The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-30

New York, May 29-Glen III. Curtiss
few from Albany to New York city in an
aeroplane today, winning the $4,000 prize
offered by the New York World. He COW
cred the distance of 1877 miles in hours
and 80 minutes and came to earth as
calmly and as lightly as a pigeon
His average speed for the distance, 54.O6
miles an hour, surpasses any record ever
made by an aeroplane in long distance
flights and in its entirety his feat perhaps
eclipses anything man has ever attempted
lin a heavier-than-air machine.
The start was made from Albany at
l7:os this morning under weather condi-
liions as nega' persec~ as could be de-
lmanded. One hour and % minutes later
he had made his stopping place near
Poughkeepse, where there was an hour
intermission. Resumng his flight at 9:zo
he sped southwark and landed within the
boundary of Manhattan island at 1888.
Only 100 yards north of the point on
which his craft settled stretched Spuyten
Duyvil creek. separating Manhattan
island from the mainland. Had he failed
to cross this his flight would have been
in vain but as he swept over 1t the prize
was his Thence to Governors island his
task was, but a skim of triumph and the
concluding lap of a race already won
Paulhans flight from London to Man
chester 1856 miles exceeded the Curtiss
feat of today in distance but not in speed
and danger
The Frenchman's average was A3 miles
an hour and below him lay Engish
meadowlands. Curtiss followed the WIND
ling cruze of the historic Hudson, with
lI,++;a- boadIauH wooded stones and
ltreacherous palisades. He swung high
lover the great bridge at Poughkeepsie,
ldjpped at times within so feet of the
rivers broad surface and jockeyed like
falcon at the turns.
Machine worked Wonderfully
Only once did his craft show signs of
rebellion This was off Storm King, near
West Point, where at a height or nearly
1000 feet a treacherous gust struck his
planes The machine dropped like rock
for 40 feet and tilted perilously, but Cur
tiss, always cool, kept both his head
and his seat and by adroft manipulation
of his levers brought renewed equilibrium
to his steed.
Curtiss was up before dawn today,
!, hesitant despite favorable weather condi-
tions. But with eyes and brain cleared
of the cobwebs of sleep he went with his
mechanic and handful of spectators
to Van Rensselaer, island in the Hudson,
three miles south of Albany, from where
he was to make the start Waiting at
the river brink was special New York
Central trail for Mrs Curtss and her
marty who had not accompanied the
layiator to the island. From the train
they could not see the actual start, but
those on the island witnessed a remark
able scene.
Curtiss arose from the ground like
rocket There was no preliminary ma
nouyering, there was no trial flight.
The aeroplane ran hurriedly over the
for its goal to the southward,
turning only for moment to
the westward. so that Curtiss might
4 to the westward, so that Curtiss might
I comply with the terms of the competi-
tion under which he was flying and
4 technically cross the Albany city line.
Straight up scared the aeroplane into
the distance. When 1t reached height
estimated at 500 feet 1t seemed for mo-
ment to hold a level pace, and then to
rise again to further levels. Perhaps 700
feet would be a conservative estimate
!, Certainly Curtiss was flying at height
which he had never attained before in his
life In three minutes he was a minute
sreck in the distance. In seven minutes
he vanished from sight The whole per-
formance was over in a twinkling.
weather Conditions Ideal
When the racer was wheeled from be-
meath her canvas covering shortly before
7 o'clock the sky was perfectly clear.
aud what little wind was stirring blew
from the north--a direction favorable to
Crrtiss-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 third cranked the en-
: E,pe. There was roar from the exhaust,
the two blades of the San Angular and
Lean surged into a blurred gray rose;
the musles of the assistants at either side
tautened as the racer tugged against
them; the hair of the assistant at the rear
stood OF. straight from his head in the
gale fror, the fan. Let gov' cried the
pilot, and she was on.
Over the level runway the aeroplane
hustled on wheels like partridge run
ming to get its wings, and like the beat
. ing wings of partridge was the roar of
the exhaust from the pulsating engine.
. | With little lift she had taken the
-.