Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-11-04
c. B. Coombs Second in Big
Race; Lieut. Macready,
Third-Winning Time
50 Minutes.
INTREPID PILOTS DEFY
DANGER, THRILL CROWDS
Injured Aviator, Brought 10
Omaha Hospital, Suffers
Dislocated Hip-Ex.
pected to Recover.

Every element of thrill that posi-
bly, could be expected in an avia-
ton meet - tragic death, plane
crashes, dare-deviltry and superspeed
was furnished the 10000 spectators
who witnessed the frst-day program
of the International Aero congress
at Omaha field yesterday afternoon.
Harry Eibe, rs, 4 parachute jumper
for the Floyd Smith Aerial Equip
ment company of Chicago, was
drowned In the Missouri river as
scores stood on the bank, helpless
to aid him.
Capt. H. E. Hartney Of New York,
executive secretary of the Aero Club
of America, was injured dangerously
when his Thomas Morse monoplane
crashed near Loveland soon after
he had started in the Pulitzer Trophy
race.
Bert Acosta, interpid Italian avi-
ator, piloted his 4O0-horse power
Curtiss navy biplane to victory in
the 150-mile Pulitzer Trophy race at
a speed that flirted dangerously with
the three mile "a minute figure, win
ming over a field of the fastest aircraft
ever built.
Acosta's time for the $50 miles
was 81 minutes, 90 seconds, and his
average speed was 1867 miles per
hour.
Clarence B. Coombs, plotting the
Cactus Kitten" triplane, owned by
S. E. J. Cox of Houston, Tex, was
second in 54 minutes, 7.6 seconds,
making an average speed of 170.2s
miles an hour.
Lieut.. ]. A. Macready. in
Thosaas- Morse bipiane, piloted his
craft into third place with 81 min
utes, 20.6 seconds as his time. His
average speed was 160.7l miles an
hour
Four in Finish.
Lloyd Bertaud, flying the Balilla
biplane, "Whistling Billy" drove.
spectacular race, but was fourth in
l hour, minute, $40 seconds, with
speed average of 1923 miles an hour.
Engine trouble forced Jimmie Cur
ran in S. V. A. to quit after the Sec
ond lap after he had been out
distanced badly by the other con-
testants.
The S. " A. Ansa1do nlotored
plane owned by c. B. Wrightsman
of Tulsa, Okl., was Withdrawn from
the event when its pilot, E. F.
Wright, announced serious engine
trouble had developed after his flight
to Omaha from Kansas City.
Acosta Drives to Victory.
Acosta drove a masterful race in
the little gray biplane, his lap record
showing a variation in running time
of less than Is seconds. From his
hop-off the Italian had the air steed
under perfect control. When Starte4:
H. F. Wehrlcy gave. him the red and
white flags he TAXED but short dis
tance before he went into the air. He
circled but once and crossed the
starting line for his l50-mile dash a
little less than a minute after he had
received the starters signal.
Flying less than 500 feet Up he
came past the starting pylon on the
first lap in 10 minutes, 81 seconds.
He took the turns easily and with
out extreme banking Of his plane.
His motor hummed along perfectly.
but it was noticed one OF the wings
appeared slightly unsteady. Later
it developed a wire had snapped as
he made his first turn at Calhoun.
From the first lap on, it was ap-
parent Acosta had hit his stride, for
he reeled off the succeeding laps in
clock-like style. the timers showing
the second in 1924; third, 1924;
fourth, 1926 and the fifth in 1923.
Cactus Kitten" Wild.
After the first lap the race lay be-
tween the Italian and Coombs in the
Cactus Kitten" but Coombs was
flying wild and wide. He was burn-
ing time and gasoline on wide turns
about the pylons and held to the
outer edge of the. course throughout
the flight. After the race the Texas
pilot offered the information that he
believed the craft was performing
better and faster than if he had tried
to pull it down to closer turns.
'The boat was wild and L let 1t
(Turn to Page Two. Column One.)