A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.

Auckland Star, Issue XXXVI, 21 October 1905, Page 13

A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.

When we were an hour out, and oaoo feet high, the Channel appeared as a deserted waste of waters underneath. First we were above one cloud mass with the sun visible, then at 8200 feet in the snow area with flakes falling around, theu in clondland, and the sight of the sea lost. The solitude at an altitude of 10,500 feet was now only broken by the distant roar of the sea. By calculating that going from London to Shoreham in an hour and a half, we were moving' at 3 miles an hour, we made out that we should see the coast at Focamp at a quarter-past four. But, descending at ten minutes past four, we could hear, but could not see, the water beneath, there beiDg a perfect carpet of white cloud under us. At twentySeven minutes past four the view of the sea burst upon us, but there was nothing but a waste of water, and we wondered whether we should reach the other sideFive hours after the start we seemed to hear the wash of the sea on the "beach beneath, but could see nothing, and remained iv a state of uncertainty. Another few minutes, and we were descending in mist which we anxiously endeavoured to penetrate, to find at 4500 feet water! At six o'clock, having descended to 3000 feet, our eyes met nothing but the watery expanse, but seagulls came to cheer us in our solitude. Another weary wait, and at half-past six a ship gave us our first sense of humanity. Fishing boats hove in sight, thus betokening the proximity of land, but still we could' not see it. As 'darkness api»roactTi!v:''the JSrena"" camera was strapped into the hoop, so that if we got wet the films of the eclipse might yet be kept dry. At this point Mr Butler ask- ! ed if -his heavy boots were to be removed in readiness for consignment to the deep in case we ran out of ballast. At 3700 feet I noticed and drew Mr Butler's attention to a dark line ahead which appeared first as merely a shadow over the waters, edged with white. It was some time before we could make sure, however, clouds intervened: but at the next descent there could be no doubt we were approaching ten a firma. At a quarter to eight a lighthouse sparkled, and lights appeared along the coast. Darkness was now quite on us. Lower still, and then a shout reached us from the shore, and we held out our arms to those who were, metaphorically speaking, waiting to greet us." The aeronauts effected a descent on open fields, and subsequently found that they had crossed the coast at Land-grune-sur-Mer.