Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-26
blER|OT MAO
First Air invader Mobbed by
Enthusiasts.
M0N0PLANE ON EXHIBIT
Enormous Crowds Of Natives and
Compatriots Mob Aviator.
POLICE FIGHT WAY TO HOTEL
Presented With Check for $4,000
Prize at Luncheon-Other
Honors and Medals Won.

LONDON, July 26-Louis Bleriot. the
across the English channel from Les
Baraques to Dover. a distance of twenty
one miles, in the remarkable time of a
little less than half an hour. and his
famous little monoplane both reached
London this morning.
The aviator comes to receive the none
shape of check for $1,000 The airship
is to be placed on exhibition to the finan-
cial advantage of both a London hos
pital and the enterprising proprietor OF
the only American department store here.
The famous aviator is finding hero
worship much more trying to endure than
the strain of navigating the air.
Remarkable scenes were again wit
messed at Dover this morning when NJ.
Bleriot returned there to attend civil
reception in his honor The Frenchman
was mobbed by the enormous crowds.
Police had to come to his protection so
eager were enthusiasts to greet him at
close quarters.
London Police Guard Him.
A similar ovation awaited the aviator
at London. his compatriots having gath
cred at Victoria station in huge numbers.
With help Of police he finally succeeded
in getting away and reached his hotel,
where he was presented with the check
at a luncheon party.
'Bleriot fever seems to have seized a
large part of the popuace of London.
Those unable to see the flyer himself
have been besieging the store where the
compact little monoplane is installed In
a department among other vehicles OF
loconotion. the machine being SO small
it looks like large toy rather than the
practical flyer which enabled it's daring
manipulation to carry out his epochal feat.
More Honors and Medals.
Numerous honors and medals are await
ing NJ. Bleriot on this side of the chan
mel. the principal prize being a gold cup
offered by Capt. Wyndham for the first
flight across the English channel. 1t will
be presented to the French aviator at
the Aeroplane Club dinner August 9.
Aeronautical experts here regard NJ.
Bleriot's feat as a vindication for the
monoplane type of machine over the
biplane. The Frenchman's machine car
ries a greater weight in proportion to
its plane surface than any other type,
which is considered a great advantage.
Experts interviewed declare that the
greater surface the biplane offers to the
wind would have tended to make such
an one turn turtle on encountering the
aerial whirlpools off the English coast
which troubled NJ. Bleriot so greatly.
American Procures Monoplane.
With characteristic American quick
ness to seize an opportunity. Gordon
Selfridge arranged for the exhibition in
his new stores of the aeroplane in
which Bleriot made his flight. Mr.. Sell
fridge pays the expenses of transport
ing the aeroplane from Dover to Lon
don and donates $1,000 to a London
hospital
The descent was the most dangerous
part of the Frenchman's trip. In the
curiously shaped hollow which forms
the meadow in which Bleriot came
down there wer currents of wind
which turned the monoplane around
in two complete circles.
The aviator stopped the machinery and
descended rapidly, reaching the ground
with q rather severe bump which broke
the propeller. Bleriot jumped out un-
hurt.
The monoplane. seen ut close range,
is more like a great dragon fly than
Il bird. The wings and rudder are of
material that looks like vellum, seems
fragile and unsafe 1t was hard to
believe that SO comparatively small a
thing had carried a man across the
channel.
Bleriot's story of his fight will be
found on Page 8.