The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1911-02-03
WITHIN TEN
MILES OF COAL
McCuTdy and His AerOpIane
Come Down In the Ocean
NONE THE WORSE FOR MISHAP

Nbh@ thG bOthSG va UbStNHs
Covers About a Hundred Miles II
Flight From Key West to Havan;
When Compelled to Descend Be
cause Supply of Lubricatins OF
Gives out-Picked Up by Destroyer
After Great Sendoff In Florida
Havana, jan I'll. A. d. Nc
Curdy's attempt at al all-record
breaking flight over the sea from Key
miles off the coast after the aviator
had completed 100 miles of the re-
markable journey, he having run out
of lubricating oil.
When he saw that he could not quite
reach this port, McCurdy alighted
safely on the water and the pontoons
with which it was equipped fioated the
aeroplane until the destroyer Pauld-
ing, splashing along in it's wake, had
overtaken the aerial craft. McCurdy
i,
neither the worse for the mishap.
At first it was thought that the avi-
ator could make a new start from the
deck of the destroyer, but this proved
impracticable. and after considerable
delay the Paulding brought the whole
outfit into the harbor. The other
boats that marked the course across
the strait had, in the meantime,
Joined the Paulding and the fleet came
in together.
McCurdy's start from Key West,
upon his record breaking Homie
oversee aeroplane flight to Havana,
was made under the most favorable
weather conditions. nine-mile
breeze rippled the American flag which
was flying from the machine, but it
did not hinder the birdman's progress.
A great crowd roared a vociferous
goodbye to the aviator as the Curtiss
biplane left earth on its flight
Il hope to be in Havana within two
hours, declared the aviator just as
he started. The early part of the
tiight was most spectacular, McCurdy
flying over the city before launching
outward upon the course proper for
Cuba.
With the speed of a swallow the
machine sped southwark over the roofs
of the city. The Joofs and balconies
of the Buildings were black with peo-
PIE.
The prospects for fair weather were
responsible for a great crowd which
began to assemble an hour before the
start. Many of them carried Ameri-
can flags which they waved while they |
cheered the aviator. The revenue |
cutter Forward, the lighthouse tender |
Mangrove and two torpedo boats left |
for their stations.
McCurdy joked with his mechanics |
while they tinkered over the machin- |
cry preparatory to a start. His BIZ |
plane was in excellent condition, with |
all the parts working without a hitch. |
The machine, which weighs $50 |
pounds, was equipped with two sixty
horsepower motors and a big brass
tank of size sufficient to hold enough
fuel to make the trip. Two long pom
toons were attached to the machine
underneath to float it in the event OF
its falling into the waiter.
Key West had not been thrilled
since the Spanish war days as it was
while McCurdy sped over the crowded
housetops.
Thousands watched breathlessly as
the great birdlike machine gracefully
winged its way. McCurdy did not
try any fancy work, but was content
TO make speed with safety and hold to
his course.
The torpedo boat Paulding, the
flagship of the fleet, was given the
post of houor nearest Cuban soil. Next
10 her, at ten-mile intervals, were
the Drayton, Terry and Roe. The oil
ship Arethusa was stationed ten miles
of Sand Key lighthouse. All the tor
redo boats took up their positions
broadside to the line of fight and were
prepared to start at full speed-twen-
ty-five miles an hour-towards Ha-
vana as soon as McCurdy passed.
Thus they raced towards shore, but
were easily outdistanced by the speedy
air craft.
Although McCurdy failed to meet
the requirements of the competition
he accomplished a feat unprecedented
in cross-sea flying. But for a slip in
the matter of supplies it is not to be
doubted that the trip would have been
n.aL