New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-17
BUFFALO KILLS LATHAM
Aviator Gored to Death in
French Congo Hunt.
FRANCE MOURNS ITS HERO
Stricken with Incurable Malady,
Pioneer Flyer Quit Air
for Jungle.

Paris, July 1s.-The news Of the death
II Hubert Latham, famed as pioneer in
aviation, who was killed by q wild buff
falo during a hunt In the French Congo,
has caused sorrow throughout France,
where he was a national hero because Of
his brilliant contributions to French sue
cesses in flying during its earlier and
most difficult stages. The newspapers
here pay tribute to him as a valorous
young sportsman, who dedicated his edu-
cation and his fortune TO the advance
ment of his country's cause.
Latham was for a long time convinced
that he was stricken with an incurable
naady. and it was to fight this disease,
according to his friends. that he tenn
porarlly abandoned aviation and sought
seclusion and health in the wilds Of
Africa.
The Temps" points out this evening
that Latham was friend and relative Of
the German Imperial Chancellor, DIR. Won
Bethmann- Hollweg
The Governor General Of French Equa-
toral Africa, Martial Henri Merlin, IN
telegraphing to-day the news Of Latham's
death to the Minister Of the Colonies
said that the fatality occurred on June l.
Latham, was out with a number OF ma
tives in the forest when he shot and
wounded buffalo. which Immediately
charged him and gored and trampled him
TO death.
Latham met death on the Chart River
near the Bahr-es-S alamat, practically in
the centre of the French Soudan, in the
direction of Lake Chad.
Hubert Arthur Charles Latham, pioneer
in moneplane flying. was born in Paris
OF English parentage on January 10, 1855.
Following preparatory training IN Frehch
schools. he attended oxford one year, sub
seouent 10 qualifying for the law. After
one year at the English university he
served in the French army as a private
then became connected with shipping
company He abandoned business Tor
travel, and spent more than year hunt
ing in Abyssina and the Sudan.
Latham was the first aviator to gain
distinction In a monoplane. in February
1905. in company with his cousin, Jacques
Faure, an aeronaut. he made balloon
trip across the English Channel. voyaying
from the Crystal Palace, London. 10 the
gates Of Paris in six hours. On July IT,
1909, he made an unsuccessful attempt 10
cross the Channel in a monoplane, whlch
was considered daring feat at that time
He fell into the sea. owing to his moor
breaking down, and on his second attempt
IN the same month he met similar fate.
His next appearance was in the races ct
Rheims. France, where he won the endur-
ance race, with a flight OF about ninety
six miles, on August y, but the next cay
he was beaten by Farman, with liO miles.
In October Latham went TO England,
where he broke his machine In making
flight at the Blackpool meet, but escaped
injury. On October % he rode out heavy
gale, and attained the then unprecedented
speed Of one hundred miles an hour, and
in November, In France. he established a
record for height Of about sixteen hun
dred feet, with the wind blowing to:ty
miles an hour. In the following January
ne made the new height record Of $3.50
N feet at Mourmelon, France.
al He then went to Egypt, and in flight
" at Heliopolis was uninjured although his
machine was smashed, when he fell 20
feet to the ground. In April he fell into
the sea while making an exhibition for
the Kings OF Denmark and Sweden at
boat unhurt In August he flew across
Paris at high altitude, winning The
Falco prize, and then packed up and came
TO New York 70 take part in the first
aviation meet at Belmont Park, in which
ne was placed fourth in the aviation race.
Latham later went TO Baltimore, where
he made several flights and won $3.50 in
prizes. Then he went TO San Francisco
and Los Angeles. making flights at both
places and narrowly escaping death on
two occasions while flying. From the Pa
cihc Coast he sailed for the Orient and
made long tour in Asia
In December Of last year he started on
his last and fatal hunting trip In the
Congo, taking with him his monoplane
and big outfit for big-game hunting He
was splendid shot, and as daring in the
field as he was In his aeroplane.