The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-22
FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO
CROSS ENGLISH CHANNEL

French aviator, after waiting Tor more
than a week for a favorable opportu-
nifty to attempt a fight at crossing the
channel from Calais to Dover. made a
start this morning. but after covering
about l6 miles. and while at a great
height, the motor failed n the ma
chine fell into h water. The French
topedo BOAT destroyer, Harpon, how
ever, was close at hand and rescued
both Latam and his monoplane.
Anticipating an early start, M.
| Latham slept I'm a shed OF the old tun-
mel works at the foo of h cliff. At
the first stroke OF dawn. NJ. Latham
came out of the she'd, clapping his
hands with joy at the sight of the
smooth sea. The sky was overcast, but
the wind was hardly perceptible. A
few minutes later a gun fired on the
Harpon, anchored off the cape, con-
firmed the daring aeroplanist's opin-
ion that conditions were right. An au-
tomobile was dispatched to Calais to
apprise the authorities that start
would be made between 6 and Z
o'clock. ~ :
While the monoplane was being tax
en- out and pushed to h top OF the
cliff, a crowd assembled to witness the
start. The entire population of the
neighboring villages lined the shore
below. 1 w
Latham was In high spirits as he
carefully inspected every part of the
machine, and on making several trials
the machine perfect. There was a wait
of an hour until the 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 zoo
yards from the crest of the cliff, which
has a precipitous fall of 200 feet to
the sea.
Latham was clad In a knickerbocker
suit and had donned a life preserver.
He showed no signs Of nervousness as
he shook hands with his friends on
! mounting the saddle. Start the mo-
, tor" he cried to his assistants, and
words: See you in Dover" threw the
| starting lever of the manchine, running
along the ground with increased mo-
mentum at every r
Just before reaching the edge Of the
! cliff, the aeronaut touched the hori-
zontal level and the machine, with its
white outstretched wings rose grace
fully and sailed out over the shining
waters amid a roar Of cheers from the
cliff and shores. The monoplane, after
leaving the cliff, assembled gradually
until Ii probably vas 500 feet above
the sea. Then straight as an arrow,
1t continued its flight towards the
English coast, apparently under per
feet control, at a rate of about 3S
miles an hour. &'
The black-hulled destroyer, Harpon,
kept almost under her aerial compan-
ion. and at, the end OF Is minutes both
f, disappeared in the haze on the hori-
ION. .. ..r
Disappointment at Dover.
Dover, England, July 21.-Saiiing
beautifully in wide sweeping circle the
YytakAr nnAA~n % IN az ArvnwH ar1o
pect of success in his hazardous un-
d~ertaking. Wireless reports had an
| nounced that the machine was out of
T sight n the watchers at Dover were
warned to De on the lookout. The ma
chine never appeared, however, and as
the time passed the greatest anxiety
! prevailed. Soon came the report that
the monoplane had fallen into the sea,
and the hopes Of M. Latham's friends
that he would he the first to accomplish
the channel flight We're dissipated.
Tug1 had been sent u and every
prepa-aticI made for the reception OF
tie avis Gr. The disappointment,
! thorA.3rc, was all the greater when the
/ news cave that the attempt to cross
the chalac had met with failure. It
was not until 80 that denite news
was received here of the rescue of
M. Latham.
A brief dispatch then said the tor
/ pedo boat destroyer Harpon had re-
turned to Calais with the aeronaut
aboard. The monoplane had dropped
into he water some six miles from
the French coast, or shortly after II
disappeared from sight TO Sangatte.
When picked up the monoplane was
still floating and Latham was sitting
calmly In his seat smoking a cigaret.
Kisses the Girls. ,
When the torpedo BOAT destroyer en-
tered the harbor at $50 o'clock with
M. Latham aboard, the aviator re-
ceived a tremendous ovation and on
landing it was with difficulty that he
made his way through the throngs. He
was compelled to kiss several girls,
who threw their arms about his neck.
J NJ. Latham said the motor failed
about IL miles out, and owing to the
slowing down of the engines he was
unable to remain longer i'm the air. The
aviator declared his intention Of again
trying to cross the channel.
The appearance OF the machine, with
its tangle,' guy ropes and displaced
, skids, indicated that 1t was badly dam
aged. The motor, however, is intact.