reach Detroit about July Is or II. Only
1Ive days out OF each seven will be
given over TO actual cruising. the re-
mnining days having been set aside
Tor demonstrations and exhibition
work at cities where the official pro-
gram calls for halts In the race. Each
Aydrc-aeroplane carried a "mechini.
chm who can, In the event OF acct.
dent to the pilot, continue the flight.
~ in automobile reliability runs there
Are day controls. noon controls and
H1ght controls where the boats must
hcock. At some OF the ports along the
route no stop will be made, the racers
~ these points will be compelled 10
yino from the water and circle buoy
~ few shundred yards off shore, where
00lclals will be stationed to check
'thom Oh. The route carries the fiers
through Lake Michigan TO Mackinac