Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-08-12
PROGRESS OF AVIATION.

b This account of the recent flight over
the English Channel is written by NJ.
Rlerlot himself for the London Daily
Mali 1t is worth while reading. as his
crossing of the Channel in an aroplanei
is an event in aviation that Is sure to
stand forth forever in history as one
Fof the most noticeable at this stage Of
development. NJ. Bleriot says:
1T Is twenty-five minutes to five.
My friend, LIE Blance gives the signal,
and in an instant / am In the air, my
engine making twelve thousand revolu-
tons almost its highest, in order that
i may get quickly over the telegraph
wires along the edge of the cliff. As
soon as am over the cliff reducn
speed. There Is now no need to force
the engine. I begin my flight, steady
and sure. toward the coast Of England
/ have no npprehansions, no sensation.
pas du tout--not at ALL The ;Dscopette'
(the torpedoboat destroyer furnished by
the French goyernmenD has seen me.
She Is driving ahead at full speed. She
makes perhaps forty-two kilometers
lover forty-two miles,, Rapidly I over
take her travelling at height Of eighty
meters 1850 feet. Below me is the
SUI ktlSG VI LIE sStarf DtNl
wind which is now freshening. The
motion OF the waves beneath me is not
pleasant, / drive on. Ten minutes are:
gone. have passed the destroyer. and
/ turn my head to see whether l am
proceeding in the right direction. / am
amazed There is nothing to be seem
neither the torpedoboat destroyer nor
France nor England. ! am alone; i
can see nothing at all For ten minutes
/ am lost; it is n strange position to be
malone. guided without compass
In tho air over the middle OF the chan
mel, touch nothing, my hands and
feet rest lightly on the levers. I let
the aeropiane take its own course. I
care not whittier 1t goes. For ten min
tites continue. neither rising nor fall
ing nor turning, and--then, twenty min.
utes after have left the French coast,
see green cliffs and Dover Castle, and
away to the west the spot where I
had intended to land. What can 1 do?
out OF my course. am almost at
St Margaret's bay, going in the direc-
ton of Goodwin Sands. Now 1t is time
to attend to the steering. press a
lever With my foot and turn easily to-
ward the west. reversing the direction
in which ] am travelling. Now am in
difficulties. for. the wind here by the
GIFTS Is much stronger ana my speed
Is reduced as ] fight against it. yet my
beautiful aeroplane responds still
steadily. ] fly westward, chopping
across the harbor, and reach Shakes
| peare cliff i see an opening In the
cliff. Although am confident Gun
continue for an hour and half. that
might, indeed. return to Calais, l cannot
| resist the opportunity to make a land
| ing upon this green spot. Once more
turn my aeropiane, and, describing q
half circle. enter the opening and
4 find myself again over dry land. Avoid
1 ing the red buildings on my right. L att
tempt a landing, but the wind catches
me and whirls me around two or three
i times. AT once j stop my motor. and
instantly my machine falls straight
4 upon the ground from a height of TWEEN
ty meters tseventy-fiye feet. In two
Or three seconds ] am safe upon your