Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-18
1wo-Man Flight
 Across Channel
FEATS OF ALL FAMOUS AVIATORS
 FAR SURPASSED.
CHICAGO ARCHITECT
Performs One of the Most Daring Feats in the History of Aviation Starts in Half Gale.

Deal England. August 17.-It has lebeen reserved for an American citizen to perform one of the most daring feats in the history of aviation. John across the English channel from Ca la1s to Tilmanstone, with a passenger and by this achievement far surpa the feats of Bleriot, De Lessepes and the unfortunate aviator Rolls who
 later met his death at Bournemouth.
 Young Architect from Chicago.
 The two-man flight from France to England was the more astonishing as It was only month ago that Mois- sant learned to fly and he made so lew hights and was so little known among air men that even his nation- al1ty was not disclosed. He was re- ported to be Spaniard and only when he landed in England to-day was it from Chicago
 To make the feat still more surpris- ing Moissant was totally ignorant of the geography of his course. He had never been in England and was obliged 10 rely entirely on the compass while the crossing of the channel was ac- complished in the teeth of a stron;; westerly wind.
 Urged Not to Attempt the Feat.
 The channel flight was an incident fn the aerial voyage from Paris to Lon don. Moissant left Issy yesterday in company with Hubert Latham and reached Amins in two hours. Lath- am's aeroplane was wrecked. and this morning MoisSant, leaving Aniens at an early hour. headed for Calais His mechanician, Albert Fifeux, who had accompanied him across the country took his place in the machine when the motor was set in motion for the dash across the channel Thousands aviator were amzed. and urged him not to make the attempt in the face Of the half gale that was blowing.
 Almost Blinded by Heavy Rain.
 An average height of between 30G and 400 feet was maintained over the water The aviator expected to land at Dover. but was forced by the wind 8 few miles north and made the coast near Deal. The cold was intense ard both Moissant and his mechaniclan were benumbed. Moissant seemed to take his monumental feat as though it was a daily occurrence. When he revived sufficiently he laughed and said to an interviewer: This is my first visit to England."
 Describing his experie5,ees he said This is only my sixth flight in a,i aeroplane- I did not know the way from Paris to Calais when I started and I do not know the way to Londan. shall have to rely on the compass. I would like to land in Hyde park if I can find it.
 My nechanician, who weighs 1S3 pounds. had never been in an aero plane before and did not know where was taking him when we left Paris. The people tried to dissuade me from making the flight from Calair in che strong gusty wind, but in spite of the pitching during the crossing of the channel the greater difficulty encoun- cred in the trip was landing the seq and land winds causing dangerous cross currents "
 Paris to London Flight.
 Asked how he came to attempt such | flight as that from Paris to London, | Moissant said that the idea had been 1, discussed in aviation circles in Paris | md had been generally regarded as | m impossibility- He scoffed at this ! notion and declared that not only | would he attempt it himself, but he | would also carry a passenger. He was to hear that Latham had 1 tarted on the flight but determined | o follow him in spite of Latham's 'ig advantage.
 Machine -Wsighs 800 Pounds.
 Mofssant who is S5 years of age s of slight build. but seemingly of cry joviaI temperament. He first wis ted Paris some months ago and be- anne interested in the study of avia- ion. He had two machines built after is own designs and found the sub ect so fascinating that he determined 0 become a practical air man. His l yht to-day was made in a BleriOt lachine, which weighs about S05 ounds. He himself weighs about 15J ounds. so that the total weight to about 1.15O pounds