New-York tribune., 1910-08-19
ACCIDENTS HALT MOISSANT
Aviator Forced to Descend With
in Thirty Miles of London

Chatham. England, Aug. fs.-Two acct-
dents 10 his monoplane to-day brought
down To earth the American aviator John
b Mossant, who yesterday made re-
narkable flight across the English Chan
mel with passenger. on a daring attempt
to fly from Paris TO London. Tonight
Moissant's aeroplane lies partially wrecked
in brick field near Rainham. Kent, about
thirty miles from London.
BY remarkable stroke of fortune,
which seemed TO have followed the almost
unknown and inexperienced aviator on the
first two days of his flights, Moissant and
his Tnechanician, Albert Fiieux. escaped
unhurt. But the machine came heavily 10
the ground, alighting in a narrow space
banked high around with earth and piles
Of broken brick
Moissant resumed his flight from Tilman-
stone al 4:55 O'Clock this morning The
weather was clear and hardly a breeze
stirred the air. Everything seemed favor
able tC the accomplishment of his hopes,
but at O'Clock ne was obliged TO descend
near Sittingbourne. A small pin had be-
come displaced, and almost from the start
fl gave the aviator trouble. After this de-
feet was repaired Moissant reascended,
but before he had gone many miles a con-
Meeting rod broken. which forced him
TO use the planes 10 reach the ground
The aviator is in no wise discouraged at
his misfortune and promises as soon as the
machine is in working order again to make
another start for Crystal Palace, or wher-
ever he can ffnd a suitable landing place in
London.
Moissant spent the afternoon repairing
his damaged machine. His greatest diff
Guilty the securing of another propeller
has been overcome by the offer of J. Arm
strong DrexeI to lend him a propeller from
Drexels own BIeriot. which is duplicate
OF Mossant's propeller. This was uis-
patched from Blackpool tonight. and will
be taken by motor car from London to
Ra;nham.
Moissant wired his grateful thanks 10
Mr.. Drexel. and will resume his journey at
the earliest possible moment. c. Grahane
White also proffered the loan OF his pro-
peiler.
In an interview to-day Moissant said that
Re intended to follow aviation as career.
MY trouble is he continued ''I can't fly
yet I am just learning, and 90 not know
half as much as Latham, Paulhan or
White
Il made the mistake of constructing two
li2LhlNeS before L 70 ny IIty
" ere goers from the start. and can fly from
10 TO i20 kilometres an hour. But they are
TOO fast. You must have speed for sta bill
ity but you cannot learn in fast machine.
That is why l bought Blerio, TO l+arn
with"
Moissant then described his machines
being constructed entirely of aluminium.
One Of them, he said will carry 1900
pounds, yet 1t only weighs $50 pounds. The
second is neither a monoplane nor a BIZ
plane 1t is without single wire stay, and
the planes are bLilt on the bridge principle
and a~o capable OF holding five hundred
pounds on eithe.' erG without bending
When / learn TO fiy with this machine"
said MoLssant 'it viii be a woader.'
Moissant says that he is not of Spanish
descent and insisted proudly to-day TO the
visitors who conversed with him: II am
an American. My parents were French
Canadians. There is no Spanish blood
in ME. think Secretary Knox Will tell
you that he knows me pretty we'll