The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-05
REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISH
MENT

across the English channel. undoubt-
edly marks an epoch in human
events. Even the casual reader will
perceive the difference between the
flight of a dirigible air-ship and the
soaring in a basket with an air cur
rent buoyed up by a gas-bag. To the
critical mind the discrimination is
very great and the successful flight
across the English channel, 21 miles,
In 81 minutes, Is something like the
discovery Of the X-rays Of the identi-
ty or lightning with electricity or
the invention of the steamboat. 1t
shows that men are really navigat-
ing the air with a reasonable de-
gree of assurance and hence the fol-
lowing description by Blierot will in
terest the thinking and reading
world: Z
at Is more important TO be the
first to cross the channel by aeroplane
than to have won the prize of $1,000
Nevertheless / must first acknowledge
the enterprise of the Daily Mail
and its recognition OF the Importance
OF avigation in Offering the prize
which | have had the honor to win.
am glad | have won it. ! am more
than happy that have crossed the
channel
AT first I promised my wife that
] would not make the attempt. Then
/ determined that II one failed
would be the one to come and / am
here.
''At 2:30 o'clock this morning l
rose at the Terminus Hotel, Calais,
and at 3 o'clock I repaired with my
friend Leblanc in a motor car to Bar
raQues. On our way we noticed that
the weather was favorable. Wei
therefore. ordered the torpedo boat
destroyer Escopette. which had gen.
erously been placed at our disposal
by our government TO start. At $3.50
O'Clock we went to the garage and
examined the aeroplane, which Is my
eleventh. We started the engine and
found that 1t worked well. All was
ready for the start. At o'clock
took my seat and made a trial flight
of quarter of an hour around Calais
and its environment The circuit was
about nine and one half miles. de-
scended upon the spot on the cliff
from which | intended to start.
Here | waited for the sun to come
out. The conditions of the prize re-
quired that should fly between
sunrise and sunset. At 4:30 o'clock
daylight had come. Leblanc endeavor-
ed TO see the coast of England but
could not. A light breeze from the
southwest was beginning to blow
The air was Gear. Everything was
prepared. ! was dressed in a khaki
jacket lined with wool for warmth
oyer my tweed clothes, and beneath
my engineers suit OF blue cotton
overalls My closeftting cap was fas-
tened over my head and ears. had
neither eaten nor drunk anything.
My thoughts were only on the
flight and my determination to ac-
complish II this morning.
Eat ABS o'clock the signal was
given, and in an instant was in the
air my engine making 1900 revolu-
tions, almost its highest speed, In
order that ! might get quickly over
the telegraph wires along the edge
OF the cliff. AS soon as | was over
the clifr ! reduced my speed. There
was now no need to force my engine.
] began my flight steady and sure to-
ward the coast OF England. had no
apprehensions. no senations.
.The Escopette had seen me. She
made perhaps twenty-six miles
an hour. What matters? ] was MAX
ing at least forty-tw0 and a half
miles. Rapidly overlook her. travel
ing at height OF 25 feet. The
momentwas supreme. yet surprised |
myself by feeling no exultation. Be-
low me was the sea. its surface dis
Eurbed by tho wind, which was re-
The moment of the waves
beueath me were not pleasant. |