Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-27
ENGLAND TAKES
BLERIOT FEVER
WILD ENTHUSIASM GREETS
FRENCHMAN
AVIATOR WHO CROSSED STRAITS
GIVEN oVATIoNs
From Dover to London Path of Aero
plane Operator Is Lined by
Crowds Eager to
See Him
CBy Associated Press)

LONDON, July 26.-Louis Bleriot, the
Frenchman who made history by fly
ing across the English channel from
Les Baraques to Dover, distance OF
twenty-one miles, in the remarkable
time of little less than half an hour,
and his famous little monoplane both
reached London this morning. The
aeronaut will receive the monetary
fruits of his achievement in the shape
of check for $4,000, and his machine
will be placed on exhibition to the
financial advantage of both a London
hospital and the enterprising proprie-
tor of the only American department
store here.
The aviator is finding hero worship
much more trying to endure than the
strain of navigating the air. Remark
able scenes were again witnessed at
Dover this morning when M. Bleriot
returned there to attend a civil re-
ception in his honor.
English Are Enthusiastic
The Frenchman was mobbed by the
enormous crowds and the police had to
come to his protection, so eager were
the enthusiasts to greet him at close
quarters.
A similar ovation awaited the aviator
in London, his compatriots having
gathered at Victoria station in large
numbers. With the help of the police
he finally succeeded in getting away
and reached his hotel. where he was
presented with the check at a luncheon
party.
Paul Cambon, the French ambassa-
dor at London, was present and warm
ly congratulated his comparIiot. The
British army was largely represented,
and besides War Secretary Haldane
of
aeronautic work of the army; Sir Ed
ward Grey, secretary for foreign af-
fairs; and Lieut.. Gen. Sir Arthur
Paget.
Lieut.. e. H. Shackelton. who recent
ly returned from an expedition to the
antarctic, and Sir Thomas Upton also
were present.
Welcomed in French
When M. Bleriot arrived Mr.. Haldane
was the first to felicitate him. Speak
ing in French, the secretary of war
congratulated the aviator on his mag
nificient success, which he said would
give him place in history all by itself,
as to have crossed tho English chan
mel was an event marking a new era,
"You did it with wonderful ease, "
added Mr.. Haldane, but you had great
courage"
VI.
broken accented "Thank you" but
made no further attempt to speak in
English
Speaking his mother tongue, he at
tributed his success to an immense
amount of preliminary work and said
he was profoundly touched by the
warmth of his welcome, which he
thought was quite out of proportion
To what he had accomplished.
~ In
leave Calais on my left and make for
Dover on my right"
NJ. Bleriot was handed the $1,000 in
bank notes in a splendid silver cup.
"BIeriot Fever" RACES
1t was announced at the luncheon
that the Aero Club of Great Britain
had decided to present Nj. Bleriot with
a gold medal similar to the one con-
ferred on Wilbur and Orville Wright.
the American aeroplanists, in London
last May.
"Bleriot fever seems to have seized
n large part of the populace of Lon
don. Those unable to see the flyer
himself have been besieging the store
where the compact little monoplane is
installed among other travelling requl-
sites. the machine being so small it
looks like a large toy rather than a
practical flyer.
Numerous honors and medals are
awaiting Nj. Bleriot in addition to the
prize awarded MIN today, the principal
prize being a gold cup offered by Capt.
Wyndham for the first flight across
the English channel. 1t will be pre-
sented to the French aviator at the
Aero club dinner August 9.
Aeronautical experts here regard M.
Bleriot's feat as a vindication of the
monoplane type of machine over the
biplane.
The Frenchmans machine carries a
greater weight in proportion to its
plane surface than any other type,
which is considered a great advantage.
Experts interviewed declare the
greater surface the biplane offers to
the wind would have tended to make
one turn turtle ON encountering the
aerial whirlpool which troubled Bleriot
so greatly.