The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-19
Machine Is Broken But It Will Soon Be Repaired
 and Trip Renewed
MO|SSANT's CAREER HAS
 BEEN FULL 0F ROMANCE
Aviator Has Been In Revolutions In Central America and Has Also Been Leader in FiIibustering
 Expeditions xi


 cidents to his monoplane today brought down to earth the American aviator John B. Moissant who yesterday made . remarkable flight across the Engnsh channel with a passenger in daring at tempt to fly from Paris to London. To- night Moissants aeroplane lies partially wrecked in a brick field near Rainhan at Kent, some 30 miles from London.
 Rv A. remarkable stroke of fortune which seemed to have followed the almost unknown and inexperienced aviator or the first two days of his fight, Moissant and his mechanician, Albert Fileux, es- caped unhurt. But the machine came heavily to the ground. alighting In a narrow space banked high around with earth and piles of broken bricks.
 There it will remain until 1t can be fitted with a propeller now on It's way from Blackpool to replace the one broken by the fall.
 Moissant resumed his flight from Til nanstone at 455 o'clock this morning The weather was clear ana haroiy breeze stirred the air. Everything seemed most favorable to the accomplishment of his hopes, but at o'clock he was obliged to descend near Sitting Bourne small belt had become displaced and almost from the start 1t gave the aviator trouble After this defect was repalreo Moissant reascended but before he had gone many miles a connecting rod was broken, which forced him to use tue planes to reach the ground.
 The aviator is in no way discouraged at his misfortune and promises as soon as the machine is in working order again to make another start for Crystal Far nee. or wherever he can find suit- able landing place. in London.
 Moissant spent the afternoon repair inc his damaged machine His greatest difficulty, obtaining another propeller, has haen overcome by the offer of J. Arm strong Drexel to tender him a propeller from Drexers own Bleriot, which IS dunicate of Moissant's propeller This r,as disnatched from Blackpool tonight and will be taken by motor car rom London to Rainham. Moissant wired his gratitude to MT. Drexel and will resume his tourney at the earliest posslpie mo ment. e. Graham White also pronereo the loan of his propeller
 In an interview today Molssaht saio he intended to follow aviation as career. 1T,
 "Mv trouble is" he continued, T can't fly yet I am just learning and do not know half as much as Latham Paulhan or White.
 q made the mistake of constructing two machines before I learned to ny They were goers from the start and can f1y from no to 120 Kilometres an hour, but they are too fast. You mus' have speed for stability, but you can not learn in fast machine. That is why I bought Bleriot to learn.
 Moissant then described his machines as being constructed entirely Of alum mum. One of them, he said, will car ry 1900 pounds, yet it weighs only SSt pounds The second is neither a mono plane nor biplane. It Is without single wire stay and the planes are built on the bridge principle and are capable of holding 500 pounds on eith- CT end without bending.
 "When I learn to fly with this ma chine" he said, "it will be wonder
 With reference to his nationality Moissant observed, "I think Secretary of State Knox will tell you that he knows me pretty we'll"
 Romance of Moissant's Career
 New York, August 1S.-In Nicaragua and the various other republic of Cen tral America where many Americans ol adventurous spirit have staked theii lives and reputation on their quick ness with a gun, John Moissant bears a reputation savoring of romance. Stor- les of Moissant were told here today by former residents of Central Amer ica.
 At the time Moissant was sojourn- ing in Honduras it was told today by a Nicara guan. tramp steamer loaded with a cargo valued at something like $100,000 was cast ashore during a storm and abandoned. That night in the teetf of the gale Moissant made his way alone to the steamer in a small dugout and took possession of the vessel. Ir the morning the storm abated and the ships captain accompanied by members of the crew rowed out to the ship which had withstood the pounding o the sea and wind but which was helt fast on sunken reef in the outer har. bor. They were halted by a shot by Moissant's revolver. Moissant claimed the ship and her cargo as salvage ano threatened to blow the head off tho first man who tried to come aboard
 There was d second expedition to the ship, this time with the American con. sul and some native soldiery, but tt show his sincerity of purpose Moissani shot hole through the sombrero o the native commandante. The expedi tion returned to shore for reinforce. ment of artillery, but during the nigh storm swept the harbor and the yes sel foundered
 Moissant was taken off later by ths American consul, who found him lashet to the topmast rigging, only a few feet above the water.
 Previous to this exploit, Moissant ap peareo Tn the news column as handlns rapid ire gun for the Nicaraguans ir an attack on Salvador during one of thu recent outbreaks there.
 The Moissant brothers, George, Alfred and John, and two isters for many yeari had interests valued at several hundred thousands dollars in Salvador. In 190 George and Alfred Moissant were imprIs oned on charges of aiding the revolution fists of Salvador John was actively impli csted in the movement against Presiden Tigueroa.
 When the revolutionists were repulset \ by government troops at Acajutla Johi Noissant fled to Nicaragua. His brothers later were released, but their propert, \Xaa attached by the gQxernment aa