The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-08
LATHAM MAKES
REMARKABLE TRIP

Baltimore, Md, Nov. Yesterday
Hubert Latham probably was the only
aviator in Baltimore who believed he
would accomplish fight of nearly
| twenty-five miles, about half of ii over
this city. Predictions that he would
! be killed, that he would fail in the
attempt, and that he would not even
make the venture were abundant Last
| night Latham was hailed on all sides
as hero who had accomplished the
| impossible
He established new record fo.
over-city flight and disclosed new pos
sibilities in aviation
The incentive for the flight was
prize of $4,000, offered by The Sun for
a trip over a prescribed route from
and returning to the aviation field.
Latham was to follow the course If
the Patapsco river from near the avia-
ton field to Fort McHenry, whose ban
ner furnished Francis Scott Key the
inspiration for his famous poem, thence
up the inner harbor to and around The
Sun building, thence east to the CITY
limits, mile north, and thence west
to Druid Hill park, down Charles street
to Baltimore and thence again west
and later southwest to the aviation
field There was to be a short detour
for the benefit of Ross. Winans a
wealthy invalid who, unable TO leave
his home, offered an additional $500
If Latham would come within his range
of vision
All this Latham accomplished and
into the programme he injected some
wonderful evolutions. He varied his
altitude from 400 to 1000 feet and had
to contend with wind blowing from
seven to fifteen miles an hour. HnI
used his fifty-horse power Antoinette
and was in the air forty two minutes.
1t Is estimated that the fight was WITT
messed by half a million people.
Every point of vantage about the
city was occupied All the tall build.
ings in the downtown section were
avaiied of by thousands and by noon
every roof top was black with people
Even low buildings had hundreds of
spectators and many more thousands.
unable to get places on roof tops, |
crowded into the downtown thC~ough- |
fares or sought parks and open spaces.
At IL o'clock the whole city seemed
to stop work and begin watching, and
the excitement was added to by the
terrific hubbub which steam whistles
set up. Some minutes later word came |
from Halethorpe that the airman was
ready, and then in moment or two
the city hall bell began signalling that |
Latham had actually started.
In few moments more those on the !
tall buildings saw faint speck in the |
general din of Halethorpe. This soon
grew until it was easily distinguishable !
1t was Latham's great Antoinette float |
ing eastward
Borne by the stirring breeze, which |
aided him greatly, Latham flew straight
and true for Fort McHenry, and when
he was almost directly over the his
toric spot he slowly curved around, |
and heading in generally northwest |
erly direction, steered for the crowded |
~grandstands" in the skyscraper dis
trict.
Arriving over Baltimore street in
the neighborhood of Calvert street.
he made another turn and in a second
or two was off for Patterson Park. /
Soon he was again headed northwest
and bound for Druid Hill Park. Here
again he met with head winds and
turned toward Charles street. Curving
round the Belyedere hotel he flew to
about the line Of Calvert street and
there, some 1000 feet in the air, per-
formed a series Of aerial gyrations.
back and forth for the edi-
tication Of Mr.. Winans.
Possibly four minutes covered the
time that Latham spent near the WI
home and thpr he |
for the skyscrapper district again
Over The Sun building he wheeled
westward and near the edge Of the
city bore away southwest for the avia-
ton field.
There were real competitions at the