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who hardly knew where to take his route. He endeavored to turn sharply to the right in order to win some clear space, but the movement was too brisk, and, fearing a heavy fall or a complete turnover, he cut the gas and descended. In touching the ground one of the wings was slightly damages and a wheel bent. He had covered exactly 210 meters. The scene which followed was one note easily forgotten. The vast crowd broke out into one united roar of cheering, and M. Jacques Faure, forcing his way with ponderous strokes to where the Bird of Prey lay, seized M. Santos-Dumont and bore him in triumph among the people. It was with difficulty that the popular aeronaut escaped safe and sound from the hands of his wellwishers, who clung about him, shook his hands and cheered him to the skies. 
What Dumont Says.
It was certainly a true moment of triumph for the principle of "heavier than air." Those who had seen the flight had no doubt that the problem of mechanical flight was solved. For them a few alterations, a little more speed and the flying machine becomes a tremendous reality. 
Two prizes fall into M. Santos-Dumont's hands by the performances today. Both were offered by the Automobile Club of France. 
The first is 100f., to the aeronaut traveling 100 meters. There is no prize for 200 meters, or naturally, M. Santos-Dumont would have taken that. 
"I am very pleased," said the champion of the hour to a correspondent, when he had been liberated from his friends, "but am also very disappointed that I was prevented from completing a much greater distance by reason of the stupidity of the crowd, which in its eagerness to see everything came beneath my machine. 
"When I saw the mass of people beneath me I confess I lost my nerve. I hardly knew what to do to avoid a serious disaster. I could hardly judge what clearance I had above the people's heads, and I decided hesitatingly to turn to the right. But for the moment my nerve was gone, and I felt the only thing was to descend as best I could. 
Will Do Better.
"You see the situation was quite new and unforeseen. I did not think that the people would be so idiotic as to actually put themselves in my way. Thus when the incident did happen I had to endeavor to do several things at once-keep an eye to my line of flight, endeavor to avoid the crowd and look out for a clear landing place. It was too much. 
"I have every reason to think that I should have covered a kilometer at least, as I was well in the air, perfectly balanced, and my motor was working exceedingly well. I shall be glad if for my future experiments I can get permission from the authorities at Longchamps to employ the racing field, which, being railed in, would leave me free to operate."
This last opinion was generally expressed by the sportsmen present. Hope was expressed that the race committee would view the matter favorably, and allow M. Santos-Dumont the benefit the privacy of the track would afford him. Somewhere, at any rate, in a few days' time, M. Santos-Dumont will again attempt to capture the Deutsch-Archdeacon prize. 



In twenty-one seconds the Bird of Prey flew 210 meters (about 685 feet), at a height of between two and three meters (about 10 feet) from the ground, and there is every reason to think that M. Santos- Dumont would be at this moment the winner of the Deutsch-Archdeacon prize of 50,000f. ($10,000) had it not been for the stupid conduct of a section of the crowd which thronged the field. 
Early this morning, the Bird of Prey was wheeled from Hangar, at Neuilly to the starting point, where a hundred people had assembled. Among the well-known sportsmen there were Marquis de Dion, M. Rene de Knyff, M. Deutsch de la Meurthe, M. Surcouf, the Comte de Lambert, MM. Archdeacon, Capterrer, Rousseau, Besanoc, Journu and most of the active members of the Aero Club, including M. Jacques Faure. 
Two Machines There. 
The entire field was surrounded by automobiles, the occupants of which had descended to witness the remarkable proceedings. The occasion presented a special interest, as at another point of the field M. Bleriot's aeroplane was also being equipped for flight, and for the time it was conjectured there might even be a keen contest in the air between the two machines. 
Shortly before 10 o'clock the first experiment with the Bird of Prey commenced. The motor, affected by the chilly air, did not give its maximum force, and although flight was attained it did not extend in any instance for more than fifty or sixty meters. The length of the field was taken several times, and it was amply demonstrated that M. Santos-Dumont could steer in any direction he desired almost as easily as with an automobile. He turned and steered in a most simple fashion, even with the wheels upon the ground, be he failed to obtain a definite flight. 
VBy 12 o'clock it was decided to postpone further experiments until 2 o'clock, as one of the wheels required adjusting after a slight shock in descending. Meanwhile the Blerlot machine was executing various ma-neuvers up and down the field, but the two wooden propellers with which it was fur-nished hardly seemed to have sufficient grip upon the air. Moreover, the motors were not sufficiently au point.
The machine refused to leave the ground Experiments with this aeroplane were put to an end for some time to come by reason of an accident of a curious nature. The man in charge was busily occupied doing something to one of the two motors, and had diverted his attentian from the routes. The result was that the heavy structure bounded across the road at the far end of the field, and the shock was so great that the propellers were smashed and the frame splintered. Fortunately, no one was hurt. There was nothing left to do but cart the apparatus away for alterations and repairs.
Running Start.
At 2 o'clock a breeze was blowing. M. Santos-Dumont thought it was too strong, and this view was shared by M. Archdea-con and other aeronauts present. It was decided to wait. The Bird of Prey was thoroughly overhauled in the presence of an immense crowd, which continued to linger, completely fascinated by the prospect of witnessing some sensational performance. it was amply rewarded. At 4 o'clock most of the wind drooped and an effort was decided upon. 
M. Santos-Dumont climbed into the cage and gave [?] huge machine rushed forward and within a few seconds was flying. But it came to earth at the end of forty meters or so, though not to a standstill. The motor con-tinued to turn, and again the soaring move-ment commenced.
This time all records were beaten. In seven and one-fifth seconds 82.60 meters were covered, and the enthusiasm was gen-eral. Night was now closing in and a final attempt was agreed upon. This time it was decided to proceed in the opposite direction, against whatever wind was blowing. The vast crowd formed into two long lanes down the center of the field. There was a general hush as the motor began to turn, and then a shout of satisfaction as it was instantly noticed that at last "Cadonne bien" (The Bird of Prey) bounded off like a flash, and within twenty yards was tearing through the air at nearly forty kilometers an hour.
Panic-Stricken Crowd.
Down the long lane of people M. Santos-Dumont steered his wonderful ship, perfectly balanced and steady as a veritable bird. All along the line of a roar of triumph broke out, and in the general excitement those people grouped further along the line closed in on the advancing aeronaut's path.
M. Santos-Dumont saw that there was only one thing to do. He raised the head of his machine and soared upward until he was above the people, still traveling and rising all the time. Then the women be-neath took fright and commenced to scat-ter and rush hither and thither. One or two women fell and the confusion was gen-eral. 
All this tended to unnerve M. Santos-