New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-07
CURT|SS IN FINE FLIGHT
Propeller Smashed by Breaker
on His First Attempt.
GOES 80 MILES WITH WIND
Expects to Win Speed Prize To-
day, but High Flights Will
Wait-Hamilton Expected.
by Telegraph to The Tribune.

| IBy Telegraph to The tribune
Atlantic City. July 6.-Glenn H. Curtiss
made another flight at $50 this afternoon
after the stiff wind that had been blowing
all day had died down. He did not attempt
to go after the elevation prize. contrary to
| his expressed intention, made yesterday.
and gave as his reason that when he
reached about six hundred feet the air cur
rents were a great deal stronger than the
| found them at a lower altitude
| He said that going down the beach with
! the wind he crowded on the power of his
| big motor and figured that he was running
| between eighty and ninety miles hour.
| He was somewhat retarded his return
| against the wind, however, and covered
| only about eight miles in the twelve and
| one-quarter minutes of flight.
When Curtiss first started off this after
noon he rose over the waves. but did not
get high enough to escape big breaker.
which struck his swiftly revolving propeller
and shattered the ends. He was obliged to
descend again. and a new propeller was
fastened to the shaft. He then took his
seat again and scared off out over the
ocean amid the plaudits of the thousands
gathered on the beach and Boardwalk to
watch his attempts
On his return trip Curtiss' machine flew
so steadily that it resembled a giant bird
soaring through the air. He sailed directly
over the steam yacht Mermaid. which had
a large party on board, and the passengers
declared he was going smoothly and so
easily at a slow rate of speed that the
operator could have dropped a bomb
board without the least possibility of his
missing his aim.
Gives Fine Exhibition.
Curtiss gave thrilling exhibition Of his
perfect control of the machine when he
made two wide circles and landed on the
beach within six feet of the inclined plane
up which the machine is pushed to a place
on the pier. II was spectacular feat, and
the crowd showed its approval Of the skill
and daring of the operator by a big burst
of applause.
Mayor Stoy was the first to congratulate
Curtiss at the end of his flight this after
noon. Other city officials. aviation experts
and officials followed His course to-day
was practically the same as yesterday. He
had intended to try out the upper air cur
rents this morning, but he waited until
near noon for more favorable conditions.
The wind freshened. however. instead of
dying down, and he gave it up until $50
However, the aviator said he was well
pleased with his experiments and believes
that the speed he attained to-day is high
enough TO win the $500 speed prize over the
fifty-miie course, which contest will be
started tomorrow.
Curtiss, when asked why he did not try
to go after the altitude prize. said there
was always an element Of chance and risk
in making great heights.
IT don't want to take any chances yet
II anything did go wrong, and [ should be
obliged to drop in the ocean. it might be
the end Of my machine for the present 1t
seems to me that breaker capable OF
knocking down stone walls and smashing
the heavy timbers of strong ships would
not be long in completely den1oishing my
plane. Therefore I going to put that
off until a little later, and then If 1 do
happen to get the machine broken up
shall at least have had the satisfaction OF
having given a few exhibition flights and
chance to go after the speed prize
am not anticipating trouble. but I am at
the same time doing all in my power to
avoid it"
The Wright machines did not arrive to-
night, but they are expected in tomorrow
morning. and Walter Brookins, a Wright
pupil is expected to accompany them. No
word has been received yet from Cap
tain Baldwin, and 1t Is not certain whether
he will be here.
Hamilton May Go, Too.
Charles X. Hamilton's biplane is here,
and the mechanics started this evening
setting it up. They will hurry the work in
order to have it in readiness should Ham
iIton decide tomorrow to enter the COM
petition for the speed trials and the $500
prize It was first purposed to split this
prize so that the second man would get a
prize too. but official says the Wrights
are against this proposition. Both they
and Curtiss were willing to enter the race
upon their respective merits and take all
or nothing. Both are confident Of winning.
Clifford B. Harmon is here, but because
he is purely an amateur will not enter any
of the events. No prizes have been Of
fered here for the amateur classes, and
Harmon says he is having too much fun
out of that branch Of the sport to go in
for cash prizes.
He is watching all flights with great
deal of interest. He declared tonight that
II made him "a hundred times more nervous
this afternoon watching CurtSS'S than IL
Il do no fri inns