New-York tribune., 1919-10-09
Three Killed
In Air Flight
Over Continent
Continued from page |

modore L. E. o. Charlton. who was to
have been the first starter. was delayed
by minor fault, and was the tenth to
get away. He was flying a Bristol
fighter equipped with a Rolls-Royce
motor
During the first hour thirteen ma
chimes took off for the 5400-mile race
across the continent and pack. On two
occasions during the day the contestants
were sent off with such rapidity that
four Of them were in the air close to-
gether, with only few seconds separat-
ing them.
The most spectacular start of the day
was that OF Lieutenant D. B. Gish. who
carried the French air attache. Captain
De La Vergne. as observer crowd of
women surged about the De Haviland-4 4
which Gish is plotting, and pinned stock
ings, gloves, handkerchiefs and other
talismans on the clothing OF the two
airmen.
Just before the start Miss Claire
Ogden. Miss Dorothy Ogden pnd Miss
Ellen Embury. of New Rochelle. flung
their arms around the neck OF the as
tonished French officer and kissed him
hear lily He then Chamber d into the
mchlne and took off without further ado
Three minutes before noon the phan-
tom ship OF the ,r-ce appeared over the
field glided down untils its wheels
touched The ground and then took off
Immediately upon the course Of the race
The number of his mysterious machine
was Sc but no such number aprears on
the official list. The starters, however.
carefully noticed the time his wheels
left the ground, and made an official
note Of the departure.
Sec u'c~at Rarnoc " Cites
acted - official tmekeeper for the armv
and Cole j. Younger performed he same
function for the American Flying Club.
which is officially reporting the race for
the United States Air Service
Nne Ali american Plane
The only thoroughly American de-
signed, constructed and engined shin
left the feld at 1868 O'Clock. To.s
was the twln-engine Martin bomber p-
loted by Captain Roy N Francis. who
has been flying since 1903. The giant
ship carries crew of five men. and is
equipped with two Liberty motors with
an aggregate of 500 horsepower
Captain Francis declared before the
start that ne expected - make the
flight 70 San Francisco IN four days,
ard hoped TO land at the Western ter
minus of the race or Saturday next.
Throughout the dey the band Of the
Twenty-second Infantry played popular
airs. Al eleven o'clock We torday morn
ing General William Mitchell Of the
!. S Air Service took off in an SF-5
and for thirty minutes entertained .he
crowd Win a series o. wonderful stunt
flying. IN the afternoon Captain Field
hindley the secoud ranking American
ace performed aerial stunts.
Purpose of Race Explained
Immediately after landing General
Mitchell, speaking OF the race. said
at IS really a mannuvre to see Ac.s
rapidly We can organize aerodromos
across the continent, TO ird out how
quickly We can get 4 servicable mete-
orolog cal system OF reports organized
Tor such service, 10 ascertain how the
supply department viii function IN sup
plying fields and how far we can rely
on civi. cooperation in preparing the
fields.
There Is one important fact that
used in this race consists Of machines
desigr ed for military operations on
the Western front That is for short
distance work. They are now Aying
across the continent.
During this 4 ght they viii have to
sy Tor four hundred miles over country
,rat les al a mean attitude Of SIX thou
sand feet above sea level. This will
give Us important data upon the per
formances of the different types under
those conditions.
IL is all being done with the idea Of
seeing how quickly we can shift our