New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-22
IDA TARBELL GOES FOR
BOAT RIDE IN THE AIR
Magazine Writer Becomes En-
thuSiaStiC Aviator After Trip
in MCCurdy'S Babette.
SPIN OVER MANHASSET BAY
Passenger Says She Was Not
Frightened, but Admits Diff
Guilty in Restraining Her
Desire to 'Holler."

Ida NJ. Tarbell. the magazine writer
was converted into a wild enthusiast on
aviation yesterday She took her first trip
through the air as passenger with J. a.
ID. McCurdy in his Curtiss airboat Bah
cite, flying machine Of the hydropane
type. After sailing over Manhasset
Bay and Long Island Sound for fifteen
or twenty miles at speed OF seventy
miles an hour. when she alighted from the
boat Miss Tarbell said she had passed
through the one thrilling experience OF
her life.
The hydroaeroplane kept about $50 feet
above the water throughout the trip. Not
withstandng the possible danger in which
Miss Tarbell had been during her "voy-
age which was shown through mis-
hap 10 the flying boats engine before
subsequent fight. she said her enthusiasm
was not affected
After Miss Tarbell was safely landed
the pilot took X NJ. Turner. the inventor
Of the distagraph, for a spin over the
bay. a small wire got out Of place and
the motor became uncomfortable. This
happened, however. before the hydroaero-
plane made its ascent. thus preventing an
accident.
1T is simply wonderful" said Miss Tar
bell. when her friends rushed toward her
after the boat made the shore, but
my feelings are beyond expression. The
sensation is an emotion. I thought
might be afraid. but wasn't bit, and
was so thrilled that I was ready TO stand
up and shout In fact. / don't believe
could have restrained myself much longer.
] think if Mr.. McCurdy hadn't stopped
when he did I should have been 'holler-
ing at this moment. 1t was flying, am
sure II was lying-just Ike being a bird
Yesterdays flight was under the aus
spices OF the New York Aero Clubs most
enthusiastic member. Henry woodhouse.
who is the editor OF Flying" the clubs
journal. Mr.. Woodhouse promised Miss
Tarbell trip in an aeroplane a year
and a half ago. but he said yesterday he
had been waiting until he could assure
her OF an almost absolutely safe trip In
the party which left the Aero Club yes
terday was Mr.. Turner. the dictagraph
man, who has invented q device known
as the aviophone, TO make communication
between the aviator and a passenger
easy.
other members OF the party were
Hicks A. Weatherbee, George X. Mum
ford, Mr.. and Mrs. owen Tyler, OF Louis
VILE: Mr. and Mrs. Merritt w Lund, OF
Roslyn; Mr.. and Mrs P. c Grant and
Miss Carolyn b. Hubert. Miss Hubert
said yesterday after seeing Miss Tarbell
fly that she would purchase an airboat
and use II IN Florida this winter.
The fight was made from Port Wash
ington. near the Manhasset Bay Yacht
Club. a short distance from Mr.. Nc
Curdy's hangar. The machine flew with
the ease OF gull. when Miss Tarbell was
aboard" leaving the water at sixty
miles an hour after she had gone about
three hundred yards.
Miss Tarbell commented on the feeling
OF safety which she experienced. She
thought this was due largely 10 the fact
that the machine was so different in It's
appearance from the regular type OF aero
plane. The aviator and the passenger
in the Babette sit in small compart-
ment not unlike the racing type Of motor
boat.
Miss Tarbell said that II was possible
she might take up aviation