Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-20
DARING AVIATOR FAILS
AFTER FLYING HALF WAY

CALAIS, July 19.-Hubert Latham,
the French aviator, after waiting for
more than a week for a favorable op-
portunity to attempt a flight at cross
ing the channel from Calais to Dover,
made a start this morning but after
covering about 16 miles and While at
great height, his motor failed and the
machine fell into the water.
The French torpedo boat destroyer
Harpon however, was close at hand
and rescued both Latham and his
monoplane, finding him floating and
calmly smoking
Latham's start was made early this
morning from the top of the cliff at
Sangatte and under propitious circum-
stances. At dawn the sky was over
cast but the wind was hardly percepti-
Bile, and an automobile was dispatched
to Calais to appraise the authorities
start would be made between s and
o'clock.
While the monoplane was being
taken out and pushed to the top of the
cliff, a crowd Of several thousand per-
sons assembled to witness the start
and the entire population of the neigh
boring villages lined the shore below.
Aeronaut Is Cool
Latham was in high spirits as he
carefully inspected every part of the
machine and on making several trials
with the eight-Cylinder motor, found
the machine perfect. There was a wait
Of an hour until torpedo boats and tugs
strung out in a line toward the horizon
took up their positions. Finally all
was in readiness and the monoplane
was pushed back 200 yards from the
crest of the cliff, which has a preeipi-
tous fall of 200 feet to the sea.
The aeronaut was clad in knicker-
booker suit and had donned a life pre-
server. He showed no signs of nerv-
BUSINESS as he shook hands with his
friends on mounting the saddle.
start the motor" he cried to his
assistants, and then with a nod OF his
head and the words, "See you in Dover"
threw the starting lever off, the ma
chine running along the ground with
increased momentum at every turn.
Just before reaching the edge of the
cliff, the aeronaut touched the hori
zontal lever and the machine, with it's
white outstretched wings, rose grace
fully and spread out over the shining
waters amid a roar of cheers from the
cliff and shores.
Perfect Start Secured
The monoplane, after leaving the
cliff, ascended gradually until it prob
ably was 300 feet above the sea. Then,
straight as an arrow it continued its
flight toward the English coast, appar-
emily under perfect control, at rate
of about thirty-five miles an hour. The
black-hulled destroyer Harpon ap-
peared to keep almost under her aerial
companion, and at the end of fifteen
minutes both disappeared in the haze
on the horizon.
When the torpedo boat destroyer en-
tered the harbor at $3.50 with NJ!
Latham and NJ. le BaYasseur the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent, who had
slept on the Harpon, aboard, the
aviator received a tremendous ovation
and on landing it was with difficulty
he made his way through the throngs
He was compelled to kiss several girls
who threw their arms about his neck.
NJ. Latham said the motor failed
about twelve miles out and owing to
the slowing down of the engines he
was unable to remain longer in the
air. He declared his intention of try
ing again to cross the channel
The appearance of the machine, with
its tangled guy ropes and displaced
skids, indicated that it was badly dam
aged. The motor, however, is intact
English Watch Anxiousy
DOVER, Eng, July 19.-Saiing beau
tffulIy in wide sweeping circles, the
aviator appeared to have every pros
pect of success in his hazardous under
taking. Wireless reports from San
gatte had announced that the machine
was out Of sight and the watchers at
Dover were warned to be on the look
out. The machine never appeared,
however, and as the time passed the
greatest anxiety prevailed,
Soon after came the report that the
monoplane had fallen into the sea, and
the hopes of M. Latham's friends that
he would be the first to accomplish the
channel flight were dissipated. Tugs
had been sent out and every prepara-
ton made for the reception of the
aviator
The disappointment therefore, was
all the greater when the news came