The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-17
FLEW FROM Ship
Ely Flies in a BipIane From lhe Deck Of
The Cruiser Birmingham.
FIVE MILES TO Shore

First Flight of the Kind the World
Has Ever Seen-Naval Expert
Declares That Flight is Proof
Of the Utility Of Air Craft h
War.
"A dispatch from Fort Monroe, Va.
says aerial navigation proved Mon-
day that it Is a factor which must
be dealt with in the naval tactics
of the worlds future, if the success
full flights made by Eugene B. Ely
in Curtiss biplane from the deck or
the crusier Birmingham can be TAX
en- as a criterion.
From Hampton Roads, the scene
45 years ago Of another epoch-mak-
ing experiment in the history OF ma
val warfare, when an ironclad prov
ed its superiority over the former
type Of fighting vessel, the aviator
Monday Flew across the lower end
of Chesapeake bay, landing on the
opposite side from this fort.
In weather conditions unfavorable
for flying, the daring birdman short
ly after 8 o'clock Monday afternoon
glided from the platform erected ON
the front of the big black crusier.
swooped down like an immense bird
Of prey until he touched the water,
then rose rapidly into the misty air
of the lower bay and was off in tho
direction of the broad Atlantic.
Five minutes after having taken
his sudden farewell Of the Birming-
ham he was lost speck on the cas-
tern horizon and had landed safely
on Willoughby Spit. The impact
with which the big machine struck
the water after its 37zfoot drop from
the front of the crusier caused one
of the propeller blades to be jagged
as though coarse saw had gone
along its edge and a small piece was
split from the blade. But not for
an instant was the speed Of the aer-
oplane lessened and it darted away
with express-train rapidity on its
victorious flight. .gl
Intermittent rain throughout the
day, small hail showers, and con-
tinuous fog, almost compelled .tha
aviator. to postpone his fight. Bat
he was determined to prove, as he
| said after the flight, that he could
accomplish more than had been ex-
! pected Of him.
4 Furthermore, he did not wait for
the Birmingham to get into motion
which would have added to his mo.
mentum and have been great help
to him, but, seizing an opportune
moment between showers, he was off
before those who we're on the ship
with him and on the other vessels
stationed at various points nearby TO
follow AMI assist him in case Of need
were aware that he was ready for his
wonderful flight. the first of its kind
the world has ever seen.
! Ely proved that is it possible TO
fly safely from a ship, and after hay
ing done this asserted with empha-
sis that T. would be an easy matter
for an aeroplane to alight on vessel
either while the latter was moving
or stationary. Naval experts who
witnessed the flight expressed their
belief that the naves of the world
In The future must take the aero
plane into consideration when map
ping out plans of action.
Capt. Washington l. Chambers,
who has been detailed by the navy
department as chairman OF board
for aeronarS.tcal investigation, de-
clarod that the fight was moro than
he had anticipated and he is con-
fident that the time is near when all
scout cruisers will be equipped with
q number of aeroplanes. They will
not be for battleship use, he explain
ed. hut for scout duty in connection
with the work Of the scout crusier3
OF the navy.
The distance which Mr.. Ely few
was nearly five miles. The Dirnlins.
ham was lying in the roads only Il
quarter Of q mile from the Hotel
Chamberlain.
1t was $40 when he took TO the
air; five minutes later he was slfa
on the solid soil Of Virginia, few
miles north OF Norfolk. Mr.. Ely, az
ter being brought back on a launch
and placed aboard the Roe, said he
was not fond Of the water, bat ha
had conquered his fears long enough
TO remain over it In fog and ac-
complish his purpose.
When he struck THE water on div
ing off the Birmingham, salt water
dashed into his face and goggles, so
that for several minutes he could not
see In which direction he was going
He had planned to take a somewhat
different course from that which he
actually followe and landed little
further to the north. The greatest
height he attained was estimated a.
about 500 feet.
His striking the water, he said af-
terward, was due TO slight miscll-
culation. He had planned before he
left the incline on the Birmingham