The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-28
HUBERT LATHAM
 FAILS IN A|RSH|P
Aviator Falls In Sea When
 Nearly Across Channel
MOTOR FAILS TO WORK
Latham Made Better Time Than Bleriot for the Space He Trav- 'eled and Is Heartbroken
 Over Ills Failure.

Dover. England, July 27.-Hubert La tham's second attempt to fly across the English channel ended disastrously to- day. Almost in the moment of victory, his monoplane fiuttered down into the sea two miles beyond the Admiralty pier, like bird with a broken wing. Thou sands of persons crowding the water front saw the fall but did not know for nearly half an hour whether the aeronaut had been rescued
 A flock of large and small craft raced to the scene of the disaster and pin mace from the British battleship Russell picked up the unlucky flier and put him aboard the French torpedo boat destroyer Escopete. He was brought ashore and taken to the Lord Warden hotel. His face was bandaged and bleeding and his nose was broken.
 The machine was badly wrecked and was hoisted from the boat to the dock.
 Latham's light to the moment of Its sensational finish in some respects eclipsed Bleriot's. He made greater speed, being only 20 minutes in the air from the time he left the toast of France. Apparently
  riot.
 Shortly before o'clock bells on the ships in the harbor notified the town that another crossing was to be attempt ed. The water front, piers and cliffs were quickly crowded Soon two French tor pedo boats approached at a furious pace.
 Looked Like Bird.
 Fourteen minutes after o'clock the airship was disoerned and quickly as- stunned bird-like outlines
 Suddenly it began to slacken speed, at the same time gliding toward the surface of the oceaa. It futtered few times and dropped with a lateral incline into the sea.
 There 1t floated, although only those with glasses could make out that it had not sunk. A fleet of all kinds of craft gathered around the wreck. The force with which the areoplane had fallen caused fears that the aviator might have been killed. if not drowned, but signals from the ships finally told those on shore that Latham had escaped although some what injured. It was nearly 8 o'clock when the Escopette came alongside the pier to land Latham and his machine, which was seen to be much larged than Bleriot,s little flyer and the crowds cheered the bandaged hero enthusiasti- cally. He was followed to the hotel by thousands.
 The crew of the Escopette said that the destroyer was 10 miles from Calais when Latham started. and he overlook them in a quarter of an hour.
 
 Case of Hard Luck.
 Tt is another case of real hard luck" said Latham in an interview. When I started the wind ewas just right and the rain was not serious impediment. rose 800 feet and felt that victory was at last within my grasp.
 T did not turn my head The en- zine was working with rhythmical ac- ouracy. I seemed to stand still over moving plateau of bluc, but in reali- ty l was travelling at great speed. Al most in a few moments 1t seemed. could discern the Dover cliffs The coast seemed to rise, to grow. with every pulsation of the motor.
 Then, within three miles of the coast, l heard the sirens and hooters. Then came the tragedy. I was only a mile and g half from the harbor mouth. n bcdu SlltnCo, Ine 11OtOT no6lldLcQ and stopped. I had been gradually de- scending. Thirty feet above the water l drifted like an injured bird fearing to alight, realizing I had failed again.
 T lay down to tighten the force of the blow. In the distance I could see the torpedo boats and wondered ifSall would turn out right. I struck the sea with comparative lightness, al- though the descent was very rapid. My goggles struck piece of the plane and cut my forehead. I was not anxious, as I knew that the machine would float for some time. Yet 1t appeared long wait before I was resued The accident was due to the motor failing, much as 1t did on the former occasion. Another two minutes would have taken me over Shak espeare cliff. However, I will have another try as soon as I am fit. do not think the machine was much demaged; it probably will be re- paired before I am"
 The physician tonight reported that Latham had three stitch es in his fore head and two in his nose, but he did not believe the aeronaut was badly hurt
 Latham returned to Calais by the midnight boat.