Evening star., 1911-01-30
Is RESCUED, UNHARMED:
MACHINE NOT DAMAGED
Disappointed at Failure, Crowds
Cheer News of Safety.
TEN THOUSAND SEE START
Flight Was to Have Been From
Key West to Havana, a Dis
tance of Ninety Miles,
for Prize of $4,000.

HAVANA. January 30.-J. A. ID. Me-
Curdy was compelled TO alight. after
flying to within ten miles of Havana.
because his lubricating oil ran short.
The destroyer squadron is entering
the harbor. the Paulding leading and
having on hoard McCurdy and his aero-
plane. Neither the aviator nor his ma
chine is injured.
Makes New Record.
McCurdy covered about eighty miles. Q
new distance record for flight over water.
The flight was FOR prize of $1,000 offered
by the Havana Post and $1,000 appre-
priated by the Havana city council.
Reports from vessels stationed alo6I
his course had kept the crowds advised
OF McCurdy's progress. Then came q
wireless that the intrepid birdraan had
fallen into the sea. and gran went
up from the crowd.
Finally came the news that McCurdy
had been forced to alight on the water
because of a shortage df lubricating
oil and that neither he nor his ma
chine had been injured. AZ this cheer
ing was renewed, mingl.a with ex-
pressions of regret that the attempt
had failed when McCurdy was within
sight OF his goal
The Start From Key wsst.
KEY WEST. Fla, january 3O.-Aftsr
week Of nerve-racking anxiety. No.
Curdy started on his fight at TIA
o'clock this morning.
At Key West a light bref1s was blows
ing and the sea was smooh. Similar res
ports came by wireless hom Havana,
and McCurdy, whose patiencs had nearly
been exhausted 10y anxious waiting
quickly decided to make the fight
Early this morning orders ware tssueA
to the government boats at Key West.
and they Immediately took their posi-
tions ten miles apart. When word cams
by wireless from the. torpedo boat g.
stroyer Roe that the boats were all ready
for him, McCurdy got ready to make the
flight. Every brace and wire on the bi-
plane had been thoroughly tested. The
motor had been tuned up, and, amid q
silence that was almost oppressive. Me-
Curdy took his position in the aeroplane.
The engine was started an assistant
gave the propeller a couple Of twists.
McCurdy listened moment to the sound
of the motor. then raised his hand a. a
signal TO the men holding the machine to
let go. Swiftly the aeroplane ran along
the smooth ground for about 100 feet.
Then, easily and gracefully it rose from
the earth and McCurdy commenced To
mount to the sky. AS he left the ground
the assembled crowd gave hearty
cheer. McCurdy waved his hand and
was off OH the most difficult trip over
the sea that has ever been attempted.
Watched by Anxious Crowd.
With tremendous velocity the great
white-winged biplane shot out over the
smooth waters. Anxiously the crowd
gathered ON the shore watched the ma
chine as IL grew smaller and smaller and
faded from sight. AnXiously they wait
ed for the first news by wireless. and
when the dispatch came that he had
passed the third boat thirty miles from
shore, ana was Tying smoothly, another
mighty cheer was given
Sea Calm and No Wind.
At 4:3O O'Clock this morning the re-
port came from Havana that the sea was
calm and the weather tine. Vt am.
Capt. Wiltsze of the Marine Corps. pro
ceeded to the railroad terminal, from
which the start was made. An order was
posted to raise the American fag TO tho
top of the wireless mast, over 20O feet
high, as a signal that the weather con-
ditions were such to permit OF the
flight. At $40 a.m. there was not enough
wind to move the flag. McCurdy had
been notified and soon al tho
terminal ready to start.
While the last details were heng looked
after McCurdy stood about calmly smok-
ing pipe. He looked cool aud con-
fident. Al 6:4o the machine was rolled
into place and five minutes after the big
steam whistle at the ice factory woke
up the town with tremendous blast and
almost the entire population rushed
through the streets for the starting point
Ten Thousand See Start.
1t is estimated that fully 10000 people
saw the start. Mayor Fogarty, with the
entire police force, had great di .6culty in
keeping an open space of y0o fett so that
a start could be made. McCurdy took his
place i'll the machine, an assistant oiled
the propeller and then gave II a number
of whirls. Four men held the machine
while McCurdy tested his motor by
starting and stopping it, He adjusted
his headgear, his assistant whirled the
propeller, the motor was started and the
machine was Off at a fast gait, running
along the ground. 1t ran nearly the
length of the space and then rose in
the air toward the east.
McCurdy first circled over the harbor
at an elevation of 500 feet.
He made a second circle at an eleva-
ton of over 1000 fleet. and at 7:32 the
flag dropped and McCurdy crossed the
line over the wireless station, going ar
the rate of nearly sixty miles an hour
In ten minutes he was out OF sight over
Sand Key tenfmles away. Before starts
ing McCurdy put on a life buoy and care
fully inspected the pontoons which mad
been attached to the machine to keep ID
afioat in case he had TO descend to the
water.
Navy Department Aided.
The Navy Department took an active
interest in the flight, and every facility
at its command was given to help. Tug
boats and torpedo boat destroyers were
ordered to act as station boats ten mileA
spart to mark the course Of the aisht