Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-03-03

1t is, therefore, gratifying to IND that the water
aeroplane the hydro-aeToplane and the flying boat
destined to save life.
The hydroaeroplane began its career as a life
saver in 1911, while still in the experimental
period. 1t was during the famous Chicago meet
an aviator lost control while flying over Lake
Michigan and fell into the water. Threequarters
of mile away there hydroaeroplane, the
early Curtis mode-the prototype OF the Tying
boat-circling around and occasionally settling on
the surface of the water like big seagull. The
pilot of this craft seeing the aviators fall, went
to the rescue. Flying at q mile a minute speed,
he reached the spot, landed on the water by the
submerged aeroplane and offered to take the
aviator to land-all in less than one minute!
Some months later, on March 6, 1872 two av1a-
tors fell in San Diego bay while flying and their
machine capsized. An aviator the shore saw
the accident, jumped on his hydro with his
mechanic and few to the rescue landing min
ute later by the "shipwrecked" two
The first demonstration OF actually rescuing
person not connected with aviation was given
October 10, 1912. by Charles Valid. instructor in
the Wright school of water flying, at the Glenwood
Country club man named Walter Strohbach
fell into the harbor from a rowboat in which he
was seeking diversion with friend. The row.
boat was half mile off the shore at Sea Cliff and
fully 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
current carried them apart Shouts along the
shore told of the plight of the young man, who
was exhausted in the chilly water Mr.. 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 seen from the club station.
Alighting in the hydro-aeroplane the water
near Strohbach, the aviator first threw life pre-
server to the young man, who was scarcely able
to keep aioat, then, bringing the machine along
side, managed to get him aboard one of the floats
of the bipane and brought him safely to the
Wright station.
Boats leaving the shore did not reach the
scene of the accident until the hydro-aeroplane
was well on its way to shore with the rescued
Mr. Glenn H. Curtiss the dean of water flyers
and creator of both the hydro-aeropane and flying
boat, was the hero of life-saving act last June,
rescung two occupants of broken down motor
boat with the big fourpassenger flying boat of MIR.
Harold F. Mccormick Mr. Curtiss and Mr.. C. G.
Wilmer flying over Lake Keuka in the boat
to test it and running for home ahead of
coming thunder shower when mile from shore.
they noticed motor boat in which two men
we're waving wildly
Curtss brought the flying boat to the water and
stopped near the motor boat. The IN said their
motor 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 rope from
the motor boat, which he held while Curtiss drove
the flying boat 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 hydro-seroplane may DE said
to be the logical adjunct of lifesaving stations
and, therefore, absolutely necessary. AS
sentia purpose of a lfe-saving station is to re-
neve wrecks and 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 minute, and the
AMMAN who sees every detail of what goes on be
low can either land by the ,bject or rescue just