The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-18
ACROSS ENGLISH
CHANNEL WITH
PASSENGER
Greatest Aviation Feat Accom-
pIished BY American
WAS HIS SIXTH FLIGHT
John 3. Moissant Astonishes Man
Bird Circles by Flight Across
Water.

Deal, England, Aug. 1S.-It has been
reserved for an American citizen to
perform one of the most daring feats
in the history of aviation. John b.
Moissant of Chicago yesterday flew
across the English channel, from Ca
lais to Timanstone, with a passenger,
and by this achievement far surpass-
ed the feats of Bleriot, De Lesseps
and the unfortunate English aviator,
Rolls, who later met his death at
Bournemouth.
The two-man flight from France to
England was the more astonishing, as
il was only a month ago that Mois-
SAINT learned to fly, and he made a
few flights and was so little known
among airmen that even his national
ity was not disclosed. He was reput-
ed to be Spaniard, and only when
he landed in England yesterday was
| it revealed that he was young archi-
tect from Chicago. To make the feat
still more surprising, Moissant was
totally ignorant Of the geograhy of
his course He had never been in
England and was obliged to relp en-
tirely on the compass, while the
crossing of the channel was accom-
plished in the teeth Of a strong west
erly wind.
The channel fight was an incident
IN the aerial voyage from Paris to
London. Moissant left Issy Tuesday
In company with Hubert Latham and
reached Amiens in two hours. Lat
hams aeroplane was wrecked and
yesterday morning Moissant, leaving
Amiens at an early hour, headed for
Calais. His mechanician, Albert Fill
eux, who had accompanied him across
the country, took his place in the ma.
chine when the motor was set I'm mo-
ton for the dash across the channel
Thousands who had gathered 10
watch the daring aviator were amazed
and urged him not to make the at
tempt in the face OF the half gale that
was blowing.
Moissant cared nothing for the warn
lngs of the people, and even the fact
that there was no torpedo boat tC
follow in his wake, but only slow
moving tug did not deter him. He
made the trip In 81 minutes. When
he descended his eyes were blood
shot and greatly inlamed, as a result
OF the heavy rainstorm into which
they drove on approaching the En-
glish coast The high wind beat IN,
rain into the faces OF the men lik,
hail and almost blinded them. Ar
average height OF between 300 ant
400 feet was maintained over the wat
or. The aviator expected to land a
Dover but was forced by the wind
few miles north. and made the coas
near Deal. The cold was intense, an,
both Molssant and his mechanlclal
we're benumbed.
His Sixth Flight in an Aeroplane
Molssant seemed to take his monu
mental feat as though Il we're dali,
occurrence. When he revived sufil
ciently he laughed and said to an In
terviewer; This Is my first visit 4
England" Describing his experlenC
es he said; This is only my sixtl
flight In an aeroplane. did no
know the way from Paris TO Calai
when started. and do not know IN
way 10 London I shall have TO rel
on the compass. would like to Ian
In Hyde Park II can find It.. NJ
mechanician, who weighs 1872 pounds
had never been In an aeroplane b,
fore and did not know where | wa
taking when We left Paris. The pc,
PIE tried to dissuade me from maxim
the flight from Calais In the stronI
gusty wind, but In spite OF the pitcl
ing during the crossing OF the char
mel the greatest difficulty encounter
ed In the trip was In the landing. IN
seas and winds causing dangerou
cross.currents."