Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-31
AVIATOR HAD FLOWN TO WITHIN
TEN MILES OF HAVANA AND
WAS 90 MILES OUT OF KEY
WEST WHEN HE FELL.
TO HAVANA
BY ONE Of BOATS
MOST DARING CROSS WATER
FLIGHT EVER ATTEMPTED FAILS
IN LAST FEW NILES; NAVY
AIDS AVIATOR.

Havana, Jan. 30.-Within ten miles
OF the Cuban coast, and but q short
distance further from his goal, Nc
Curdy, the Canadian aviator ran out
or lubr1cating oil today and was COM
PEELED to abadon a magnificent flight
from Key West.
When he saw that he could not
reach this port McCurdy alighted
safely on the waters and the pOntoons
with which he was equipped foated
the aerOplane until the destroyer
Pauld1ng, splashing along in it's wake,
mad oyertaken the aviator craft. Both
McCurdy and his biplane were taken
on board, neither the worse for the
mishap
The Ros,ssiins hr,ught the whole o,a 1.
fit =" "tit harbor. The other boats
that marked the course across the
strait had joined the Paulding and the
fleet came in together.
A Record Breaking Feat.
McCurdy had covered approximately
eighty miles when he was Obliged to
descend, and though he failed to meet
the requirements of the competition
he accomplished feat unprecedented
in cross-seas flying.
Compared with the 1S-mile flights
across the English channel today's
performance stands out as far away
more remarkable. But for slip in
the matter Of supplies, it Is not to be
doubted that the trip would have been
successful.
The Start From Key West.
Key West, Fla, Jan 30.--J. A. d.
McCurdy began his aeroplane flight
from Key West to Havana at 1880
O'Clock this morning.
When news OF the start had been
flashed to the waiting boats, placed
fifteen miles apart, everybody was on
the lookout, officers on deck and
sailors in the spar rlggings OF the de.
stroyers. Suddenly out Of the light
haze loomed the great white Curtiss
biplane--known Nas the Belmont
racer"--Aying high aud in direct &
course for Havana. The motors clat-
tering was distinctly heard by those
on the ship. A cheer greeted the
aviator as he replied with wave OF
his gloves. In minute the biplane
craft was lost in the distance toward
the Cuban shore.
The aviator got away after waiting
nearly a week for favorable winds
and early this morning advices from
Havana were to lie effect that condi-
tions there were satisfactory. The
torpedo boat destroyers designated by
the navy department to convey him
and several light house tenders
steamed to sea to take positions where
they could mark the way to the Cuban
city and render aid If McCurdy should
fall into the waves. The Paulding
was stationed about sixty miles from
Key West, the others at intervals out
cubans Euthused Over Fleet.
Havana, Cuba, Jan. 30.-All Havana
and the surrounding country turned
out to welcome AvitaOr McCurdy on
the announcement by cable that he
had left Key West for Columbia Camp,
four miles outside the capital, where
the aviation meet Is In full swing. The
McCurdy fight is regarded as one OF
the most notable ever undertaken by
an avitaor because of the over-sea-
distance to be covered, which is about
six times the distance of the flight
from Dover to Calais which attracted
the attention Of the world. The dis
tance from Key West to Havana is
about 112 miles while the ver-Calais
route Is about 18.
Navy Department Aids Flight.
The navy department took an
active interest In the fight and every
facility at its command was given to
help. Tugboats and torpedo boat de-
stroyers were ordered to act as sta
ton boats ten miles apart to mark the !
course of the fight. Early this morn
in % fhov fooly Ftho}r atpfi0na Az HO.
Curdy passed each boat at the velocity
estimated at nearly fifty miles, sol.
dieds gave him a rousing cneer and
steam whistles were blown. The
torpedo boats as soon as McCurdy
came in sight started ahead at awful
speed but the swift flying biplans soon