Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-07-26
At $50 Feet Above Sea Level in Little Less
Than Half an Hour
FRENCHMAN SURPRISED THE ENGLISH


Dover July 25.-This sleepy seaport
town experienced the keenest thrill
known in a generation when at sun
rise this morning white winged, bird
like ma hine with loudly lIufnmIng mo-
tor swept out from the haze obscurine
the sea toward the distant French coast
and, circling twice above the nigh
chaiky cliffs of Dover, alighted or
English soil. A calm Frenchman
Louis Bleriot, a pottly and red mus
tached man Of 81, descended from the
saddle, limping on a bandaged foot
which had been burned on his previous
overland flight. Immediately two COM
patriots, who had been waving a big
tri-colored flag as a signal for the land
ing place. fell upon him enthusiastical-
", embracing him, shouting and pound
ing him on the back They, with a few
soldiers and others who happened by
chance to be on the scene, were the
only persons to witness the finish of o
most remarkable feat.
Wind Blowing Twenty Miles an Hour
Bleriot left Lesbaraques, three miles
from Calais, about 4.30 a. m, on one
of the smallest monOplanes ever used
He crossed the channel in little less
than half an hour, twice as swiftly as
the fastest mailboat. His speed aver
aged more than forty-five miles an
miles. He kept about ESQ feet above
sea level and for ten minutes, while
about mid channel was out OF sight
of both coasts and of the French tor
pedo destroyer which followed him,
with his wife and friends aboard.
The wind was blowing about twenty
miles an hour and the sea was choppy
The aviator was swathed in a single
garment of drilling, impervious to the
wind, which covered him from the top
of his head to his feet, only his face
showing. He also wore cork lifebelt
The Landing Described.
An eye witness Of the landing de-
scribed it as follows:
e"Very early in the morning wireless
message was received from Calais that
Bleriot intended to make the fight.
Then in quick succession came the
news that he had left land, that he was
dying high and was fast making Dover.
1t was expected that he would land
taken it was soon evident that he would
aIight to the eastward. Only a few
minutes after the wireless announcing
the start the message Out OF sight was
received at Dover. Hardly had this
been transmitted when the coast guard
sbouted that Bleriot was in sight
Fastening to the cliff east OF the
5I1st moment before the airship,
which was flying fast. Thescraft ap-
preached the cliff, growing larger. The
noise Of the engines was audible in a
moment, SO swiftly did it come. Bleriot
swooped overhead, glancing from right
20 left, and then turned his machine
to the east and came to. the ground in
meadow. 1t circled with ease and
made the, landing gracefully, but even
though it touched the land lightly it
was slightly damaged"
Wins Prize Of 5000.
BY his achievement Bleriot wins the
prize Of $1,000 offered by the London
Daily Mail for the first flight across the
English channel and stole march on
Hubert Latham and Count De Lambert
both of whom had hoped to make the
attempt today.
Aviator Tells Story Of His Flight.
Bleriot, who speaks a little English,
described his flight modestly.
II arose at 8 o'clock" he said, "and
went to the aeroplane shed. Finding
everything in order on the trial spin,
4 decided to make the flight. The