The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-24
Nothing Is Heard of the Daring AerOpIanist Since
 He Left Calais
THOROUGH SEARCH HAS
 DEVELOPED NO CLUE
Ft Is Believed That Young Grace Has Been Drowned as He Had No Pom toons on His Machine for
 Use at Sea

LondOn, December z5.-Wltn the dp- proach of midnight and no tidings yet of Cecil s. Grace, the intrepid young avia- tor who disappeared Thursday afternoon while essaying a return cross-channel flight from Calais to Dover in an aero plane, the belief generally prevalent in London was that the old North sea had somewhere on its turbulent bosom the story of a tragedy.
 Every nook and corner on shore and on land where it Is thought young Grace might have landed was searched today, but unavailingly; the boats that churned the channel and portions of the North sea on the lookout for the youth or wreckage of his machine likewise report cd that their search had been in vain.
 Grace carried with him petrol sufficient for 9 flight of about five hours. His bi- plane was not fitted with pontoons. Grace wore cock jacket, but in case of a fall into the water he would have been encountered by his heavy fur-lined top boots. The general belief is that it would be impossible for his machine to float for any great length of time, and unless the aviator was rescued by ship bound for some distant port, there is slender hope that he escaped death in the sea-
 Searching All Night
 A great fleet of motor cars were out all night searching every nook of the east coast of England, while warships scat tered along the. shores and dotting the North sea swept the waters with wire less inquiry concerning the air man. These futile efforts were continued today Grace went out for the Baron de For rest prize of s20.o0o offered to the British aviator who in a British-made aeroplene shall cover tine greater distance, including the passage of the English channel during the present year. T. Sopwith had set a mark of 174 miles. Graham-White pre- pared for the competition, but met with serious accident before he could get under way. The days during which the record of Sopwith might be eclipsed were few and Grace decided to make the trip yes terday in the face of adverse weather conditions.
 A heavy fog hung over the channel and obsoured the aviator soon after he as- cended at Dover. He crossed the channel safely and two hours and half from the start passed over Calais. He reached the Belgian frontier and was going fast after sopwith's figures when he encountered adverse winds that compelled him to turn back He alighted west of Calais at 2:1O o'clock and again ascended. pointing his aeroplane toward Dover.
 Enveioped in Fog
 Grace was more enveloped in the fog that had become more dense. Those who saw the start say he took northerly course. It is evident he lost his bearings, for had he had his proper direction he would have reached Dover without trou- ble, as he had the power and his aero plane must have behaved well. Instead o9 approaching Dover, however, he was sighted later far to the northeast, over the Goodwin Sands, the exceedingly dan gerous shoals that extend off the south east coast of England, some seven miles east of Deal.
 At this point Grace made grave mis- take in his reckoning for, with land but a few miles to the west, he veered to the east and when last seen was heading over the North Sea. At this point he was swallowed up by the fog and nothing since has transpired to throw light on his whereabouts.
 The airships and merchant vessels along the east coast were instructed to keep sharp lookout but their wireless ex-
 
 nothing seen of the air man.
 Meantime automobile parties secured the coast in the hope that Grace had descended at some out of the way point at which lack of easy communication might account for his failure to notify his friends of his safety.
 Interest in Aviator Particular interest is felt in the present adventure as Grace is a sportsman avia- tor rather than a professional flyer. He has broken no worlds records but he has made some notable flights. He was born in Chile about 30 years ago, the son of the late John Grace of the banking house of w. R. Grace & Co.,, New York. For mer Mayor Grace of New York was his uncle He was graduated from Colum- bia university and when his parents came 10 this country to live he studied at OK ford. Since the death of his father he has made his home with his mother here. He as long been interested in sports and is member of the Royal Aero club
 Grace first attracted wide attention when his aeroplane suddenly appeared out of the haze and unanswered over the British warships anchored off Sheerness. The start that he gave the navy showed the possibilities of airships as instruments of war. He used a light machine at the time and after leaving the harbor, flew gO miles in 51 minutes, rising at one time at d height of 15OO feet. This was on April 30 last and more recently he had given several splendid exhibitions
 Grace holds a place in the public minds like that enjoyed by the late Capt. Charles Stewart Rolls, who fell to his death from height of 100 feet while giving an exhibition at Bournemouth. England, July 12. Rolls was the first Englishman to fly the Strait of Dover, a feat that made him a popular idol. ' ---------.-----
 Killed By Falling Wall