Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-24
BLER|OT GREAT FEAT
French Aeronaut's Own Story Of
Flight Over English Channel.

lOWos
II rose at 2:so Sunday morning,
July Is, and, finding that the condi-
tons were favorable, ordered the tor
pedo boat destroyer nscopette, which
had been placed at my disposal BY the
French government, to start. Then /
went to the garage at Sangatts and
found that the motor worked web. At
a. m. took my seat IL the aeroplane
and made trial night around Calais
of some fifteen kilometers lover nine
miles,. descending at the spot chosen
for the start across the channel.
Here I waited for the sun to come
out, the conditions Of the Daily Mail
prize requiring that ny between sum
rise and sunset. At 4:8O daylight had
come. but 1t was impossible to zee the
coast. A light breeze from the south.
west was blowing the air clear, how
ever. and everything was prepared.
II was dressed in a khaki jacket
lined with wool for warmth over my
tweed clothes and beneath my en-
gineer's suit of blue cotton overalls.
A close fitting cap was fastened over
my head and ears. l had neither eaten
nor drunk anything since rose. My
thoughts were only upon the flight and
my determination to accomplish 1t this
morning.
Flight Begun at A:35.
"At 4:35 alps ready. My friend L.
Blance gives the signal, and In an in
slant l am in the air, my engine max
ing 1900 revolutions, almost its high
est speed, In order that may get
quickly over the telegraph wires along
the edge of the cliff. AS soon as am
over the cliff reduce speed. There Is
now no need to force the engine. l be-
gin my flight, steady and sure. toward
the coast Of England. have no APP
prehensions, no sensation-pas Gu tout
not at all.
"The Escopette has seen me. She
Is driving ahead at full speed. She
makes perhaps forty-two kilometers
(twenty-six miles) an hour. What mat
tiers it? am making at least sixty
eight hlometers lover forty-two miles).
Rapidly overtake her, travelling at a
height Of eighty meters geo feet. Be
low me Is the surface Of the sea, dis
turbed by the wind, which is now
freshening. The motion Of the waves
beneath me is not pleasant. L drive on.
Lost For Ten Minutes.
Ten minutes are gone. have
passed the destroyer, and I turn nv,
head to see whether an proceeding
in the right direction. am amazed.
There is nothing to be seen, neither
the torpedo boat destroyer nor France
nor England. I am alone; l can see
nothing at all. For ten minutes l am
lost. 1t is strange position to be in,
alone, guided without compass in
the air over the middle Of the chan
mel. / touch nothing. My hands and
feet rest lightly on the levers. l let the
aerop!ane take it's own course. I care
not whittier 1t goes.
Secs Ensland's Cliffs.
For ten minutes continue, neither
rising nor falling nor turning, and
then, twenty minutes after have left
the French coast, see green cliffs
and Dover castle and away to the
west the spot where had intended to
land.
What can dot It il evident tho
wind has taken me out Of my course,
i am almost at St Marsaret's bay,
going In the direc IN Of Goodwin
sands.
Now It Is time to attend to the.
steering. press lever with my foot
and turn easily toward the west, 70
versing the direction in which l am
travelling. Now I am in difficulties,
for the wind here by the cliffs is much
stronger and my speed is reduced a.
! fight against It, yet my beautiful
aeroplane responds still steadily.
Il fly westward, chopping across the
harbor. and reach shn' .speare cliff.
I see an opening in the cliff. Al
though am confident can continue
for an hour and half, that I might,
Indeed. return to Calais. cannot re-
sist the opportunity to make a land
ing upon this green spot.
Safs on ERgIand's Shore.
"Once more turn my aeroplans
and, describing q half circle, l enter
tho opening and nnd myself again
over dry land. Avoiding the red
buildings on my right. attempt a
landing, but the wind catches me and
whirls me around two or three times.
At o',ce stop my motor. and instant
~ my M chine falls straight upon the
srou..d from height Of twenty meters
Ilsev Ity-nve feet. IN two or three
seconds am cafe upon your shore.
Soldiers In, khaki run up and 20
licemen. Ywo Of my compntr1ots are
on the SPOT Tinvy Kiss ny esseel.s
The conclusion Of my fiight over
whelmS me.
~Thus ended my fight across the
channel--a flight which could easily
b. d4na again. Shall do 1T l think
not h.--e promts~d my wife tina,
after race for which have already
entered will fly no more"
N. Louis Bleriot is one Of the Oldest
and most popular aviators in France
and is the winner Of the Osiris prize
OF $4,000 In conjunction with Gabriel
Voisin. the aeroplane manufactures,
for their. contributions to the progress