The Hattiesburg news., 1911-10-05
AVIATOR MccURDY CLAIMS AIR
is TO RARIFIED HERE TO
SUPPORT MACHINE.
MAY TRY OTHER FLIGHTS
Big Disappointment For the Business
Interests and the Visitors and
, TownspeopIe. Mr.. Mccurdy viii
Ask No Compensation.


crowd who stood for three long hours
under the sweltering sun at the avia-
tion field yesterday Aviator ]. A. d.
McCurdy failed to make anything
nearly approaching successful
flight and Mr.. McCurdy frankly ad-
mits that it is not probable that he
will be able to make a successful
flight either today or tomorrow, the
last two days of the meet, although
he will make the effort if there is any
possibility of success. The long, hot.
dry spell of weather, which we are
now experiencing, Mr. McCurdy
claims, has so rarified the atmosphere
that it will not support his machine.
and he cannot get it to leave the
ground more than a few feet.
All Are Disappointed.
\ The situation is naturally disap-
' pointing to the directors of the Com
mercial Club and to the merchants
and business men who had contribut
ed towards entertaining many hun
dreds of visitors to the city during the
three days of the meet, though they
are inclined to accept Mr.. McCurdy's
explanation of the situation and to
hope that he will yet be able to make
successful fight and give the peo-
pie of this section an opportunity of
witnessing heavier.than-air machine
in full wing above the city. The poul-
try exhibit, the corn and field product
exhibits, the hogs; and the exhibit of
labor-sav1ng farm machinery by the
Hawkins Hardware Company are ad-
mirable and are attracting much fav-
orable attention, and it is hoped that
these exhibits will counterbalance in
part the failure of the aviation flights.
As for the first days aviation exhib-
it, there were number of defects
that might have been remedied and
thereby have left a better after-effect
with the people. The aviation field
covers in part, Hardy street, public
thoroughfare and has the cemetery
Nience as protection on one side. 1t
was impossible to prevent people
passing through the gates across the
streets where they demanded to do
so and number are said to have
failed to pass on, but stayed to watch
the fight without paying. Others en-
tered free from the cemetery or 9th
Gr points so that there were a number
in the field who had not paid. Many
who did pay were not given any
checks to show the fact.
Then. while the attendance from
out-of-town points was not large, the
hope was constantly held out that a
fight would be made later and still
later in the afternoon, and some of
these visitors were induced by these
promises to miss their trains, and
gained nothing by the wait Mr.. Nc
Curdy succeeded in getting his ma
chine perhaps a dozen feet in the air
short distance by the momentum Of
his propeller, but could not keep up.
and after tinkering around until S
o'clock gave it up, and the part of the
crowd which waited. went home dus-
ty, tired and hot.
Club Meeting.
-. McCurdy met with the directors
of the Commercial Club last night and
apparently did all in his power to
right the situation. He explained the
air conditions and said he did not
want to hold out any false hopes of
y lights today or tomorrow, but he
NSOud stay over and do what he could.
Eis contract called for the payment
of $3.50 a day in case he did not fly
and $500 day in case he did make
successful flights. He waived the first
mart of the contract and told the di-
rectors of the Club that if he did not
Ay it would cost the club nothing eX-
cent the expense of his machinists and
their hire, about $4,000 day. The
directors expressed themselves then
and today as pleased with the homo
able behavior of Mr.. McCurdy and be
live he has and i5 doing all in his