The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-02-28

Il is, therefore gratifying to find that the water
aeroplane, the hydroaeroplane and the flying boat
seem destined to save life
The hydro-aeroplane began its career life
saver in 1911, while still in the experimental
period. 1t during the famous Chicago meet
aviator lost control while flying over Lake
Michigan and fell into the water Threc-Quarters
of mile away there was hydro-aeroplane the
early Curtis model-the prototype of the flying
boat-circling around and occasionally settling on
the surface of the water like big seagull. The
pilot of this craft. seeing the aviators fall wen.
to the rescue. Flying at mile minute speed
he reached the spot, landed the water by the
submerged aeroplane and offered to take the
aviator to landz<a in less than one minute!
Some months later. on March G. 1912, two avia-
tors fell in San Diego bay while flying and their
machine capsized. An aviator on the shore
the accident, jumped on his hydro with his
mechanic and flew to the rescue landing a min
ute later by the "shipwrecked' two.
The first demonstration of actually rescuing a
person not connected with aviation given on
October 10, 1912. by Charles Valid, instructor in
the Wright school of water flying. at the Glenwood
Country club A named Walter Strohbach
fell into the harbor from a rowboat in which he
seeking diversion with a friend. The row.
boat was half mile off the shore at Sea Cliff and
fully a mile from the Glenwood Country club,
when, miscalculating his position Mr. Strohbach
attempted to sit further the stern of the boat,
with the result that he fell overheard Although
his friend tried to reach his companion, a strong
current carried them apart Shouts along the
shore told of the plight of the young man. who
was exhausted in the chilly water. Mt. Charles
Valid, learning of the occurrence while at the
hangar preparing to make flight jumped into
his machine and flew to the man in the water
who could be from the club station.
Alghtng In the hydro-aeroplane the water
Strohbach the aviator first threw life pre-
server to the young man, who was scarcely able
to keep afoat then, bringing the machine along
side. managed to get him aboard one of the floats
of the biplane and brought him safely to the
Wright station.
Boats leaving the shore did not reach the
scene Of the accident until the hydroaeroplane
was we'll on its way to shore with the rescued.
MIR. Glenn H. Curtiss. the dean of water flyers
and creator of both the ro-aeropane and flying
boat, was the hero of lifesaving act last June,
rescuing two occupants of a broken down motor
boat with the big four-passenger flying boat Of Mr.
Harold F. Mccormick. Mr. Curtss and Mr.. c. C.
Wilmer were flying over Lake Keuka in the boat
to test 1t and were running for home ahead of a
coming thunder shower when, mile from shore.
they noticed a motor boat in which two men
we're waving wildly.
Curtiss brought the flying boat to the water and
stopped near the motor boat. The men said their
motor was broken and they wanted some one sent
out to row them ashore. Mr.. Wilmer crawled out
on the tail of the flying boat and took a rope from
the motor boat, which he held while CurtlsS drove
the flying boat a mile to the shore.
The motor boat was left there and taking the
men aboard. Mr.. Curtiss flew back to Hammonds-
port.
The airboat and hydroaeroplane may be said
to be the logical adjunct of ifesaving stations
and, therefore, absolutely necessary. AS an es-
sential purpose of life-saving station is to
lieve wrecks and save people from drowning.
speed in doing it is the essence of efficiency The
aeroplane-the water kinds revolutionary in
this respect. 1t can fly to the spot where relief
is needed at the rate of mile a minute, and the
aiman who every detail of what goes on be-
low either land by the object or rescue or Just