The sun., 1912-07-17
Hubert 1.atham's Fate.

No French aviator was better known
or more admired by Americans than
HUBERT LATHAM. who was tramplcd to
death by buffalo in the Chair River
region, French Sudan. early in June.
The story that NJ LATHAM took with
him to Africa an acroplane to be used
in hunting big game was fantastic, but
it is a fact that he shot duck from a
monoplane in the marshes near Los
Angeles during tho "mcet' there in 1910,
but only to prove his perfect control of
the machine. The ducks were dcnzcns
Of a preserve owned by the Bolsa Chica
Gun Club, and as flock rose into the
air NJ. LATHAM, using one hand. dis
| charged his gun at them, and by good
luck winged bird After that achieves
ment he was always associated with
hunting game from his Antoinette,
which was really dream ship of the
higher attitudes and not a handy vehicle
for the destruction of wild life.
No man knew better the limitations
Of the acroplane NJ. LATHAM risked
his life in II with sangfroid. At Black
pool England, in 1910, he went up in a
tempestuous wind because he had PROM
ised the Grand Duke MICHEL and his
wife that they should see him fly, rain
or shine, calm or storm. He gave re-
markable exhibition Of manUuvring the
birdlike Antoinette at fearful rate Of
speed. Come down, you splendid fool
cried one enthusiast. ccstatic at the spec
tacle, and terrified. too, by the aviator S
peril. To keep his word he also navi-
gated his great machine in high winds
at Baltimore. confessing aftcrward that
it was foolhardy business. Falling into
the water in an attempt to pass the Eng
lish Channel in 1900. HUBERT LATHAM
was calmly smoking cigarette on top
OF the wreck when the torpedo boat
destroyer Harpon darted to his rescue.
He was the first aviator to fly over the
roofs of Paris; to look down on cities
seemed to have fascination for him
In this country he flew around some OF
the highest buildings in the city of Bal
timore, and by special request hovered
over the garden of Mr.. Ross WINANS to
let the invalid sec an aeroplane in flight
But in December, 1910. NJ. LATHAM bade
farewell to the sport. for such aviation
was to him, although he had won many
prizes in the divine Antoinette." He
was a stranger to fear. 1t was The
growing commercialism of flying that
decided him. "Aviators at meets" he
said. "are now showmen. am not q
Snowman.
Young, handsome. high spirited. and
noted for genial temper that no mishap
could ruflle. HUBERT LATHAM was a
general favortc and the most popAhr
of aviators. He was not Snowman,
"a he said, but an amateur; hardly.
perhaps. under the rules, but in the
best sense. He loved his beautiful
monoplanc not only for the hours of
undisturbed meditation that il afforded
him as it glided through TIE upper
spaces, but for the exhilarat.n .ng perils
that it,. had carried him through To
fall in the excitement Of tn" chase in
a tropical wilderness was perhaps the
kind of end that Frcnchman of
his adventurous spirit might be cx-
pected to come to if he had not been a
knight of the air; but HUBERT LATHAM
was 80 much at home in the fathomless
blue that destiny seems TO have played
him a scurvy trick. 1t is easier to
imagine him sailing of over a tranquil
sea and never being heard Of again.