The San Francisco call., 1910-05-30

headed up the river. The spectators
were nonplused. Many of them be-
lieved that the machinery had gone
wrong and that Curtiss had lost his
race.
But Curtiss waved his hand assur-
ingly. While passing Spuyten Duyvil
he had seen, half mile ahead, broad
expanse of green sward, the upper end
of Manhattan island. To win the prize
it was necessary only to land in Man
haitian proper, and here was the chance
without risk of farther flight to Gov
ernors island or the Battery, 13~miles
away.
$4,000 Is WON
Therefore, when he again came
abreast of the mouth of the creek after
his puzzling turn backward Curtiss
threw his steering wheel about sharply.
glided above a railroad drawbridge and
doated lazily inland with the propeller
barely turning He maneuvered care
fully, then alighted without mishap on
the stretch of green which had caught
his eye. He had flown from Albany TO
Manhattan in hours and 80 minutes
and the $4,000 was his.
Jumping lightly from his machine,
the aviator inspected his motor, and,
finding everything intact, sought a tele-
phone and informed the World that he
had arrived and claimed the award.
Although he had won, weather condi-
tions were so propitious, and he was
feeling so gratified at success. Curtiss
decided to give the city another view
Of his machine. and at 1897 he shot
away again for Governors island. It
was during this part of his trip that
he received the noisiest greeting. He
came down the river at an elevation
of more than 800 feet, while harbor
craft shrieked their greetings. News of
his progress spread quickly throughout
the city. In police courts magistrates
heard and quickly disposed of cases.
hundreds rushed to the water front and
roofs became black with humanity. The
greatest jam was at the Battery.
SAILS LIKE A SWALLOW
Down the river and into the upper
bay he sailed as lightly and steadily
as a swallow. Nearing Governors is
land he began to descend, while cheers
hoated up from those who watched his
approach. He landed easily on a
stretch of newly made land within 40
yards of the shed in which the aero
planes were housed during the Hudson
Fulton celebration. Dismounting, he
resigned his craft to soldiers who vol
unteered to push it into the shed while
he received congratulations of Major
General Howe, L. S. A, commander of
the department of the east, and other
officers.
Refreshments were served in Corbin
hall, and Curtiss briefly related his ex-
periences. Mrs. Curtiss. who had arrived
in New York on the special train, Joined
her husband as Curtiss was preparing
to take the ferry for New York He
kissed her, while the crowd cheered.
Ha1f lofo
World Office. where a check for $40, 900
was handed to him.
The terms of the competition pre-
scribed the flight must be the full dis
tance from New York to Albany 1t
was optional to start from either end
and Curtiss would have preferred to
start from New York. but if there is a
worse aerodrome than Manhattan ISL
and, spiked with skyscrapers and the
waters of New York harbor cluttered
with shipping and crosscut by detected
Winds he would like to have it shown
WONDERFUL FEAT PERFORMED
Aeronauts and aviators tonight were
unanimous that Curtiss had performed
the most wonderful feat of the air the
world has ever SEEN
Curtiss was dressed for the trip in
wading boots and sweater His aero
plane carried pontoons of floats to pre-
vent it sinking in case of fall into
the river The pontoons are his own
invention. A so horsepower motor of
his own make propels the craft. which,
with the aviator in its seat, weighs
approximately 1000 pounds
Curtiss is not a talkative man, and
his secretary explained the details of
the trip. Curtiss merely smiled and
nodded approval, now and then adding
a few descriptive phrases.
In winning the World prize today.
Curtiss incidentally captured the Sci
entific American cup for the longest
flight in America for heavier than air
machine. He had previously won two