Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-26
OWN STORY OF FLIGHT
BIeriot Dared Stormy Weather
and Made High Speed.
NOWHERE FOR 10 MINUTES
Out of Sight of Life or Land sus-
pended in Air.
ALL OVER IN HALF AN HOUR
Aeroplane Is Slightly Damaged in
Heavy Drop to Land-Could
Have Made Return Trip.
ALL OVER IN HALF AN HOUR

LONDON, July 28.-Louis Bleriot, the
first man to cross the English channel In
IN aeroplane, winning the Daily Mail
prize of $1,000, tells the story of his ex-
plot, which ended with his landing at
Dover yesterday morning. as follows:
II had decided to attempt the fight at
the earliest opportunity that offered. My
past experience had been that the early
morning was the best time, as the wind
was steadiest then.
II got up at $50 in the morning in or
der to be ready. though l was not feeling
well. my foot being painful. 1 motored
from Calais to Les Baraques with a
friend, NJ. LIE Blanc, to see that every
thing was in readiness with the mono
plane.
AS the wind kept steady l had the
monoplane taken out of its temporary
garage and on to the plain of Les
Baraques, where at $3.50 l made a short
trial flight. The monoplane few perfect
ly. so / made up my mind to start at
sunrise.
Waited for Sun to Come Out.
Il waited for the sun to come out the
conditions of competition for the Daily
Mail prize requiring that I fly between
sunrise and sunset AT 43O daylight had
come, but il was impossible to see the
coast. light breeze from the south
west was blowing and the air was clear.
Everything was prepared. l was
dressed in a khaki jacket, lined with wool
for warmth. over tweed clothes and be-
meath my engineers suit of blue cotton
overalls. A close-fitting cap was fastened
over my head and ears.
Il had neither eaten nor drank any
thing since | rose, my thoughts being
only upon the flight and my determination
to accomplish IL.
Starts at High Speed.
AT 4;35 o'clock my friend lie Blanc
gives the signal. and in an instant I am
in the air my engine making 12.oo0 revo-
buttons. almost the highest speed. in or
der that 1 may get quickly over the tele-
graph wires along the edge of the cliff.
AS soon as l am over the cliff l reduce
my speed. there being no need TO force
the engine. ! begin my flight toward the
coast of England. j have no apprehen-
sion, no sensation. The torpedo boat sees
me and makes perhaps forty-two kilo-
meters per hour What matters. l am
making at least sixty-eight kilometers
Rapidly ! overtake her, travelling at a
height OF eighty meters. Below me the
sea surface is disturbed by the wind
which is now freshening. and the motion
OF the waves beneath me is not plea SAINT
J drive on for ten minutes more. l have
passed the destroyer. and | turn my head
To see II l am proceeding in the right
direction.
Leaves Destroyer Behind
Il am amazed that there is nothing to
be seen. neither the torpedo destroyer nor
France nor England. l am alone. l can
see nothing at all. For ten minutes I am
lost. II is strange position to be alone
guided without compass in the air over
the middle of the channel
Il touch nothing. My hands rest light,
on the levers and let the aeroplane take
It's own course. care not whittier il goes
For ten minutes l continue. neither risins
nor falling nor turning. and then twenty
minutes after ] left the French coast.
see the green cliffs of Dover Castle ant
away TO the west the spot where had in
tended to land.
Airship conquers Wind.
What can | do? 1t is evident that tho
wind has taken me out of my course.
am almost at St. Margaret's bay. Soins
in the direction of the Goodwin sands
Now 1t Is time To attend to the steering
| press the lever with my foot and turr
easily toward the west. reversing direc
ton In which / have been travelling
Now / am in difficulties, for the win,