Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-09
Start Made on 5,400
 Mile Aerial Race
To Be Greatest Endurance and Reliability Contest In History.

MineOla, N. Y, Oct. S.-FOrty seven airplanes piloted, with one exception by American military aviators. started from here today to blaze an aerial trail ,, 400 miles across the continent and return in the greatest speed, endur- ance ard relia bility contest in history while from San Francisco fifteen planes took the air for the east. Five more planes will leave here tomorrow
 At sundown tonight Lieutenant Bel win w. Maynard, a Baptist minister and winner of the recent trip contest between New York and oronto, had landed at Chicago, while several other westbound contestants were resting overnight at Binghamton, Rochester Buffalo, Broyan and Cleveland con- trol stations along the way.
 Eight accidents in which three per sons were killed and one injured had been reported tonight to the head quarters of the American Flying club here. which is cooperating with the army air service in conducting the contest.
 Major D. H. Crissey was killed in stantly and his observer Virgil Thom- as, received injuries from which he later died when the plane in which they had left San Francisco early this morning crashed in attempting to land at Salt Lake City.
 Sergeant ". H, Hewitt died this afternoon of injuries received when a plane in which he and Colonel Gerald Brandt were riding fell to the ground at Deposit, N. Y. Colonel Brandt was reported to be not seriously injured.
 Five forced landings were reported. Lieutenant Ross Kirkpatrick came down at Vernon, N. Y., when his com pass ceased to function. He received permission to return to Mineola and start again tomorrow.
 Lieutenant R. l.. Maughan, who re- ceived permission to fly today from Major General Charles T. Menoher, commanding the army air service, after he had been physically disqualified yesterday by local officials, landed at Glensdale, N. Y., with motor trouble. Lieutenant Willis R. Taylor was com pelled to land at Nicholson, Pa.
 The only foreign entrants in the race, Air Commodore L. E. O. CharI- ton, air attache of the British embas- Sy in Washington, and c Captain De Lavergne, air attache of the French embassy. were elimina ted before they had an opportunity to cross the state boundary.
 Commodore Charlton with Flight Lieutenant P. E. Thraill. as the alter nate pilot of is Bristol fighting plane, forced landing a Ovid, N. Y. Captain wrecked his machine in making a De Laverge, who was flying as a pas senger in q De Haviland machine and its pilot, Lieutenant D. E. Gish were compelled to withdraw from the race when their plane burst into flames and was forced to land at Canadice, N Y
 The only accident on the local field occurred about noon when a plane pi- lo+ed by Captain Maurice Cleary of Everett. Washn., and carrying Bene- dict CroweH, first assistant secretary ot war, as a passenger, crashed to the ground from a height of 100 feet and turned upside down The accident happened while the machine was try i4le eo take of and less than a minute .. 'e9 [ h"d left the ground Neither captain Cleary nor MT. CroweIl were l-,'- "-', e--o right wing of the ma chlhe was smashed and the plane put out of commission