The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-31
M'CURDY MAKES
 NEW RECORD IN
 HIS AEROPLANE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE D


 the other destroyers were notified to pro- ceed at the same speed for Havana.
 McCurdy was kept in sight by the Roe until he seemed to rise higher and dis appear. Steaming as rapidly as possible the Roe finally sighted the Paulding, the Terry and the Drayton hove to about 10 miles ahead. McCurdy had dropped into the water and the destroyers had come to his rescue. In the distance he could be seen coming down by slow stages, and when he struck the surface he was going about 90 miles an hour. The life boat of the Terry, who like those of the other destroyers, had been kept ready during the whole trip, was launched inn mediately and McCurdy was picked up unhurt. When the Paulding maneauvered to get the machine aboard the wings were badly crumpled and the staging arranged for a secondary flight was broken.
 Commander Stirling then decided to take the fleet to Havana, where parts could be had from the Curtiss aviators taking part in the aviation meet there.
 McCurdy will remain here throughout the week and will give exhibitions at Camp Columbia. The destroyers will re- turn tomorrow.
 Long Suspense Is Ended
 Key West, Fla, January 30.-Six days of anxiety and waiting for a favorable turn In weather conditions ended this morning for J. A. D. McCurdy, the avia- tor, when the daring young birdman crossed the starting line at 7:32 o'clock on his journey across the Florida straits to Havana, the longest over-water flight yet attempted in the history of aviation He passed from the sight of those on this side of the channel within 15 minutes and the next heard of him was that he had been forced to descend in the water 10 miles from Havana by a shortage of oil McCurdy and his machine were uninjured and were picked up by the torpedo boat destroyer Paulding and taken to Havana.
 Despite the many disappointments to the public here McCurdy did not lack for spectators when he started and gave every one who witnessed his flight the sensations they were expecting. When satisfactory reports on the weather had been received the aviator climbed into his Curtiss biplane and waved the signal to release him, the aeroplane glided gracefully down the field for hundred feet or more and then rose into the air
 Circles Over Key West
 After reaching a height of about 800 feet McCurdy turned his machine and circled over the city. The ocean front was lined with cheering thousands as he passed, while other thousands filled roofs, open fields and other places of vantage. He tEen made another circle of the city while flying 1000 feet in the air and on re- turning to point above the aviation field was given the signal to start on his flight to Havana. Acting on instructions from the navy department Lieutenant Com mander Sterling, in command of the tor pedo destroyer Fleet, here, has rendered every possible aid to the aviator, and seven naval vessels were stationed along the course when McCurdy started.a As soon as he was sighted by the crew of boat the vessel steamed ahead, but McCurdy. maintaining speed of nearly GO miles an hour. soon outstripped them all and 1t then became race to see which would reach Havana first
 This afternoon McCurdy's camp here was dismantled and his equipment will be shipped at once to Havana.
 Orders to the Boats
 Early this morning orders were issued to the government boats at Key West, and they imme ediately took their positions ten miles apart When word came by wireless from the torpedo boat destroyer Roe that the boats were all ready for him, McCurdy got ready to make the flight. Every brace and wire of the bi- plane had been thoroughly tested. The motor had been tuned up and amid a silence that was almost oppressive Me- Curdy took his position on the aeroplane. The engine was started and an assistant gave the propeller couple of twists. McCurdy listened a moment to the sound of the motor and then raised his hand as A Signal to the men bOldinr the machine