New-York tribune., 1911-01-31

wondrous mirage, the sea. instead Of
horizontal plane below. having the appear
snce Of a huge vertical picture. on Whlch the
funnel tops of the destroyers appeared IKE
black spots. Soon became accustomed 10
this. and the sensation was glorious as
rushed forward al fifty miles an hour to-
ward this wonderful panorama. which
then appeared 70 recede from me. IL
seemed no time before MORO and Havana
were in plain view. and 7 could almost
sec the waiting crowds. Then something
went wrong with the engine. I saw all my
oil running out. and there was nothing 10
do but 20 descend. This I accomplished
with perfect ease
1.-THE accident only increases my earnest
desire 20 effect the conquest OF the FlorloS
Strait. and I have the fullest commence
that 7 can do it. I do not know when l
shall be able TO make another attempt 81
the fight. but under such conditions as
prevailed to-day I am sure of success
McCurdv was exactly two hours In the
air. covering an estimated distance or
about ninety-six miles. Besides breaking
the oversee record. this is the first IN
stance OF an aeroplane fight out Of sight
OF land.
Thrones al Hsvana's Piers.
The disappointrnent was keen in Havana
over the aeronauts mishap. on the firing
of three cannon at Cabsnas. signalling the
start all business was suspended. Inc
populace thronged the Malecou driveway
from Punta 70 San Lazaro. All the high
roofs and the heights Of MORO and Ca
banas were crowded. At 10 o'clock 1t be-
came known that McCurdy was drawing
near but still ne could not De seen. The
excitement was intense.
Then came a long delay. 80 news OF the
aeronaut could be obtained from the wire
less station at Nedado, owing TO Interrupt
zion % the telephone service. A rumor
started that McCurdy had been killed but
nothing was known in Havana until dis
patches were received giving an account of
the accident.
Mr. McCurdy will remain here through
out the week and will give exhibitions at
Camp Columbia. The destroyers will re-
turn 10 the West tomorrow.
Al 4.30 o'clock in the morning the de-
ssroyers Roe and Paulding steamed out OF
Havana Harbor, heading directly across Tor
Key West 10 meet the Terry and the Drsy-
ton and prepare for Mr.. McCurdys flight
The weather conditions were perfect with
a slight breeze and no sea at all.
Positions Of the Destroyers.
At o'clock the four boats met about
forty miles southwest Of Key West, and
shortly before clock a wireless message
vas sent 10 Commander Z. r. Hayden, at
Key West, advising him that the boats were
in position and ready for the fight. The
Paulding was then thirry-fve miles from
IIavsna. az the head Of the line. At inter
walls of ten miles the Terry. the Dravton
and tho Roe were stationed. The revenue
cutter Forward was next after the Roe and
five miles from Sand Key Light the light
house tender Mangrove lay, and the Massa-
soft further inshore.
At S:24 Key West sent a dispatch that
Air McCurdy had just passed over the
wireless station and was headed out 10 sea.
Ccptsin Woodward. Lieutenant Newton and
Ensign Taber, officers OF the Roe, sighted
tho aeronaut az g :02 coming up rapidly
AZ an altitude OF FIVE hundred feet Less
than ten minutes afterward he passed oi-
reo,lv over the vessel. and Captain Wood
ward called for full speed ahead, and N
three minutes the destroyer was making
tvrer1t7-seven knots At rhe same time the
other destroyers we're ordered 10 proceed
a. the same speed for Has ana. making all
INC smoke possible 10 guide the acronaut
The Aeronaut's Descent.
Mr. McCurdy was kept in sight ny the
Poe with high power glasses. until Al last
no seemed 70 rise higher and disappear.
Steauius a. rapidly as possible. the Roe
finally, sighted the Pauldng and the Terry,
ard the Drayton hove 70 about ten miles
ahead. McCurdy had dropped into the
water and the destroyers had come 70 hs
-oscne. In the distance he could no Seen
coming down by slow stages and when he
struck the surface he was going AZ the
rate Of about thirty miles an hour.
The lifeboat OF the Terry. which Ike
those Of the other destroyers. hal heeu kept
-oadv during the trip. was launched irme-
distelv. and McCurdy was picked up uu-
hurt When the Paulding manPuvered 20
get the machine aboard tho wings were
badIv crumnled. and the staging arranged
for \ secondary flight was broken.
Commander Stirling then decided 10 take
the feet 20 Havana, where repair parts
Gould be had from the Curtiss avlators
taking part in tho aviation meet there.
ycCurdv said tonight that he had been
,,rable 70 determine exactly Rhat part %