The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-05-31
ALBANY TO new YORK
THROUGH THE AIR
History Of Curtiss' Great Flight Over
the Hudson River Valley
Last Sunday

the Hudson River Valley
Last Sunday
New York, May 30.-Curtiss was up
before dawn yesterday, hesitant despite
favorable weather conditions.
But with eyes and brain cleared of
the cobwebs of sleep he went with his
Mechanic and a handful of spectators
to Van Rensselaer, Island in the Hud-
son, three miles south of Albany, from
where he was to make the start. Wait
ing at the river brink was a special
train for Mrs. Curtiss and her party,
who had not accompanied the aviator
to the island. From the train they
could not see the actual start, but those
on the island witnessed a remarkable
scene. Curtiss arose from the ground
like a rocket. There was no preIimi-
nary maneuvering, there was no trial
flight.
The aeroplane ran hurriedly over the
surface of the island and headed
straight for its goal to the south ward.
turning only for moment to the west
ward that CurtiSS might comply
with the terms of the competition un-
der which he was flying, and technical
ly cross the Albany city line.
Racer Finds Her Wings
Straight up scared the aeroplane
into the distance. When it reached a
height estimated at 500 feet. il seemed
for a moment to hold a level pace and
then to rise again to further levels.
700 feet would be a conserva-
tive estimate. Certainly CurtiSs was
flying at a height which he had never
l.
minutes he was a minute speck in the
distance. In seven minutes he vanished
from sight. The whole performance
was over in a twinkling. When the
racer was wheeled from beneath her
canvass coverings shortly before
o'clock the sky was perfectly clear and
what little wind was stirring blew
from the north--a direction favorable
to CurtiSS-at a speed of perhaps four
miles an hour.
The gasoline tank was inspected and
the sparkling apparatus given final
test. Two assistants held the race
horse in leash. while a third cranked
the engine. There was a roar from
the exhaust; the two blades of the fan.
angular and lean. magically merged
into a blurred gray rose; the muscles
Of the assistants at either side tautened
as the racer tugged against them; the
hair Of the assistant at the rear stood
out straight from his head in the gale
from the fan. Let GO" cried the
pilot and she was off.
Like Great Brown Locust
Over the level runway the aeroplane
hustled on wheels like a partridge run
ming to get it's wings, and like the
- H.
roar of the exhaust from the pulsing
engine With little lift she had taken
the air, and as her ribbed wings spread
brown and dusty against the sky, the
of a partridge receded in
the mind and one saw that in tenuity
Of gossamer surfaces and reedy anato-
my, this was locust springing from
the sands. De Lesseps must have had
the same thought in mind when he
named the machine in which he recent
ly crossed the English channel, the
''Scarabee" IBeetle).
With the signal that Curtiss was
Off, the special train, five cars and a
cumbersome now by COM
parison, gathered impetus and sought
to follow. But so swiftly and he flown
that for twenty-one miles southwark
the locomotive, though running nearly
a mile to the minute, remained lag
gard. At 1926, however, the train came
abreast of the aeroplane and thence to
New York city those on board kept
the aviator in sight. But as he did not
reck with curves of track, reduced
speed through towns and switches, the
man above maintained substantial
lead
High Over Tall Bridge
Swiftly town and country side reeled
by. Catskill was passed at 7:41, with
the aeroplane a thousand feet above
the Hudson. At sos Curtiss was still
flying high and veering we'll toward
the west bank of the river. The eN-
haust of his engine could be plainly
heard by those below. For six miles
it drew attention to his coming and
cheers arose from shore and boat. At
SOC. sixty-three minutes after the
start, he scared past Rhinecliff ferry,
ffty-four miles from Albany. Here
there is a turn in the river and Cur
tiss turned again to the west. passing
overland to shorten his course.
Staatsburg marked the siXtieth mile
point and he had covered this distance
in 50 minutes
bridge spanning the river at POugh-
keepsie loomed ahead. The bridge it
self is 212 feet high, but Curtiss topped
it by 500 feet Thence he turned west
ward and with the precision Of bird
settled softly in the field three miles
south of Poughkeepsie at S:26. He had
flown "A miles from Albany in SO min
utes.
AutOists to the Rescue
The landing place. known as the
Gill Meadows, had previously been Sc
lected. but because of last weeks post
ponements, Curtiss was not expected
this morning and there was no gaso-
line and oil awaiting him. But fortu-
nate1y, two automobile tourists hap
pened by and were eager to supply him
with the need gasoline and oil His
tanks had been filled with ten gallons
of gasoline before he left Albany. Ex-
animation showed that three gallons
enough to have carried him
to West Point. But Curtiss was taking
no chances and the timely arrival of
the autoists with supplies saved the
day.
Fire bells were rung as the aviator
neared Poughkeepsie, but his progress
was rapid that but few people had
a chance n raaeh ppirt of