The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-18
Lieutenant Maynard Is Victor
in Army Air Race.
Lands at MineOIa at 1885,
O'clock This Afternoon.
GREAT AVIATION ENDURANCE
No Other Test in History
Equals This Big Feat.
Other Flyers Are Trailing "Sky
Pilot" Across Nation.

| Mineola, N. Y, Oct. 49,
Lieut.. Belvin w. Maynard, victor
in the arny's air race across the
continent and return, the great
est aviation endurance test of
history, landed here at 1.5O p. m.
Lieutenant Maynard flew the 142
miles of the last stage in his great
flight from ocean to ocean and return,
at a speed of nearly two miles
minute.
Maynard Was Modest.
The first words uttered by Lieuten-
ant Maynard when he put his foot on
Mother Earth again We're a generous
tribute to Sergt. w. E. Klein, his COM
panion on the flight.
Sergeant Klein deserves the great
est credit" said the lieutenant
ut is all up to the lieutenant"
promptly retorted the sergeant. He
is the greatest pilot on EARTH
Great Shouts Greet Winner
| Great shouts greeted the preacher
! aviator when his plane appeared over
the field and spirs1ed toward the
ground.
Mrs. Maynard, with her two chill
| dren, waited at the edge of the group
around the landing field.
AS the big plane came to earth she,
with the little ones. rushed toward it,
! escorted by two officers. Each child
carried a big red apple for daddy
Maynard turned to his wife imme-
! diately when he stepped from his seat.
| He threw his arms about her and they
| embraced and kissed each other sew
| era1 times.
The children clamored for their IA
! theirs attention and seized his legs.
! He picked up each little one and
| planted a resounding kiss its lips.
Tox- a,-1 ~
| happy and as her husband took her
in his arms she said:
knew you'd do it.
Photographers and scores of other
persons then besieged the flying par
son. He was slapped on the back and
his hand was pumped by every one
! in reaching distance.
! Movie cameras then began to click
and the flyer and his little family were
compelled to pose repeatedly.
Victors Wore Wide Grins
The cheering was resumed when the
movie men had had their inning.
| Shouts of Alta boy" and "Oh, you
Maynard" came from the crowd.
The spectators strus ed to get close
to the victorious pilots, hundreds surg
! ing toward the center of the field.
| Sergt. w. E. Kline, Maynard's mech
| anician, also came in for a warm re-
| ception. He also had to submit to
/ the back-pounding and hand shaking
of the crowd.
Both aviators took their reception
modestly. Each wore a wide grin.
His Plane Was Smoking.
| Maynard's De Haviland-4 was
smoking, as it appeared above the
| field. Experts expressed the belief
| that the pilot had about exhausted his
oil supply.
He approached the field at high
! speed and after two sharp spiral banks
made a perfect landing The crowd
| hroa u in br1 10 o11a r6S ha
plane as it TAXED down the field.
! They were pushed back, however. to
permi tMrs. Maynard and the children
/ to be the first to greet the flyer.
Also Won First Leg of Flight.
Maynard had already won the first
cisco from Mineola ahead of large
field OF contestants last week.
| Lieutenant Maynard left Mineola on
1 the first leg of the transcontinental
flight at 1924 a. m, October s, and
arrived at San Francisco at :27 p. M,
/ October IL, flying time "a hours Sc
minutes 551a seconds.
On the second leg, Maynard left San
| Francisco at 1:19 p. m. october IA
and arrived at Mineola this after
noon.
Nine Killed in Race.
Sixty-three aviators started in the
! race, fifteen from San Francisco, and
the remainder from Mineola- Twenty
seven of these have been forced to
withdraw. Nine of the contestants
| have been killed.
Maynard's nearest rival on the sec
ond leg eastward was Capt. J. o. Dom
| aIdson, last reported en- route from
Chicago to Bryan, Ohio.
| Flying westward on the second leg,
Capt. L. H. Smith was leading. He
| was last reported between Des Moines
and Omaha Both Lieut.. E. c. Kiel
and Lieut. NJ E. Queens were en- route
| from Chicago to Rock Island.
Planes Face Elimination.
San Francisco. Oct 1S.-Thirteen
aviators, the last of the westbound
group in the army air race twice
across the continent, with the first
half of their 5,4O2 mile journey yet
uncompleted, were to resume their
flight today in the hope of reaching
the Golden Gate before sunset. I'm
der the rules. those failing to reach
their western goal today will be barred
from continuing in the race. All with
one possible exception were reported
last night within a days flight of this
city.
All of the arrivals here yesterday
reported severe weather in Nebraska
; and Wyoming.
Chicago Oct. 1S-Plane So, Lieut..
E c. Kiel, arrived from Bryan, o., at
S:42.56.
Rock Island, Oct 1s.-Capt- J. o.
Donaldson left here for Chicago at
| 80 this morning.