The Billings gazette., 1909-07-20
While at Great Height
Motor of Monoplane
Ceased to Work
A PROMPT RESCUE
French Torpedo Boat Followed Plucky
Aviator and Picked Him and His
Machine from the Water-TriaI Was
Magnificent Success Until Engine
Refused to Do Its Work.

NAAAA6s Culy A0'- 1AoiUeIC
!. Latham, the French aviator,
after waiting for more than q
week for favorable opportunity
for crossing the Channel from
Calais to Dover, made a start
this morning, but after covering
about Is miles, and while at
great height, the motor failed and
the machine fell into the water.
The French torpedo boat destroyer
Harpoon, however, was close at hand
and rescued both Latham and his
monoplane. Latham's start was made
early this morning from the top of
the cliff at Sangatel, under propitious
circumstances. At dawn the sky was
overcast, but the wind was hardly
perceptible and an automobile was
dispatched to Calais to apprise the
umpires that start would be made
between 6 and o'clock.
While the monoplane was being ta-
ken out and pushed to the top of the
cliff, crowd of several thousand
persons assembled to witness the
start and the entire population of the
villages lined the shore below.
Latham was in high spirits as he
carefully inspected every part Of the
machine, and on making several trials
with the eight-cylinder motor, found
the machine perfect. There was a
wait of an hour until the torpedo
boats strung out in line toward the
horizon. Finally all was in readi-
ness, and the monoplane was pushed
back 200 yards from the crest of the
cliff, which has precipitious fall of
200 feet to the sea. Latham was clad
in a knickerbocker suit and had
donned a life-preserver. He showed
no signs of nervousness as he shook
hands with his friends on mounting
the saddle.
"Start the motor" he cried to his
assistants, and then with nod Of his
head and the words, "See you in Do
ver," threw the starting lever OF, the
machine rising along the ground
Just before reaching the sea, the ma
chine with outstretched wings rose
gracefully and sailed over the shining
waters amid q roar of cheers from
the cliff and shores. The monoplane
after leaving the cliff ascended grad
ually until it probably was 800 feet
above the sea.
Then, straight as an arrow, it con-
tinued its flight towards the English
coast, apparently under perfect con-
troll at rate of about 35 miles an
hour. The black-hulled destroyer
Harpon kept under her aerial COM
panion and at the end Of Is minutes
both disappeared in the haze on the
horizon.
When the torpedo destroyer entered
the harbor at half past nine with Mon
,sieur Latham and M. Lebavasseur, the
Associated Press correspondent who
had been on board the Harpon. the
aviator received tremendous ova'
tion and, on landing, it was with diff
ficuIty he made his way through the
throngs. He was compelled to kist
several girls who threw their arms
about him.
M. Latham said the motor failed
about 12 miles out and, owing to the
slowing down of the engines, he was
unable to remain longer in the air
The aviator declared his intention o.
again trying to cross the channel. Th'
appearance of the machine, with iti
tangled guy ropes and displaced
skids, indicated that it was badl!
damaged. The motor, however. is in
tact.