New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-05
CURT|SS ROCKS IN AIR
Opens Atlantic City Aviation
Meet with Spectacular Dash.
FLIGHT FRAUGHT WITH PERIL
Risks Death in Biplane to Pre-
vent Injury to Spectators
Who Crossed His Path.
FLIGHT FRAUGHT WITH PERI
TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune. !

Atlantic city. July 4-Gheered by near
~ one hundred thousand spectators, Glenn
II. Curtiss opened the Atlantic City avia-
ton meet with spectacular dash in the
face of an adverse wind on the beach at
1874 o'clock this afternoon. He few for
only half a mile. but that dash was
fraught with danger. for a stiff wind from
the northwest blew down the side streets
at such a rate that it caused his big ship
of the air 70 rock as though it was being
tossed on the bosom of the ocean
The flight came near ending disastrous
", for as Curtiss flew down the beach
toward the $1,000 00 pier. riding about
twenty-five or thirty feet in the air, a
bather and a small child broke away from
the crowd and ran out on the beach al
most 70 the spot the aviator had selected
on which to land.
Screams of terror rose from the crowd,
whose throats only a moment before had
cheered the daring conqueror of the air.
Curtiss acted quickly. He flashed his for
ward planes. SKINNED over the pair and
dropped in the soft sand in safety a good
hundred feet from the pier
Police and frenen were impressed into
service to-day to keep back the big throng
that had been attracted to the beach and
which were fred as a signal for Curtiss' 3
intended flight. Pleas and threats were
alike useless. and it was only with the
greatest difficulty that lane was cleared
wide enough to enable Curtiss TO make the
hopping flight by which he intended TO try
out his motor and his ability to fly and
land safely.
While he was preparing 10 make his
flight the wind shifted from a gentle sea
breeze 10 a stiff northwest wind, that
eddied from the shore buildings in veritabIe
whirlpools. Managers of the meet con-
suited with Curtiss and other aviators and
the former said they would not insist on d
fight under the prevailing conditions. But
Curtiss said he would take shy at it.
anyhow.
1T was the most dangerous flight 1 have
ever made" said Curtiss. when he had
done when 1 found I was caught in the
eddies Of air that threatened to turn my
plane over or Stdewipe me into the canal,
l was strongly tempted 10 turn out to sea
and 60 up in the air, but the fear that
would be forced to drop into the ocean or
imperil the lives of the spectators in max
ing the swoop necessary to a landing to
prevent myself being carried on 10 the
boardwalk or into one of the piers caused
ne t. take a chance of sticking close to
the beach
AT several points I was caught in the
swirls that proved TO me that my machine
Will stand the strongest seashore wind, and
l shall therefore stick 10 my contract 10
make daily flights and to make the attempt
to capture both the altitude and the dis
tance speed prizes"
Curtiss stated unof1cially that if the con-
ditions were at all favorable ne would at
tempt to cover the fifty-rniIe speed course
over the ocean tomorrow. He stood by
his machine all the afternoon in the hope
thai the wind would either change or die
down ami the crowd thin out SO that he
might make real flight But he was
forced 10 be satisfied with mis- one little
flight for the day.
Because of the difficulty with the crowd
AMI the narrow escapes to-day the Aero
Club and police officials met early tonight
and decided to clear the beach Of bathers
and strollers tomorrow morning and keep
it clear for The remainder of the meet To
accomplish this the police and fremen and
members OF the Atlantic City troop OF
cavalry will be employed