The San Francisco call., 1910-06-03
Sails TO French Coast and Back
Without AIighting in a
Wright BiplaneD
MAKES HIS JOURNEY
IN NINETY MINUTES
Machine Outstrips Three Tor
pedO Boats in Fast Flight
Above Water
TRIP ACCOMPLISHED
BY GREAT BALLONIST

INOVER, Eng, June 2.-The Hon.
Charles Stewart Rolls, captain
in the London section of the
army motor reserve, driving a Wright
biplane, vindicated the Anglo-Saxon
aeronautics by crossing the English
channel twice this evening without
alghting He made the round trip
between Dover and Calais in 90 min
utes.
While two Frenchmen, Louis
Bleriot and Count de Lesseps, have
crossed the channel in an aeroplane.
it remained for an Englishman in an
American machine to perform the
double feat. The distance across be-
tween the two points is p miles. so
that his overwater fight of AZ miles
without stop establishes a new
record.
Faster Than Boats
Captain Rolls left Dover at $50
o'clock Atmospheric conditions were
excellent. He lost no time in maneu-
vers. but after describing circle
headed toward the coast of France.
In anticipation of the flight. torpedo
boats steamed at full speed across the
straits, but the pace of the aereplane
was swifter.
Captain Rolls sent his machine to
height of 500 feet, and at that altitude
he SKINNED through the air like
great bird. The motor worked per
fectly. The crowd that watched the
start confidently awaited the return.
and it was not long before the spcck
which those who had telescopes saw,
disappear on the French coast reap
peared. growing larger with every
minute.
When finally the aviator became Wis
ible to the naked eye cheers arose from
the spectators, and as he SCARED toward
the landing place made famous by
BIeriot he was given a demonstration
He alighted at o'clock at almost the
same spot as BIeriot showing little
signs of the strain of his magnificent
fight.
Praises His Machine
Captain Rolls said that much of the
credit was due to the biplane. which
ran perfectly throughout the whole
flight, not missing sparkling once.
AS he was passing over sangatte the
aviator dropped a paper tied with trf-
color ribbons. containing the following
message:
Greeting to the Aero club OF France.
dropped from a Wright aeroplane
crossing from England to France. Viva
TEntente.''
Rolls left Dover at $50 O'Clock and
in splendid time reached the French
coast. He cireIed twice over Sangatte
cliffs. near Calais. and then, without
stopping his engine. turned his aero
plane back to the British shore
The distance across the channel is
21 miles; so Captain Rolls accomplished
an overwater fight of AZ miles. making
a new record for this particularly dan
gerous course.
Circles Cliffs and Returns
The weather was perfect. The prog
ress of the aviator was watched with
the aid of glasses until he was within
two miles of the French coast. when
the aeroplane vanished from view
After circIing the cliffs Of Sangatte.
Rolls headed straight to sea and made
the return at a rapid pace. Three tor
pedo boats which had been strung
across the channel in anticipation OF
the flight, started simultaneously with
the birdman when he set out for
France. but though the boats were
driven at full speed they were soon
overhauled and passed by the aviator
A Famous BaIIoonist
NEW YORK. June 2.-Captain Rolls
is the third aviator to cross the Eng
lish channel in an aeroplane. The
first was Louis Bleriot. the second
Count Jacques de Lesseps. Hubert
Latham twice essayed the feat, but
each time fell into the water.
Charles Stuart Rolls is the third son
of Lord Langattock. hence he is an
Honorable AS a younger son, he
was intended for the diplomatic service.
but he showed such a strong bent for
science and mechanics and so much Of
an aversion for other studies that his
parents became convinced that Il was
choice between a promising inventor
and a poor diplomat. They. therefore
decided to let the young man have his
| own way. He accordingly went tq