The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-04
MccURDY BREAKS RECORDS.
MISSES SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TO
HAVANA BY TEN MILES.
However, Mark Set by Curtiss Bird
man Is the Best for an Over Water
Flight In an AerOplane-Picked up
by L. S. S. Paulding-Terminatio
of Flight Caused by Lack of Sum-
cient Lubricating Oil--An Account
of the Trip.

Oh tIlc Trip.
Key West, Fla, Jan. 3O.-Six days
of anxiety and waiting for a favor
able turn in weather conditions end
ed this morning for ]. A. d. McCurdy,
the aviator, who today crossed the
starting line at 1892 o'clock on his
journey across the Florida Straits to
Havana, the longest over-water flight
yet attempted in the history of avia-
ton.
He passed from the sight Of those
on this side of the channel within
fifteen minutes. and the next heard Of
him was that he had been forced to
descend in the water ten miles from
Havana by a shortage of oil. Nc
Curdy and his machine were uninjur-
ed and were picked up by the torpedo
Havana.
Despite the many disappointments
to the public, Mr.. McCurdy did not
lack for spectators when he started
and gave every one who witnessed his
flight the sensations they were ex-
pecting. When satisfactory reports
on the weather had been received,
the aviator climbed into his Curtiss
biplane and waved the signal to re-
lease him. the aeroplane glided grace
fully down the field for a hundred
feet or more. and then rose into the
air.
After reaching a height Of about
500 feet, McCurdy turned his machine
and circled over the city. The ocean
front was lined with cheering thous-
ands as he passed. while other thous-
ands filled roofs, open fields and 9TH
er places OF vantage. He then made
another circle Of the city. while flying
1000 feet in the air. and on return
Ing to point above the aviation field,
was given the signal to start on his
flight to Havana.
Acting on instructions from the
navy department, Lieut.. Commander
Sterling. In command of the torpedo
destroyer fleet here. has rendered
every possible aid to the aviator and
seven naval vessels were stationed
along the course when McCurdy start
ed. As soon a. he " sc sighted by the
crew OF d boat. the vessel steamed
| ahead, but McCurdy. maintaining q
speed OF nearly 60 miles an hour
soon oststripped them all and it then
became a 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.
Capt. Witt, of the marine corps.
proceeded to the railroad terminal,
from which the start was to be made.
An order was posted to raise the
American flag to the top of the wire
less mast, over 200 feet high, as a
signal that the weather conditions
| AT GAO a. m. there was not enough
wind to move the flag. McCurdy had
been notified and was soon at the
terminal ready to start.
While the last details were being
looked after McCurdy stood about
calmly smoking a pipe. He looked
| cool and confident. At GAS the ma
chine was rolled into place, and five
minutes after the big steam whistle
f.t the ice factory woke up the town
With tremendous blast, and al
most the entire population rushed
through the stre,t for the starting
point. 1t is estims ted that fully TO-
900 people saw the start. Mayor Fo-
garty, With the entire police force,
had gr1at difficulty in keeping an
| open space Of 500 feet so that a start
could be made.
McCurdy took his place in the ma
chine, an assistant oiled the propeller
and then gave it q number of whirls
| Four men held the machine while Nc
| Curdy tested the motor by starting
and stopping it. McCurdy adjusted
his headgear, his assistants whirled
the propeller, the motor was started
and the machine was off at a fast
gait, running along the ground. II
ran nearly the length Of the open
space, and then arose in the air to-
ward the east.
The flight is for a prize Of $5, 900 Of
Tered by the Havana Post and $3,-
900 appropriated by the Havana cOun-
Gil AS soon as the aviator had dis
| appeared from view the crowd rush
! ed bOut uiraIncc ototion opJ