Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-31
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| sb ry4ly for him. MdIay go. ready
| to make the light.
McCurdy had originally planned to
start on Jan. "a Oh the flight to Havana
On last Tuesday morning, however.
| atmospheric conditions were such that
| he decided it would be unsafe TO make
| the attempt. Day after day he waited
| for reports that the wind was moderate
| and the sea smooth. But the elements
refused To be docile. The navy depart
mont took an active interest in the
proposed flight and every facility at its
| command was given to help. Tugboats
| and torpedo boat destroyers were or
| dercd to act as station boats 10 miles
apart to mark the course of the hight.
| Early this morning they took their sta
| lions. First came the cutter Forward,
10 miles from shore and then at inter
| walls of 10 miles each the tug Massas-
| soft and tho torpedO boat deStroycrs
| Terry, Crayton. Roe and paulding
| Every brace and wire on the bi-plane
had been thoroughly tested. The mo-
| tor ha6 been tuned I'm ana amid a ST.
| lencc that was almost oppressive. sic
| Curdy took his position in the aero
| plane. The engine was started and an
/ siNSfS ttflIl SitNt tiit IIpptJltI q coupe
| Of twists McCurdy listened a moment
| to the sound OF the motor then raised
| his hand as a signal to the men holding
| the machine to let go. Swiftly the aero
| plano ran along the smooth ground for
about 100 feet. Then easily and grace
| fully, II roSe from the earth, and Me
| Curly commenced to mount To the sky.
| McCurdy waved his hand and was of
on the most difficult trip over the sea
| that has ever been attempted
The torpedo boats. as soon as McCurdy
came in sight. started ahead at fun speed
but the swift flying hi-planc soon out
stripped them.
1t is estimated that fully 10000 people
saw the start. Mayor Fogarty, with
the entire police fore" had great difficulty
in keeping an open space of 20" feet so
that start could be made
McCurdy first circed over the harbor
at an elevation OF 100 feet, He made a
second circle at an elevation of over 1905
feet and at 20 the flag dropped from the
top of the wireless mast and McCurdy
crossed tn" line OYER the wireless station
gong 1T the rate of nearly GO miles an
hour. In !" minutes he was out of sight
over Sand Key, 10 miles away. Before
starting McCurdy put on II life buoy
and carefully inspected the pontoons
which had been attached to the machine
TO Keep it atioat in case he had to de-
cend to Tn" water.
The flight was for a prize of $500. of.
fered by the Havana Post and $}ae ap.
/ pionfatsd by the Havana city council.
| As soon as the aviator had disappeared
from view, the crowd gathered about the
wireless station and awaited reports hy
wireless. When the news came that ht
had passed the third station ship. a chee4
Went up
As the moments flew and no further To-
ports cane the crowd grew anxious and
gathered about the cable office to wait
| for reports from Havana
Then came 4 wireless that the intrepid
| birdman had fallen into the sea and a
groan went mp from the crowd. Finally
came the news that McCurdy had been
forced to alisht on the water because
of a shortage of lubrieating oil and that
neither he nor his machine had been in.
jured. At this the cheering was renewed
mingled with expressions Of regret tina
the attempt had failed when McCurd,
was within sight Of his goal