What I Saw
With the speed I was traveling, I passed the finish line — as yachts, oil boats, racing horses, etc, do. — I reduced the engine power and turned aboard; then, coming back, and with less speed, I maneuvered to touch land, which I did in 31 minutes after my departure.
Well, some gentlemen wanted this to be the official time!
Great controversy.
I had with me all the Press and the people of Paris and also Son Altesse Imperiale le Prince Roland Bonaparte, president of the Scientific Commission that was going to judge the matter.
The vote was favorable to me.
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Not two years had passed and the 100,000 francs of the Deutsch prize had been won, which, added to the interest and other small prizes, totaled 129,000 francs, which were allocated as follows: 50,000 francs to my mechanics and the mill workers who had helped me; and the rest to more than 3,950 poor people in Paris, distributed, at my request, by Mr. Lepine, Chief of Police, in donations of less than 20 francs.
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