New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-30
CURT|SS WINS BIG FLIGHT
Continued frem first page.

tower, declaring it doomed far ahead like
a giant needle, but it was quickly recog-
nizable for what il was and so he knew
that he was nearing the upper limits OF
New York City. He thinks the Metro
politan towe- an awfully pretty thing on
a Sunday morning.
Speeding at Fifty Miles.
Out of the haze that lay in the bend
of the river at Yonkers he shot into the
view OF the thousands who were waiting
his coming along the upper reaches of
Riverside Drive and on the roofs Of the
big apartment houses on Washington
Heights.
He came at first like a droning insect.
The frame of the machine had dwindled
once more to gossamer proportions. 1t
seemed impossible that the floating
speck would blossom into d big aero
plane driven by a powerful motor and
guided by the hand of man.
A little while and it appeared not IN
like gull floating with rigid wings on
the breast OF a gale, The motor was
fairly humming song, sending the ma
chine toward that prize money to the
tune of fifty miles an hour.
Rounding the big jutting nose of AL
pine on the Jersey shore, opposite Yon-
kers Curtiss drove his aeroplane across
the river toward the east side OF the
stream and closely Rugged the New
York shore.
Multitudes cheered and waved hats
and handkerchiefs. and the sharp. shrill
screeches of the whistles of the small
pleasure boats Joined with the more
sonorous ones of the larger craft in Civ
ing hearty, il inharmonious, well
come.
The Goal Now ira Sight.
on past Riverdale. flying straight as
ar arrow. came the aeroplane. 1t was
abreast New York City and only a few
miles from the upper end of Manhattan
Island, SO that, barring some unlocked
for accident It seemed then that Cur
tiss must win the $1,000 prize.
Suddenly. when the aviator reached a
Point midway between Spuyten Duyvil
Creek (Which separates q part of Man
haitian Island from the Borough of the
SPEED Of the biplane slackened percepti-
bly, and the machine dropped until it
seemed that it would almost touch the
water. Then II came about prettily
pointing upward and headed M the
river. The spectators were nonplussed.
Many of them believed that the ma
chinery had gone wrong and that Cur
tiss had lost his race
But Curtiss. had they known, was as
cool and collected as he had been at any
stage Of his flight, and he waved his
hand assuringly. While passing Spuyten
Duyyil he had seen broad expanse of
greensward half mile inland. To win
the prize it was necessary only to land
in Manhattan proper, and here was the
chance without risk of further flight to
Governors Island or the Battery. some
thirteen miles away.
This $4,000 Prize Won
Therefore, when again he came abreast
OF the mouth of the creek after his puz-
zling turn backward, Curtiss threw his
steering wheel about sharply. glided
above a railroad drawbridge and fioated
iazily inland, with the propeller barely
turning. He nannuvred carefully. then
alighted without mishap on the stretch
Of green which had caught his eye.
He had flown from Albany 10 Manhat-
tan in two hours and thirty-two min
rtes. and the $1,000 was his.
Jumping lightly from his seat, the
aviator tenderly inspected his motor. as
the Arab of romance might have locked
over his thoroughbred, and finding every
thing intact. he sought q telephone and
informed The World that he had ar
rived and that large bills or a check
would be equally acceptable.
He alighted the second time at 1913
O'clock
The Start for the Bay.
Although he had Won, weather condi-
lions were so propitious and ne was feel
ing so gratified at success that Curtiss
decided to give the city another view OF
his machine, and at 11:42 o'clock he
shot away again for Governors Island
Ii was during this part Of his trip that
he received the noisiest greeting. He
came down the river at an elevation of
more than three hundred feet, while
BY some strange wizardyy news of his
progress was everywhere. IT struck po-
lice courts and hastened in an almost in
conceivable manner the ponderous cogs
of the law. Magistrates heard and
quickly disposed of cases, and thousands
from all parts rushed TO the water
front
IL Curtiss had had time TO inspect that
vast concOurse Of citizens who gazed
upon him from the windows, the roofs
and the streets OF this city; if he could
have heard the cheers of the populace
and looked into the eyes of radiant
beauty as they spoke the pride with
which they regarded his heroic achieve
ment, he would have been proud. IL is
safe to assume that.
Passes Grants Tomb at 200 Feet
There was many rhapsodic sigh as
he few Strangely, il seemed, there
were no cheers when Curtiss was di-
rectly opposite these crowds Before he
reached them, when they could see his
machine growing large every second,
sailing gracefully toward them. the multi
tudes were yelling enthusiastically. but
e. his actual approach they grew quiet