Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-26
HLERloT FLIES ACROSS
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
CONTINUED from Page one.)

The townspeople of Dover, who for
three weeks have been on the alert for
the signal announcing that one of the
flying machine men had started, were
caught mapping. gale was blowing
last night and the weather forecasts
promised a strong wind and squalls in
the morning. Hence the operators of the
sire ms on the steamers, which 1t had been
arranged should be blown when the flyer
started, were absent from their posts.
Only few persons received the wireless
warning of Bleriot's ascent.
NJ. Lafontaine, a friend of the aviator.
arrived at the Lord Warden hotel from
Calais at midnight. He declined bed
room with the cryptic remark that he
had an appointment to Nee VI. Bleriot
at o'clock. The hotel people thought the
my sterious stranger was joking.
M Lafontaine came to the signal land
Ing, the spot which the newspaper under
whose auspices the flight was made. had
chosen. on the high grounds back Of
the city, but NJ. Lafontaine selected
cup-shaped depression called the North
fall meadow, two miles east of Dover,
where the airship would be sheltered from
the wind in settling. There he planted
the French flag.
The sailors on the. ships in the harbor
we're the first to notice that Bleriot was
approaching. The heard the buZZing of
the motor two or three minutes before
they could discern the aeroplane. Then
what looked like a big white butterfly
glided over their heads as fast as a train
OF cars and with almost as much noise.
1t reached the cliff near the gray turrets
Of Dover Castle, swooped around twice in
broad curves and disappeared. 1t was
not long before half the population Of
Dover. dressing as they went. were rush
ine toward Northfall meadow. Photo
grarhers and cinematographers were
crestfallen because they had missed the
great event for which they had waited
50 long. Among the first to arrive were
two customs officers. Close upon their
heels were several police, and their ser
vices were needed to restrain the curio
hunters who Immediately began to pull
the machine to pieces. Many others fore
seeing that the monoplane would be
treasured as historic relic, wrote their
autographs thereon. The city officials
cor ceived happy thought and. with
Bleriots consent, raised tent about the
machine and charged six pence admis-
sion to view it. The profits from this
entrance fee will go to the hospital and
the police pension fund and the exhibit
ton did big business all day
Parts Of the frame work of the mon
oplane were splintered on landing
Everyone expressed surprise at it's
small size. 1t Is not more than 20 feet
across the wings and it's weight is
about 400 pounds, the motor being 25-
horsepower. In the same machine
Bieriot recently made cross country
trip Of 26 miles from Etamyes to Or
leans. II Is the smallest Of three he
with an air-tight sausage shaped rub
Der bag so that 1t would float if it de-
scended to the sea.
Bleriot said, however, that he had
absolute control of the machine
throughout and had no fear that the
motor would fail. The only difficulty
he experienced was the force of the
wind. which hurt his face and eyes
badly and the wind eddies, which
twisted his machine about while near
ing the English coast.
Count Lambert came from Calais by
boat to congratulate his rival. \ tele-
gram arrived from Hubert Latham,
who few days ago failed in his at
tempt to cross the channel, saying:
I hope to follow you soon"
Bleriot earnly announced that if
Latham crossed today he would share
the prize with him. but the heavy
wind and the rain that came up DASH
ed the hopes of Latham's attempting
to follow.
The American consul at Calais,
James Miller. who came here with
Count Lambert, said on his arrival
that he had left Latham sitting with
his head on his monoplane, weeping.
NJ. Bleriot returned to Calais on the
destroyer this afternoon. but will re-
cross tomorrow for the official recep-
tibn rendered by the Dover municipal
ity. Afterwards he will go to London.
where great demonstration Is being
arranged in his honON