THE LATE GUSTAV HAMEL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14341, 10 July 1914, Page 5

THE LATE GUSTAV HAMEL

Press Association—Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, July 9. A fisherman found a body off Boulogne, ft was too decomposed to be recognised. He secured a map of the south of Fuglaml from tho clothing and o'her indications pointing fo the body being that of llamri, tho aviator, who was supposed to have been drowned in the Channel.

There has been no more tragic adventure in Briiish aviation than the dramatic disappearance of England’s greatest airman. The Aerial Derby was to be run at Hendon over a course of fit, 1 ,- miles, circumnavigating London, and Hamel, who was in France, proposed to cross tho T'hannel early in the morning in ample time fo fly at Hendon iu the afternoon. He had gone to Paris to obtain a now Manrico-b armaii aeroplane, supposed to bo capable of covering ltd miles in an hour. He left, Hardclot at 12.15 with a good supply of petrol, in a wind blowing

ftrougjy from Ihc west. He had no groat distance Hi traverse; but there was a haze over the land and a fog on the sea, and he wan unfamiliar wi'h bis new racer. From flic time lie left Hanlelot ro'hiug more has been heard of him. Possibility liis engine broke down, and Ibe machine descending on Hie water, and having no buoyancy, would immediately sink, dragging with it its ' dot, who would probably ho strannerl to his Meat. It was one of (he accidents against which no aviator could nrovide. There was not in the world a nurne skilful airman than IJaniel. Though only in lii.s fblh year, ho had in three years down his way into the nllten of most popular and spectacular j:ilot in England or Europe. ft was sufficient for his name !o he included in any programme for the nnblic. to flock to the show to be thrilled by ids daring feats. For Hie last twebe months Hamel had been enjoying his mastery of the air under seutence of de.Vh. He had contracted eousumption; medical men gave him less than twelve mouths to live. Ho was determined that he would /live tho--e few months to Hie very uttermost. Possibly his dr-apticar-anee was attributable to (he veuf uresomeue;ss which this soil it bred. Whatever the cause, England is genuinely mourniug one of the mo.F engaging and plucky airmen she has ever known.