Evening journal., 1909-07-19
FELL
INTO CHANNEL
Was $50 Feet Above The
Water When AirShip Went
Wrong
RESCUED UNINJURED
BYAT TORPEDO BOAT

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
CALAIS, France. July 19.-Diving into
the English channel. eight miles from the
coast Of France. the monoplane Of Hubert
Latham came to grief to-day in the at
tempt to cross the channel. and the dar-
ing aeronaut narrowly escaped death. The
airship was towed TO Calais by the fleet
of tugs which attended for just such an
emergency and Latham was picked up by
the French torpedo boat destroyer Har-
pom
Latham was impatient to be off, and at
Gao o'clock this morning he took his place
i'm the aeroplane and gave the signal for
tho start Like a bird the big plane rose
into tho air and on a course straight as
an arrow shot with terrific speed, over
the channel. In a few minutes the airship
was out of sight of the big crowd that
had gathered to see the start. As far as
ne could be seen from Calais the aero
naut seemed to have perfect control OF
the machine
Tuas on the Watch.
The news of his start had been sent to
Dover by wireless and a big fleet of tugs
was on the watch. Great crowds gathered
there 10 see the finish Of the flight. When
the airship did not appear at $50 o'clock
tho spectators grew anxious and the tugs
started across the channel TO lind out
what had befallen it.
Meanwhile the Harpon had started from
Calais I'm the wake Of the speeding air.
shin Eight miles from the coast the tor
pedo boat destroyer found the aeroplane
floating on the surface of the water with
Latham clinging to the framework. The
aeronaut was taken aboard the warship
and carried back TO Calais. The mono
piane was taken back TO Dover by the
tugs.
Latham Uninjured.
Bevond being thoroughly wet Latham
was uninjured by the fall Of his sirship.
t-pon his return 10 Calais he announced
that he was not discouraged by the acci-
dent
sI will make another attempt to cross
the channei,'s' said Lathem. ''just as soon
as can put the airship IN readiness for a
flight. The way the machine behaved con-
vinces mo that 1 will be able to complete
the trip"
The airship was shooting through th'
al. al a height Of $50 feet when the acct
dent occurred. u eiided gently dpFssfl linu
within a short distance Of the surface anf
th9h dove straight for the water. II wa'
practically uniniurod by the fall, and
righting itself it foated safely With Lath
am clinging to the edge Of the frame.
Vsst crowds gathered here to welcom'
Latham as lie stepped ashore from thu
launch on the Harpon and scores Of wo
men surrounded the rescued aeronaut
throwing their arms about his neck an'
kissing him. Latham was greatly en-
barrassed by the reception accorded hin
and he finally was rescued from the os
culatory demonstrations of the women b!
several Of his friends.
Latham Smoked Cigarette.
The officers of the Harpon relate tina
when they sighted the fallen sroplane
Latham was clinging to the upper frame
work. quietly smoking a cigarette, as h
awaited his rescuers. The fall was du
TO tho slowing down Of the monopolan
motor. which failed to furnish powe
enough 20 keep the airship afoat
The aeroplane which was not injured b.
its fall into the sea was slightly damage
while being towed ashore. The engine I
not injured however, and Latham will a
once set to work to repair the machin
for another flight