Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-10
WEST and
meet
IN DERBY
Captain Smith Pilots First
Ship From Frisco to Reach
This City-Two Other Planes
Held at st. Paul by Darkness.
"FLYlNG PARSON" LEADS
EASTERN GROUP HERE

FLYING PARSUN1 LEAUS
EASTERN GROUP HERE:
Maynard Drives First Ship
From Mineola to Omaha and
Spends Night at Cheyenne
North Platte Meeting Place.
Capt. Lowell H. Smith, pilot. and
Lieut.. F. w. Ruggles, observer,
plotting "Bluebird," plane No. So Of
the western group Of entrants in the
War departments transcontinental
air derby arrived at Ak-Sar-Ben
field at 7:20:45 last night. The men
were the first. representing the u
planes that left Mather field at San
Francisco Wednesday morning, to
arrive ir Omaha on their eastern
trip.
Earlier in the day Lieut.. Belvin w.
Maynard, who is leading the eastern
group Of So planes on their westward
journey, arrived in Omaha. He re-
mained at Ak-Sar-Ben field about IS
minutes and resumed his journey
westward, arriving in Cheyenne
shortly before sunset, where he
spent the night.
Captain Smith covered the dis
tance from Salt Lake City to Omaha
in one days flying. His elapsed fly.
ing time from Sidney to Omaha, the
former being his first stop in the
state, distance of 362 miles, was
three hours and six minutes. The
distance from Salt Lake City to
Omaha By air route is ol2 miles. i
May Be DISQUALIFIED
Despite the fact that Captain
Smith wa. the first of the western
flyers to reach Omaha, it was re-
garded last night as problematicai
whether he would be permitted to
continue in the race as a contestants
because he arrived at the Om&ita
field after sundown, matter which
local officials say is strictly pro-
hibited, in the interest Of safety, by
the rules governing the contest He
arrived here rs minutes after the
time given by the weather forecaster
as sunset.
Whether Captain Smith will hass
to share the blame alone or>whether
the air service officer in charge Of
the control station at St. Paul will
be penalized for permitting him %
Start for Omaha is matter of con-
lecture and probably will not BE-
definitely settled until word is re-
ceived from Washington. If word is
not received by 7:30 this morning
Captain Smith plans to continue his
journey eastward.
Lands in Darkness.
1t was nearly dark as the huge
blue plane swooped down on Ak
Sar-Bcn'held. Lieut.. H. R. Wells. air
control pilot in Omaha, had not re-
ceived word from ST. Paul of the
starting Of Captain Smith and was
preparing to return to the city when
the wEirr of the plane announced It's
arrival. The field practically was i1-
distingaishable, but before. flares
could be placed the pilot had accom-
pilshed a landing.
Shortly after his arrival numerous
reports were received from different
parts of the city that another plane
was heard. Several hundreds of gall
Ions of gasoline was poured on the
landing field to locate it in case
there was another machine in the
air. Flares were shot into the air,
and all manner of signals were
shown for more than an hour, but
no landing was made by another
plane.
According to reports received
here, no other planes were expected
during the night from either the
east sor west.
Taken to Athletic Club.
Both Captain Smith and his OBJ
server were severely chilled by the
time they had landed and, after q
light lunch at the field, were taken
to the Omaha Athletic club, where
they spent the night.
In winging their way across the
continent from Salt Lake City'
yesterday. the two men encountered
three severe snowstorms that seri-
eusly impeded their travel. Near
Rawlins. Wyo., they were forced to
fly within 100 feet Of the ground n
order to escape the heavy snow.
which was falling.
At North Platte, late Yesterday
afternoon, the men encountered
Lieut.. Maynard, the flying .parsor:v
who had stopped in Omaha earlier
in the day. The pilots of the two
planes, the pathhnders for tteis
brother pilots; exchanged greetinRs
at that place, and both hoped off 10
continue their respective journeys
after the few words of greetings. 3
Maynard in Lead. y
II was officially announced last
night that Lieut.. Maynard, who il
the first westward pilot 10 reach
this section of the country. had
travelled the longest distance during
the two flying days. leading his
nearest competitors. Captain Smith
and Ruggles, by l43 miles.
Lieut. Maynard. according TO the
CONTINUED on race -Four. CoIupA -