Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-07-16

used Same Machine In Which He
Travelled In His Race From Albany
70 New York--Also Makes Ascent
With a assenger-Brookins and
Coffyn Make Sensational Flights
Before Cheering Thousands.
Atlantic City, July FIFTY miles
z over an entire sea course was covered
yesterday by Glenn H. Curtiss in d
biplane OF his own design in | hour
and 10 minutes. establishing a record
for 50-mile flight in America.
Curtiss selected height OF about
400 feet above the waves and drove
his craft at a speed averaging 40
Iniles an hour for the entire distance.
There was a light breeze from the
south and the conditions were wall
adapted for the flight. The course,
two and half miles in length, was
marked by range flags. covered the sea
front Of the resort which was crowd
ed with 100000 spectators.
1t was at first planned to have 4
triangular course, but owing to the
trouble found in holding stake boat
at anchor the ranges were substituted
which suited the aviator just as well.
Six minutes and six seconds were al
lowed for the turns, the fight being
measured for "straig htaway course. -
After the finish the aviator ex.
@lained that because of diagonal
zgind, with which at times he was
Toreed to contend. the time lost equal
led about Is minutes, which under
more favorable conditions would low
er the record made yesterday a quar-
Ter of an hour.
Used Old Machine.
Curtiss covered about 60 miles
while in the air and when he glided
down to the strand the machine was
IN perfect working order. 1t is the
same biplane in which he made the
long flight from Albany to New York.
He crossed the starting point at
5.2450. He covered the opening halt
Jap in 3 IL minutes. The first lap
of five miles was done in s minutes
10 seconds. The score showed the
second lap OF five miles was the fast
est in the 10 reeled off, 6 minutes and
I 2-5 seconds.
Carried Life Preservers.
The quickest turn he made was on
the lower range during the second
zap, which he rounded in rs seconds
Owing TO the flight being confined to
Ehe sea Curtiss was compelled for
safety to carry pontoons and life pre-
servers. which added about rs pounds
more than usually carried when the
sfplane is in cross-country racing
runs.
Before descending, after completing
tshe 10 laps Curtiss sent his bplane
soaring over the city, going from end
Eao end of it.
Wins $1,000 prize.
Through covering the distance Cur
,1iss wins the 5000 prize. Ms Cur
rlss was among the first TO greet him.
Walter Brookins and Frank Coffyh,
iais rivals. flying the Wright machine.
were among those who crowded
around him and extended their con-
gratulations over the splendid flight
In the early evening Curtiss set a
new mark for quick climbing by
sweeping h'b machine l 900 feet in the
air in 5 minutes and seconds.
Curtiss' spectacular climb OF l.
800 feet into the air came at the end
ot a thrilling series OF exhibitions Of
eayipg that kept the big crowd of
spectators on the Boardwalk and
sseach in a succession OF cheers.
Doing Stunts In the Aair.
Brookins started up Immediately
after Curtiss landed from his long
datght and described sharp curves and
~arns. ending with his first exhibition
II a triple turn that almost stood his
gnachine on end. Brookins and Coffyn
then went up together, with Brookins
driving the biplane getting aff well
after a false start caused by a loose
ginning rail. Later in the day Coffyn
~ent up alone. giving another thrill
ing exhibition of turning and swoop-
ing. During his lone flight Brookins
made a 1,000-foot sweep along the
beach just over the heads Of the
crowd, ending by driving his machine
aver the breakers, hardly a foot from
me surf
SJurtiss and Brookins had hardly
banded on the beach before Curtiss'
machine rose in the air carrying Lin
-soin Beachey, the professional diri-
gible balloon driver, perched behind
<~urtss and standing close to the whir
ring engine. The crowd yelled in APP
probation Of the daring feat while
-3eachey waved his arm among the
tangle of wires in a return salute.
The two men rose to height OF
100 feet, and circled over the sea be-
gore they made a landing