CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2088, 24 May 1907, Page 4

CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

NARROAV ESCAPE OF SANTOS-

DUMONT,

“I shall not be discouraged by such a trifle as that,” said M. San-tos-Dumont to the Paris correspondent of the London Telegraph, ( 101 l April 4, after flying about 50 yards in the air and coming' tl(bwn with a crash. Fortunately, he escaped without damage, which is more than can be said of liis aeroplane, No. 14 his, which looked like a nondescript wreck. It is a pity that lifter such a great effort the Archdeacon jprize was not won by the intrepid Brazilian aeronaut. But the above words exactly portray his state of mind after the accident, and in a short time we may expect to see him resume his experiments, perhaps under better conditions. The weather was anything but favorable to a trial. A strong wind was blowing early in the morning, the sky was most of the time overcast, and looked quite unsettled. Towards noon, however,

tlie clouds cleared away, and things lookefl rnprc promising. According to the conditions of flip Archdeacon prize, only three days arc given to the aeronaut, once he announces that he is ready, and as this was tlie third day,' M. Santos-Dumont decided to make the attempt, though it was rather reluctantly that ho did so. A big crowd had gathered already in the morning, when it was stated that he might make a trial. Saint Cyr seldom gets a treat like that, and not only officers and cadets, but all tlie “natives” turned out to see the sight. The - military practice ground where tlie experimeiifs are held is situated on a high plateau, about a mile from the station. It is a vast lawn, exteuding over a mile in one direction, perfectly level, and nearly a mile broad. It is an ideal

place for trying any Among the visitors were M. Troude, the “Piqueur” of tlie Elysee, and liis entire household.

At noon, as the experiment had been put off till 3 o’clock, most of the visitors lunched on the lawn, and made a picnic of their outing. At 2 o’clock M. Archdeacon and the mem-' hers of the committee arrived in

their automobiles, and proceeded at once to stake out the kilometre with

little flags on long poles. M. San-tos-Dumont did not return from Paris till about a quarte? to 4, ;an(d was accompanied by M. Voisin and M. Delagrange. Suddenly dark clouds again over-

spread tlie horizon, and the weather looked ominous. The wind was measured, and on an average was blowing only four metres per second, but at times it blew in strong gusts. M, Santos-Dumont made a first attempt, hut just as he started his motor the wind increased in violence. He decided to wait half an hour, anil about

6 o’clock: again sot tho motor going. When someone said ho was risking his lifo ho only Tho tjcy.had again cleared, the wind soomod to calm down, and tlio numerous aportsmoii and officers presont gavo a clioor as tho "motor bogan to purr. In another instant tlio- aoroplano was off almost liko a .shot. It rose in tho air immediately, higher and higher, and'at one time scorned about 25ft from . tho ground, when everybody held their breath as if spellbound. It looked as if everything wore going well, and as if they wore about to witness the epoch-making success of tho flying-machine;. But disappointment came in an instant.

When the; plucky aeronaut seemed to have victory within his grasp, a sudden .gust of wind came along and upset tho balance of his machine. When asked afterwards; how it all happened ho said ho could hardly explain it himself. Ho felt the right wing of the aoroplano suddenly lifted, and tried to counteract it by one of the winglets, but bofore ho was aware of it the machine turned on its sido and he camo down the ground, while going at tho rate of about 50 kilometres an hour. There was a cry of” consternation from everyone, as it was believed that the aeronaut might havo been seriously injured. A hundred persons at once ran to his assistance, but before they could get near him they saw him extricate himself from tho basket and jump out on the lawn, safo and sound. Ho had, indeed, a narrow escape, on which everyone congratulated him. The speed.at which lie had been going, as well as tho height at which he was flying, had pandered it doubly dangerous. Tho lliglit had been over about 50 yards, and the, machine came down a little more than a hundred yards from tlio start-ing-point. When it was ail over *.t was in a pitiable condition. The rudder had come off, the right wing was smashed out of shape, and the bicycle wheels were twisted as if they had beon run over by an automobile. M. Archdeacon was the first to express his regret to the intrepid aeronaut, whose disappointment was very poignant.. The machine was taken in parts to the Shed, and after looking it over M. Santos-Dumont decided that no essential part had been broken, and that it could bo repaired in two or three weeks. He gave orders, therefore, at once to his men to repair it, and, xirizo or no prizo, in a feW weeks lienco lie will bo again ready to try his luck.