LATHAM'S FEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1910, Page 3

LATHAM'S FEAT.

VISIT TO A SHOOTING PARTY. The Marquis de Poligiwc's guests at a shooting party were just about to si* down to a lunch, when one of those who had l>een invited was stiM missing. "1 am sure he will come," said the nnirquis, "because he promised me faithfully to be here." "Oh, there he is* coming, perhaps," exclaimed some of the guests, pointing to an aeroplane which had appeared on the horizon and was coming towards them. Sure enough, it was he. It could only be Latham, the missing guest. The aeroplane was the wellknown Antoinette, with its beautiful, swallow-like hnn. It could be piloted against, a >ciff wind by none other liun Latham, the guests rushed out in excitement. Nearer and nearer came thtv elegant' monoplane, and, after describing a circle above Uie neighboring village, it hunted gracefully in lront ot the chateau like a huge bird that had .-'elected the exact spot, and made a few circles l>efore alighting. A« the aeroplane came to rest on th« ground, M. Latham—for it was be---jumped out with a gun slung over h:* shoulder and in regular shooting oiit.'il. ,

"i just wante dto show you mat on aeroplane could serve a practical purpose," was his mnark to the other guest*, who came to shake hands witn Jiiiu and to i-ongniUilalc him on the performance. The host was' well awar»i that M. Latham would come to the rendezvous in this way, as the spot for alighting had been chosen the day before, but he wished to keep it as .•' surprise for the other guests, who included the Prince de l'oligilac, the Com!* Adrien jle Moutcbello, and tlie i'rinee de Caraman-l'hinuy. The distance, from the aeroplane house at Uouy to Uio' village of Herru, Dear Rheims, where thft party was invited, is about twenty miles. M. Latham said tnat he n;ui,,— taken let's than half an Hour lor Uie i journey. The wind was rather strong j against him, but he has by this timo I learned to battle suvcosstully against I the treacherous blasts. _ I After sinning in thu lunch and having I some good shooting with the rest ot I the partv, M. Utham went back to I Jlourmelon Je (.rand as he had come. I lie placed his gun and a lew oilier ■ things behind him on the s<eat, and with- ■ out "the help of a mechanician started ■ on his return journey about ionr o'clock, ■ followed by the cheers of the ■ members of the party. He soon ''''sap- ■ pea ml out of sight, and at 4:U) Jw ■ huided in front, of his shed. ■