The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-30
BIRD MAN M
 CURDY LANDS
 IN THE WATER
Within Sight of the Covet. ed Havana Goal When Supply of Oil Gives
 Out
Left Key West on His Over Water Flight Under Most
 Favorable Conditions.
tspecial from United Press.) )

Havana. Jan. 30-One of the most spectacular fights in an aeroplane ever essayed by an aviator failed of com plete success. this afternoon. by less than 10 miles when J. A. McCurdy was forced to land in the water 10 miles from the entrance of Havana harbor because his supply of lubricat- ing oil had become exhausted.
 Starting from the aviation field on Che outskirts of Key West at 7:32 this morning. the daring young Canadian held his course direct for this. city. Just when success seemed certain. he discovered that his engine was run ming hot. due to the supply of lubri- cants being exhausted, and he was forced to descend in the surface of water when within sight of his cov- eted goal and almost within sound or the cheering multitude that had gath cred to greet him 1t was a bitter waited at Key West for a week for <avorable weather to essay his self imposed task
 News that McCurdy was finally to attempt the over-water flight was cahled from Key West early in the once prepared for holiday. Busi- ness establishments shut down to give their employees an opportunity to greet the air navigator. The weather con- iftfons here were admirable. The sun shone brightly. dispersing the early morning haze. and housetops and other points of vantage were jammed with enthusiastic men. women and chill dren. all anxious to witness the finish Of the most ambitious point to point" feat ever attempted by an aeroplanist. Even the government offices were ciueed for the morning and the occu- pants hurried to Morro Castle where they took positions that would give them a good view of McCurdy as he entered the bay and flew over the city toward Camp Columbia. where a land ing place had been arranged.
 There was a long. wearisome wait and several false alarms before the dgnal was finally given by the obser- yer stationed on the lookout wall of inc castle that had picked up'' the and destroyers that were acting as attendnrtE 10 the air craft. The boats were headed direct for the harbor en- trance and everyone tried hard to chine lowering above the decks of the speedy craft.
 A few minutes after the torpedo boats were sighted they were seen to stop and then turn back on their orig ina1 course. This was the first word
 
 the disappointment of the spectators was acute.
 Shortly afterward a wireless dis patch was received explaining the req son for the mishap. It was very brief, simply stating that the supply of lu- bricants had run out and that. in or der to escape disaster. McCurdy had been forced to descend. His aero plane was equipped with pontoons and he was quickly picked up by one of the convoy. ufihurt but very much dis appointed-
 When McCurdy passed the naval wireless station at Key West, at S:19 this morning, his altitude was off, cfally recokned at 800 feet. The avia- tor passed over the torpedo boat des- troyer Roe, the fourth boat out from Key West, at 9:11 and was then. main taining about the same altitude and flying perfectly despite the rather choppy breeze. His course was then south by west. The naval vessels were lined up 10 miles apart, extending in a line from Key West toward Havana tn the following order; the tug Mas sassoit. the Mangrove, the Forward, the Roe. the Drayton, the Terry and the Pauld;ng. When McCurdy pass ed the Roe all the boats at signal, started full speed toward Havana when McCurdy came down the flotilla was in swift pursuit and he was soon safe
 McCurdy resumed his flight to Ha- Paulding by which he was picked up. An inclined platform had been built on the Paulding as McCurdy was ex- pecffng to make a flight from the deck of that vessel following his arri- val 1t Havana.