The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-26
SWIFT AS BIRD
 FLIES AIR2HlP
 ACROSS CHANNEL
CONTINUED Fl MI FACE ID

(CoNTINUED Fl MI FACE ID l ->-------->--~~---~---~~-~~4- ~~4---->4---
 an automobile to the old Lord Warden l hotel by the pier, from which mail boats I depart. Tn the meantime his wife ar 1 rived on the destroyer She embraced him l weeping, but they were soon sitting at l breakfast. the center of a proud gather ing of French people. The mayor and other Dover officials called early and
 welcomed M. Bleriot in the name of the city and nation as the pioneer of inter- 1 national flight.
 Few Saw the Flight l The townspeople of Dover, who for 1 three weeks have been on the alert for the signals announcing that one of the flying l men had started, were caught mapping. A gale was blowing last night and the
 weather forecasts promised a strong wind l and squalls in the morning. Hence the 1 operators of the sirens on the steamers, which it had been arranged should be blown when the flyer started, were absent from their posts. Only few persons re- I ceived the wireless warning of Blerot' s I ascent
 M. LaF'ontaine, friend of the aviator, arrived at the Lord Warden hotel from l Calais at midnight. He declined a bed room with the remark that he had an ap- l pointment to meet B. Bleriot at ococlS The hotel people thought the mysterious stranger was joking.
 M. LaFontaine came to the signal land l ing, the spot which the newspaper under l whose auspices the flight was made, had l chosen, on the high ground back of the i city, but he selected a cup-shaped de- 1 pression called the North Fall Meadow, 1 two miles east of Dover, where the air ship would be sheltered from the wind in l settling. There he planted the French 1 flag
 1 The sailors on the ships in the har- l Dor were the first to discover that Bleriot was approaching. They heard the buzzng of the motor two or three 1 minutes before they could discern the l aeroplane. Then what looked like d 1 big white butterfly glided over their l heads as fast as a train of cars and with almost as much noise. It reached the cliff near the gray turrets of Dover castle, sweeped around twice in ! broad curves and disappeared. Crowd Around Machine. l It was not long before half the popu- | lation of Dover, dressing as they went, l were rushing toward North Fall meadow. Photographers and cinemato- | graphers were crestfallen because they l had missed the great event for which
  1 first to arrive were two customs of f1cers. Close upon their heels were several police and their services were needed to restrain the curio hunters, who immediately began to pull the ma chine to pieces for souvenirs. Many 1 others, foreseeing that the monoplane ] would be treasured as a historic relic,
 wrote tn cir autographs thereon. The , city officials conceived happy thought
 x.r.4t ] tent about the machine and charged 6 pence admission to view it. The profits from this, of course, will go to the hospital and police pension fund. Parts of the frame work of the mon- oplane were splintered on landing. Every one expressed surprise at its small size. It is no more than 20 feet across the wings and its weight Is about 400 pounds, the motor being 25- horse power. In the same machine Bleriot recently made a cross country trip of 25 miles from Etampes to Or leans. It is the smallest of three he took to Calais. The machine is fitted with an air tight sausage shaped rub Der bag so that 1t would float If it descended 70 the sea.
 Absolute Control. Bleriot said, however, that he had
 
 through out and had no fear that the motor would fail The only difficulty he experienced was the force of the wind which hurt his face and eyes badly and the wind eddies, which twisted his machine about while near ing the English coast.
 Count de Lambert came from Calais by boat to congratulate his rival. A telegram arrived from Hubert Latham, rlA Iox- %oi 1o1 ix, h; tepmt to cross the channel, saying: T hope to follow you soon." Bleriot early announced that if Latham crossed today he would share the prize with him, but the heavy wind and the rain that came up dash ed the hopes of Latham's attempting to fol- low.
 The American consul at Calais, James B. Miner, who came here with Count de Lambert, said on his arrival that he had left Latham sitting with his head on his monoplane, weeping. M. Bleriot returned to Calais on the destroyer this afternoon, but will re- cross tomorrow for the official recep- .tion to be rendered by the Dover muni- cipality. Afterward he will go to Lon don where great demonstration is be- ing arranged in his honor. BIeriot Ia Daring Aviator. Calais, July 25.-Louis Bleriot flew from the shores of France, leaving behind q |, group of spectators, who, while they were filled with admiration at the mans dar- ing, feared lest he might be overcome There was applause when the monoplane rose in the air. but it was somewhat re- strained through anxiety; then there was keen suspense, but when the word came that Bleriot had reached England, a mighty shout went up, for great crowd had gathered. The news of his triumph spread quickly and celebrations were held everywhere.
 In spite of his injured leg, Bleriot stole march on his rivals, Latham and Count Lambert. The former, deceived by high winds of the day before. thought start would be impossible, while Count Lam bert had gone to England to pick out likely place to land.
 At o'clock this morning Bleriot had his monoplane pushed out. To the handful of people who had gathered there the spec- tacle of this man, hobbling on crutches dreaming of a flight to England, had something overlapping, even terrifying in 1t. Bleriot was coolest of all He cast aside his crutches and took his place in the monoDlane, on which he already had hoisted a red flag to guide the res- cuers in case he should fall At he sat there smiling and ready to give the sig nal he said:
 "If I can't walk can show the world that can fly"
 The monoplane rose easily and made two circles. then landed. His motor was running perfectly. Anzani the constriic- tor of the motor, stepped forward and set the motor in motion. Bleriot pulled down his cap and settled himself calmly in his seat waving farewells, and at 4:36 the