The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-15
STARTS FROM SHIP
LANDS ON SHORE
AVIATOR ELY PROVES PRACTiCA.
BlliTY OF AEROPLANE IN
NAVAL WARFARE


launched from the deck of n war ves-
sci giiaed safely away shore ward an
I'll Il disappeared like a tins sp"ck on
the horizon 1t WAS lie ourttsa hi-
plane the same Hudson Fulton ftsef
that made the trip tram Albany Ia
New YORK, and was pfloted from me
forward deck of the scout cruiser i3lr-
ningham h3 f.ueone Il. Ely, who gave
tts Hestr a hair raising exhibition ~
daring a. amy ri the spectators bad
before ever witnessed
Determined to maize tie attempt
despite rain and wind, MhicR aed beHn
coming IN saHalS throughout the after
noon. the aviator s,lided from the In
elined platform which had been I'm
provised on the Birmingham before
many Of the Officers OH litfttfd the shin
knew what Nas happening. SWoop-
ing off cledr OF the ships bow, the
aeroplaue first dropped lower and iaFs-
er and then with a splash seemed to
dive directly into the water, IL rest
Cd Oh the surface ta6menturiiy, while
hiueJa ISets of four naval vessels stood
al the- lifthot.ts, ard then arose little
by little il had reached 81 height OF
fe9 feet ai more when IL made II
straight fright for the family discern
bic share inc toward Norfolk.
=
md one half miles from. the l3irnting
ham, us was learned latter when Il
launch. with Capt ~ l. Chambers aud
a party of naval officers aboard. went
ont from the scout To pick up ana
bring back the aviator Until MIR
Eiy's safe return aboard ship. nearly
an hour later. nome knew whether lac
rad landed safely or not, or wheth-
or he had landed on land or in the
water. onls the splendid control with
Which Mr. 4isly e&trieated himself from
his difficulty after starting argued
that he was undoubtedly safe.
Rescue Work Was imminent
Had the spectators or naval officers
known what lad happeded or was
! happening on the flight 1t is certain
thai the rescue work would have been
begun before MIR. Ely had gotten we'll
under way. and that the lit"boats on
all vessels present would have been
manned and ready fer instant servtee,
As Il matter of fact. the biplane.
when ii struck the water, had both its
prgpelers somewhat damaged. while
the splash and sparF temporarily
Blinded MIR. Ely with salt water, which
made useless his goggles and prevent
/ ed him from seeing either altitude or
direction,
lie Was simply Lost.
- ~.
+ Ely expiained later III was a very
! dark day ANYWAY. and the rain and
mist added to the saltwater spray
/ had blinded ms. Hy the time had
wiped my goggles and could get my
hearings / fonna myself making for 4
beach, and. choosing a cona enient
spot near the hampton Roads Yacht
club. landed with no trouble Had
ed the machine nm again and fried to
20 Laek to whsre ruyna from
Mr. E>fQtx intention nta been "a
make a fiteht from me birmingham
IN nlafion Tb{s W. also "a. nlaY
81 the navy depsrtment ana the Btfm-
tngham WIN ne desfrnVers 100 and
/ trer,V ana th, tot,,ado baots S,rtnt-
ham and BAILEY were ctese nv win
st.a, M nm reaaVet1 nroeast on, ,nta
tbp h8v for fhr stavt nm, th4 ,{sa,o.,
was "a so1allv ana inoartain tbet Tim
aviator ttofttedI nv a t,,,s. GrI,,ts.,,
squalls 10 uet uuder wa foarinle
tfttt n he Nyti,ea thn s,a,t n,tgbt bst,e
To he nostnonad for M asfe The
aeronfane faft mo shin vsh;ie he shin
was nsf pullinu M It's auchnr II
us nj. 49, 49, a.
I ticnlarN haz4rfla1ta syhirh 'wn,,il nat
/ al all have been tbe ease had me
3 SHiI, hapu in tn1finr
,
,,,f,.- :" I'm 7'opi'o ''ip
- - -. @ittP atssst,ins 't'iS ~
Wv " Ni9ftS f'pHF" ri =" htfatSi Aht
80 - 'ia'' VIM ia {
1 NJ. wnaId .,at tba ban.n, ,r tc.a n
milo heaa-on brcaze when y,o,1fd al
/ min, 10 rise
! The r,inatvaY IL n,,tu e ia, io,,
and Tho distance ths ,eronlana co1f,t
travel from Hs no4ition n, me hnu. ar
the shin ia am e. f..st ,ri,5.@,,f
form has an IneIin. of five dser4s.
ana a1lnvad q d,a,,,- - a., 80 80
wafer mis- inefina 1oa,.e M -.
pyan. downward nitch and ua,.,1
ott1cer4 though, CAM, neaf eane4n,, ~
hreakdonn If ,he nfgbt
.tsutjrc N, En,t,"
NJ, E,lv hold mo dorrnrc.,.t a,..,5
IL he from another ca,,s.
,arhat was my ou=., ra,i," 10 coil
linking ~ his vntash ".ntf,.,l,, ,,,,, 49,,
fanlt The controi unst, 80 80 ,f,t,a
longer than rho ono m, ,,s,d r.
ANA didn't barit., - o,,i,. ,f,tft e.,
nr co,trss tbs fatt ,hat ~, III, - 80,
not nn5,r,g u5as 800. 49,, y ~