The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-15
Hampton Roads IsScene
of Another Naval
Epoch.
FLIGHT MADE
BY EUGENE Ell
Leaving Deck of Birmingham,
He Dips Wings in Water,
Then, Like a Gull, Scars
Over Lower Chesapeake
Bay and Alights on
Willoughby Spit.

WlllouSaOy SPll.
Fort Monroe, Va. November H.
Aerial navigation proved to-day that
it is factor which must be dealt
with in the naval tactics of the worlds
future. IL the successful flight made
by Eugene B. Ely in Curtiss biplane
from the deck of the cruiser Birming-
ham can be taken as a criterion. From
Hampton Roads. the scene forty-nve
years ago of another epoch in the
history of naval warfare, when an
ironciad proved its superiority over
the former type of lighting vessel. the
aviator to-day flew across the lower
end of Chesapeake Bay. landing on
the opposite side from this fort
With broken propeller and wealth
er conditions unfavorable for flying.
the daring birdman, shortly after 3
o'clock this afternoon, GLUED from the
platform erected on the front of the
big black cruiser, swooped down like
an immense, bird of prey until he
touched the water, then rose rapidly
into the misty air of the lower bay and
was off in the direction of the broad
Atlantic. Five minutes after having
mingham he was a lost speck on the
eastern horizon and an instant later
mad landed safely on Willoughby Spit
The impact with which the big ma
chine struck the water after its 81 La
foot drop from the front of the cruiser
caused one of the propeller blades to
be Jagged, as IL a heavy coarse saw
had gone along its edge. and a small
piece was split from the blades. But
80 = tx&,& 49,, l.,,, AZ
the aeroplane lessened, and it darted
away With express train rapidity on it's
victorious flight.
Ely Determined.
intermittent rain throughout the
day. several small hail showers and
a continuous fog almost compelled the
aviator to postpone his flight. But he
was determined to prove, as he said
after the flight. that he could accom-
plish more than had been expected of
him.
Furthsrmore he did not wait for the
Birmingham to get into motion, which
would have added to his momentum
and have been a great help to him; bur
selztng an opportune moment between
showers, he was off before those whn
Were on the ship with him and on the
other vessels stationed at various points
nearby to follow and assist him in case
OF need, We're aware that he was ready
for his wonderful fight. the first of
Its kind the world has even seen.
Ely proved to-day that is Is possible
to fly safely from ship and after hav-
ing done this he asserted with en-
for an aeroplane to alight on vessel
either while the latter was moving or.
standing still. Naval experts who wit
messed the flight, expressed their be-
lief that the navies of the world in the
future must take the aeroplane into
consideration when mapping out plans
of action.
Captain Washington +. Chambers
who has been detailed by the Navy De-
partment as chairman of a board for
aeronautical investigation. declared
that the flight was more than he had
anticipated, and he is confident that
the time is near when all scout cruis-
ers will be equipped with number of
aeroplanes. They would not be for
battleship use, he explained, but for
scout duty In connection with the work
of the scout cruisers af the navy.
When Mr. Ely flew with such ease
from standing ship" he said. 1T
showed beyond doubt that his task
would have been much simpler II the
Birmingham had been moving"
Starting out from the Norfolk Navy
Yord at 1880 o'clock this morning, the
Birmingham. closely followed by the
swift greyhounds or the navy, the two
torpedo boat destroyers, Roe and Terry,
and by the torpedo boats Bailey and
later before Mr.. Ely's machine was
working to his full satisfaction.
In Famous Machine.
The machine in which he flew was
the one which Glenn Curtiss sailed
down through the air channels OF the
Hudson River Valley from Albany to
New York 1t had seen two previous
across-water flights. one over Lake Erie
from Euclid Beach to Cedar Point and
back. distance of seventy miles: the
other by Mr. Curtiss himself over
the Atlantic Ocean off Atlantic City.
when it covered a distance of fifty
miles,
The distance which Mr. Ely flew
to-day was nearly Ave miles The
birmingham was lying In the roads
only a quarter of u mile from the Hotel
Chamberlain; but in making his flight
to Willoughby Spit he flew In a curve.
SO that while the exact distance could
7not-te determined. 1t was believed he!
covered almost five miles. II was s:1s
O'Clock when he took TO the air. five
minutes later he was safe on the solid
soil Of Virginia a few miles north of,
Norfolk. Mr. Ely. after being brought
hack. on a launch and placed aboard
the Roe said he was not fond OF the
water, but he had conquered his fears
long enough to remain over It IN
fog and accomplish his purpose,
Y WheD he struck the water on diving
oft the thirty-foot platform eracted on
the bow of the Birmipgham salt water
dashed into his face and goggles so
that he could not see for several min
5utes in which direction he was going.
He had planned to take q somewhat
affferent course from that which he5