The Washington herald., 1909-07-25
Scientific.

Early last Monday morning Herbert
Latham. in HIS birdlike monoplane air
ship. started his gasoIene engine and
steered from the elf near Calais.
France. straight out over the English
channel toward Dover. the nearest point
on the English coast For over week
he had been there. waiting for favor
able conditions. and a number Of
French war craft and other boats were
there 10 serve as guide posts and res
cuers in case OF accident The big me-
chanical bird scared aloft about 400
feet above the sea at first but gradu-
ally increased its elevation until
Latham estimated that he had reached
height Of 1000 feet. which is a new
world record for aeroplane altitude.
Then, just as everything seemed favor
able Tor success and the ship was over
taking the torpedo boat Harpon. sud
denly the engine stopped and the navi-
gator was Obliged to coast down with
the wind and take his chances in the
waves of the sea. He did this so as TO
touch the water IN a horizontal posi-
ton. and the wings are so constructed
with alright compartments as to keep
Itself and the helmsman afoat for sew
erai hours. NJ Latham did not even
wet his feet and when the Harpon
rushed TO his rescue he was calmly
smoking a cigarette. He was taken
back TO the waiting crowds TO be aion~
lied nevertheless. and he announced his
intention of making another effort 10
cross the channel as soon as another
machine could be got from the factory.
1t was estimated that he had flown
about twelve miles when his engine
stopped. or half way across the chan
neil
At Fort Myer Tuesday evening. Or
Vile Wright broke all American aero
plane records by sailing over the parade
ground for l hour and % minutes. during
which voyage through the air ne steered
his craft in various figures. making a
complete circle within 900 or 500 feet and
rising 70 the height Of 800 feet. a record
in itself for the Wright machine. Wilbur
Wright the elder brother. and joint in
ventOr Of the wonderful machine. was
on the ground helping at the start and
watching the flight like a hawk 70 its
finish. A large crowd Of spectators. in
GLIDING many Congressman and public
officials witnessed the remarkable dem
onstration. Even the lacOnic manner OF
the elder brother gave way 70 positive en-
thusiasm when Orville finally shut off
his power and OOasted lightly 70 the
ground. shaking the hand of the sue
cessful navigator and saying: well
that would have taken you from here to
Baltimore or about a couple OF times
across the channel" He estimated that
Orville had flown about fifty miles at an
average speed Of forty miles an hour.
On Wednesday OrviIle Wright flew his
plane twice and made the splendid speed
mark Of AZ miles an hour. the increase
due 70 changes IN the gearing of the
engine and propelors. The coming loose
Of a cog ended one Of the nighrs and
demonstrated the ability Of the aviator
10 alight safely when the power SUD
denly is shut or while the plane is high
IN the air.
At Mineola, Long Island, last week.
Glenn Curtiss I'm his aeroplane had
stayed in flight for fifty-three minutes.
which was till then the best American
fight this year Liter in the hands OF
a novice, the Curtiss machine was shat
tered in a fall to earth. the aviator not
being seriously injured
The Smithsonian Institution has be-
gun the work Of erecting a meteoroIogi-
cal and astronomical station on Mount
Whitney. at an altitude Of 1900 feet.
DR.. Oswaldo Cruz. director OF the SAM
tary service Of Brazil, announced TO the
Academy Of Medicine at Rio de Janeiro.
on the nth, that the, microbe OF small
pox had been discovered by Drs. de
AraFo and Prowwazek in series Of ex-