Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-03
HUBERT LATHAM
DUCKED AGAIN
AVIATOR TRIES TO FLY TO LON.
DON IN AEROPLANE AND
FAILS.
SECOND BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT
Machine Drops Into Sea Two Miles
from Dover, England.-Trial Fol-
lows Preliminary Test that
Results in Damage to Plane.

London, July 29.-Hubert Latham,
the aviator, made another attempt to
cross the English channel and plung-
ed into the sea two miles off the
coast, near Dover, where a French
torpedo boat picked him up.
In Calais and Sangette it became
known that Latham, who was bitterly
disappointed at his failure to start
when Bleriot crossed successfully,
would make the attempt again.
Thousands of spectators crowded
the coast line to watch the attempt,
and the French torpedo boats, at
word, steamed out and formed long
chain across the channel.
1t was known that, robbed of his
anticipated triumph of being the first
to cross, Latham would make des-
perate effort.
Exactly at o'clock the start was
made.
Early in the day, with cheering
thousands gathered about, Latham in
his monoplane made an effort to start
Bad luck attended and the machine
came crashing to the ground. A
wheel was broken and the propeller
smashed. 1t was announced that the
attempt would be postponed to 8
O'Clock in the afternoon. AT 3 o'clock
high wind was blowing off shore and
it looked dangerous to start.
Shortly before 6 o'clock Latham an
nounced that he would make the eff
fort despite the conditions and with
his monoplane repaired he entered and
rose quickly. passing out with rapid
flight over the sea.
From the French coast the machine
circled half way, then recovering its
course headed straight across. A shout
of triumph went up from the assem-
bled multitude who saw victory ahead.
With rapid flight Latham passed out
at height of between 400 and $50
feet until he blended with the sky
Zine and was lost to view.
On the English coast lookouts re-
ported flying speck which soon grew
into shape. 1t came onward with ev.
erything Indicative of success, al
though to the observers 1t seemed to
be dipping downward Suddenly, when
in full sight and not more than two
miles off shore, it dipped and fell
splash into the sea. Latham had dis
tanced the foremost of the torpedo
boats, which was about three miles
away, but 1t steamed up and took hin
on board after he had floated for 8
short time.
Nineteen miles Of the twenty-one
that span the channel had been passed
and three minutes more of flight would
have landed him.
The attempt was more spectacular
than that of Bleriot and more daring
Latham was intensely disappointed
over his failure, but seemed to have
suffered no serious injury from his
fall
Hubert Latham is a comparatively
recent aspirant for flying honors, but
several daring exploits already had
gained him much attention. He was
the first to attempt fight of the
English channel, but his effort failed
After waiting many days for favorable
weather conditions, he set out from
Calais on July 10 last, headed TO
Dover He cleared the cliffs beautiful
ly and his flight appeared propitiou
uuJll midway Ill VIC SlltHlCl, WuClk III
motor failed him and his monoplan
settled gently on the unruffled waters
He was picked up by torpedo boa
that had followed him. He was ur
injured, though the monoplane wa
somewhat damaged in getting
aboard.
Latham uses an Antoinete monoplan
designed by M. Levasseur, and whic
consists principally of a central skifl
like body from either side of which
main plane extends at slightly risin
angle.
Before his attempt to cross the char
mel he had made several successful
flights at Mourmel-on-Legran France
where on June he established ne'
monoplane record by remaining In tn
air one hour, minutes and AZ SCI
onds.