Untitled

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 6

The body of Gustav<f Haroel, the youthful intrepid aviator, who disappeared from human ken during a crossr Channel flight some weeks ago, has been found washed up off Boulogne. It is a sad ending to a brilliant career. Ilamel was in truth one of the last bird men the world could afford to lose. Though but 25 years of age, he had established himself as one of the most splendid aviators that have ever handled the controls. His dare-deviltry in the air was not so much a spectacular recklessness as a combination of abnormal daring plus a natural instinct for the great game of competing with the eagles. Ilis astonishing loop-the-loop l'eats demonstrated his cool dexterity, and a remarkable confidence in the merits of his planes. Ilis position in the popular mind was made clear by the general anxiety evidenced throughout England and the Continent at his dramatic disappearance. Exhaustive search was made immediately following his failure to arrive in time to compete In the Aerial Derby, and,the worst was feared when it was known that Hajnel was aboard a new machine, a Maurice Fjtrinan monoplane, which had been built specially: for the aerial contest around London. The 'plane was reported to be able to muster the tremendous speed of 140

miles an hour, and now that it is known Ham el was drowned in or about the Channel, the only conclusion that can be arrived at is that- the engine broke down. It is nothing short of ironic tragedy that this daring pilot, after challenging death so many times in the clouds and escaping scatheless, should have met his end in one of the simplest of aviation ventures. A second instance of the kind is afforded by the sad death of Latham, another plucky airman, who survived all the dangers of the air only to be gored and trampled to death by a crazed buffalo in South Africa. It is a mysterious chance that works so ironically. Gustave Hamel's death has robbed the flying world of one of its most cheerful—even though he was doomed by consumption to an early decease— most intrepid pilot?. And it adds to the sting to know the unhappy manner of his dying.