Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-18
MAYNARD CUTS
MANY MILES BY
CROSSING LAKE
Leaves Chicago Determined to
Make His Objective, Bryan,
o. Disdains Safe
Shore Route.
CONTINUED From Page One.)

Lieutenant Maynard's machine, and
the engine was ready to be trans
: ferred to the parsons" plane when
authorization for the change was
received by Lieutenant Wells, from
Washington. In the meantime. the
mechanics had loosened the motor
in Maynard's machine and the trans
fer was made during the night.
Mechanics Work Fast.
The work Of the mechanics, sent
from Ak-Sar-Ben field to Wahoo to
make the change, is said to be the
fastest that has been accomplished
at any of the flying fields of the
country for similar repairs.
Although it became evident dur
my the early part Of Thursday night
that the transfer OF motors could
be accomplished by early morning,
neither Lieutenant Maynard nor his
mechanic would retire for the night
preparatory to resuming the flight.
They remained at the side of the
plane until the last bolt had been
put into place and then mounted the
craft for the trial flight. Less than
10 minutes time was consumed in
this flight and the plane returned
TO the ground. 1t was filled with
gasoline and oil and the flight for
Omaha started.
The exact time Of leaving the
cornfield at Wahoo, for the trip to
Omaha was not secured, but it is
believed that it was not earlier than
/ $50 q. M, thus making the time
from that place to Omaha, dis
lance of 40 miles, but Is minutes.
Flight Is Remarkable.
At Ak-Sar-Ben field, Lieutenant
, Maynard regarded his accident OF
yesterday philosophcally and re-
marked "that like a ball game, a
race is not over until the last plane
has landed. His exceptional REC
ord flight from San Francisco to
Sidney. Neb., through the severest
kind OF weather and flying condi-
tons. is regarded as remarkable by
the War department and for that
reason the rules of the contest were
stretched, in the transfer of motors,
10 permit the premier transconti-
mental flyer to continue in the race.
In view of his forced landing
Thursday and his being out Of the
race temporarily. two other east
bound pilots, Lieutenants Donald
son and Pearson. started their trips
carly yesterday in an attempt to
ovcrtakc and wrest the honor of
leading the entrants in the cross
country derby fight.
Major Spatz Withdraws.
Advices from Buffalo yesterday
stated that Maj. Carl Spatz, who is
returning to San Francisco from
Mineola, had withdrawn from the
race and had turned his plane over
10 Capt. Lowell H. Smith who will
make the return trip in i. Captain
Snaith was the second OF the trans
continental flyers to arrive in Oma-
ha after the start Of the derby. He
was bound for Mineola. Due to un-
favorable weather and minor ac-
eident he was forced out Of the lead
ot the eastbound flyers and arrived
at Mineola in third place. Major
Spatz was the first of the eastbouad
aviators to land at Hazelhurst field.
On the return trip Captain Smith
got as far as Buffalo. where the
wings of his plane were destroyed
by 1 FIRE from lantern which had
heen placed on the plane to prevent
its being run into. The refusal OF
the War department to permit him
to make change put hin-out OF
the race, but later ruling, issued
Yesterday. following the accident to
Lieutenant Maynard and the per
mission for him to change the mo-
tor of his plane permitted the re-
.ntry of Captain Smith.
On the arrival of Major Spatz in
Buffalo yesterday, he found Cap.
tain Smith, ready to continue his
aight, but without plane. Major
Spatz then volunteered to withdraw
from the race and permit Captain
Smith to use his plane. The pro.
aosal was communicated to WASH
ington and was accepted, Captain
Smith leaving a short time after for
Cleveland, 0.
1t. E. c. Kiel. second racer to
taud at Mincola, hoped off yester-
day on his return trip to San Fran
cisco and should reach Omaha to-
day.
The flyers from the west. return
ing to Mineola, so far on the return
trip have been meeting with much
more favorable flying conditions
than the westbound flyers and con-
sequently have made better show
ing to date than the west-bound pi-
lots in the second leg Of the $500
mile flight.