Winner
of the
National Aerial
Sweepstakes, Top,
and Below,
Raymond V. Morris
Who in a
Sensational FLight
Yesterday
Failed by
Nineteen Miles
to Defeat
Brindley
for that
$5000 Trophy
and $1000 Prize
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| SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 1, 1915 |
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Morris Near Death in Fruitless Air Dash VICTOR COVERS 526.2 MILES |
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Winner of the National Aerial Sweepstakes, Top, and Below, Raymond V. Morris Who in a Sensational FLight Yesterday Failed by Nineteen Miles to Defeat Brindley for that $5000 Trophy and $1000 Prize |
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CLOSES WITH SENSATIONAL FLIGHT THROUGH FOG By HOWARD E. MORIN November 1, 1915 Brindley covered in his flight last Wednesday 554 miles, but his corrected mileage through being penalized by flying over a broken course was 526.2 miles. The corrected mileage of Morris was 507.8 miles. No more dare-devil flying probably was witnessed in this country than the wonderful exhibition given by Morris yesterday. For minutes at a time he plunged through fog banks at 65 miles an hour although he could see barely 50 feet ahead. Twice he had a miraculous escape from death, once when he plunged into the sea, and was buffeted about like a cork in the breakers, and once, when in turning at the control station at San Juan Capistrano point he missed hitting the headlands by scarcely three feet when he became confused in his course by the thick fog. The most heartbreaking incident of the day's flight came at sunset, when with just twenty-four more miles to go to win and while speeding at 70 miles an hour with the wind at his back, the sun sank behind the western horizon. Under the rules of the contest, the winner must make five more miles than the next nearest contestant, while the contest closed at sunset on October 31. Fog Dash Perilous Morris, carrying James Johnson as passenger, ascended from the control station at North Island at 7:30 o'clock and for ten minutes circled over the bay to gain altitude and to warm up the powerful 100 horsepower engine. He crossed the starting point line at exactly 7:40 o'clock and sped out to sea at a mile a minute clip. He made the first lap between Capistrano and the North Island control station in 2 hours and 8 minutes. Cutting a sharp circle Morris, without stopping for fuel, again struck across North Island for the sea. In returning from Capistrano on his second lap and while several miles north of La Jolla, engine trouble developed compelling Morris to volplane quickly to the surface of the ocean. He landed just inside the line of breakers and when the frail car and water craft began to rock and pitch, Johnson, the passenger, became seasick, necessitating Morris leaving the control wheel and repairing the engine himself. He lost nearly half an hour and did not descend at the North Island control station for fuel until 12:15 p.m. He lost forty more minutes there taking on water, gasoline and overhauling the motor. Morris by this time realized that he would have to drive hard to beat Brindley, and, throwing caution to the winds, he opened the throttle wide. Plunging through the now fast gathering fog sweeping in from seaward, Morris flew up the coast at an altitude of less than 400 feet, taking a chance on his motor's working perfectly. Off La Jolla the fog banks completely obscured him, and it was only when nearing Capistrano that he caught a glimpse of a familiar spot on shore to guide him. Again the fog closed in and when Morris turned at Capistrano, at what he thought a safe angle, he sighted land just in time to twist the wheel and escape plunging, headon into a high embankment. Instead of being unnerved by this narrow escape, Morris struck out............ |
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Brindley Sets Seaplane Record, 1915 If time permits, you should take advantage of the opportunity to become acquainted with this very helpful website. |
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