The Washington times., 1914-06-25
AMERICA BARELY
ESCAPES SINKING
Gale About to Turn Flyer Over
When Glenn Curtiss Saved
Her From Damage.
By LIEUT.. JOHN CYRIL PORTE. R.N.

Atlantic. A thunderstorm Of unusual
violence came up late in the after
noon. and threatened to tear the giant
craft from her moorings an6 hurl her
nose over tail into the waters of Lake
Keuka. which for a quarter of an hour
were churned into white caps by the
furious wind.
1 had taken my rrst hour for re-
Taxation in many days. and was on a
short motor trip in the country with
Rodman Wanamaker's representative
when the gale struck There was no
pleasure in the party when 1 realized
what might be happening to the Amer
lea. l knew she must be showing her
temper in the face of such a storm. In
getting back to Hammondsport I was
helpless, and could only worry till The
storm had subsided.
] learned that the combined strength
of all the men on the flying field had
America from go!EG out upside dUESn
into the lake.
Gale Came Unexpectedly.
The ship had been tied down Sc
curely, We thought The wcrkmen.
mentary hydroplaning surfaces, had
loosened some of the lines. The gale
came on Unexpectedly, and before ev-
erything could be made taut the wind
had gotten hold under the starboard
planes and was starting to turn the
whole craft over on her tail. The hull
rose a foot from the launching cradle.
Glenn Curtiss. the constructor, was
al, sAA l.,
seems to be-day and night. He shout
ed frantic commands that placed every
available man at anchorage where most
needed. Had she ever started to so, il
would have been ''bood-by America"
Good fortune. however, seems to be
staying with the Rodman Wanamaker
expedition. The America was not dam
aged in the slightest by the blow, ex-
cepting, perhaps. for the wetting which
/ wish she might avoid.
The storm cleared in time to permit
US to take the flyer out for her second
days trials, which lasted from 7:4s to
the lake. The principal objective was
TO try out the supplementary hydroplan-
Ing surfaces.
curtiss Theory Correct.
They proved that Mr. Curtiss' theory
of construction is correct. The supple
rnentary planes lifted the boat free of
was cleared on the first trial They
will have to be enlarged several times
over. I fear. before We get the exact
result We are aiming for.
It is not easy to describe these at
tachments which were added at each
side of the hull. just below the water
line. To a layHan they look somewhat
like dwarfeo fins sprouting from the
sides of whale, and quite useless. But
as the boat gains headway through the
water they are shaped so as TO lift the
tail I'D and break the contact with the
surface so that the machine can take to
the air when a good speed Of about
forty-fve miles an hour is attained.
The planes are thin boards eighteen
bv ten inches. covered with aluminium
sheetins and braced with stouc spruce
struts. They will be enlarged at once.
since Mr.. Curtiss is now keeping his
factory mer on duty day and night 20
complete the flyer for the schedu ed
time Of shipment from New York. The
enlarged planes will BE- ready for testing
probably this afternoon
On the first trip out last night, at
7iS. we had aboard four rlen-7seorge
Robinson and james Lamonte. :lechan-
icians, nv assistant pilot, George Hal
lett and myself-and hundred pounds
o< cement fer ballast
We went up the lake about six miles.
The controls worked perfectly and we
got ont of the water with ease. The
eject Of the little hydroplaring sur
faces-insigrIfiCant as they appear 10 an
observer-wSs left instantly when we
came TO leave the surface.
We came down up the lake, since the
syace is not vice enough to risk turning
in the air. and started back. We got up
easily again and rose 20 the highest
elevation that we have so far attempted
IN the America. ! should judge We were
up more than 100 feet The air vas
still and flying conditions after the
blazing with the aftreglow: ! never felt
more eXhilaration in fight Ghe Amer
ica was as docile as though she had
rever thought of ripping up her moor
ings and going on a rampage two hours
before.
We came back within call of the
landing al four minutes past o'clock.
having been out sixteen minutes, of
UP the lake. On the water the boat
responds readily TO the rudder and turns
almost within the length of her wing
spread
Hollander. who have arranged all Of
the details Of the transatlantic flight
were waiting eagerly on shore
They desired TO be the first passen-
came out to the America in boat attn
Mr. Curtiss He took them aboard as
bsllast-snd that was no small load.
since they weight 3s6 pounds between
llGH
With this added weight I could tell
By the feel Of the boat that the sup
Elementary surfaces for planning out Of
the water will require enlarging before
We can rise with the full load OF gaso-
line and supplies. II was getting late
also. and Mr.. Curtiss requested US not
10 attempt TO leave the water, 80 We
merely SKINNED the surface TO give Mr..
Cash and Mr.. Hollander the sensation
Of fTst passengers.
Both Of hese representatives said
that although they mad gone over the
plans again and again they did not
realize what a giant the America was
until they saw II essen oled
We are satisfied, said Mr.. Cash, 10
associate ugliness with great size. but
the graceful lines and perfect proper
lions make this sea glentess thing Of
beauty as we'll
Mr Hollander Hkened her TO a huge
EeagUll.
The intense interest Of every work
man about the Curtiss factory espe
Cislly impressed today's visitors. The
men have been working early and late
and sometimes at night. but without
e nurmur. They seem to love the boat
as IL IL were their own child. An eX-
ample of their devotion was the action
OF the two men who attended the en-
gines which have been under test for
thirty-two hours for the second Wana-
maker boat.
They refused to go 70 bed or desert
their posts during the entire trial.