The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-02-28

1t is therefore gratifying to find that the water
aeroplane the hydro-aeroplane and the flying boat
seem destined 10 save life.
The hydro-aeropane began its career a life
in 1911 while still in the experimental
period 1t was during the famous Chicago meet
aviator lost control while flying over Lake
Michigan and fell into the water Three-quarters
of a mile away there a hydro-aeroplane the
early GURUS modei-the prototype Of the flying
boat-circling around and occasionally settling
the surface of the water like big seagull. The
pilot of this craft seeing the avators fall, went
to the Flying mile minute speed
he reached the spot, landed on the water by the
submerged aeroplane and offered to take the
aviator to and-all in less than minute,
Some months later, March 6, 1872 two avia
tors fell in San Diego bay while flying and their
machine capszed An aviator the shore
the accident, jumped his hydro with his
mechanic and flew to the rescue landing min
ute later by the 'shipwrecked' two
The first demonstration of actually rescuing
person not connected with aviation was given on
October TO- 1872 by Charles Wald. instructor in
the Wright school of water flying. at the Glenwood
Country club. A man named Walter Strohbach
fell into the harbor from rowboat in which he
seeking diversion with friend The
boat 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
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 Mr.. Charles
Wald, learning OF the occurrence while at the
hangar preparing make a 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 on the water
near Strohbach. the aviator first threw life pre-
server to the young man. who scarcely able
to keep afoat, 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-aeropane
well on its way to shore with the rescued
MIR. Glenn H. Curtiss the dean of water hyers
and creator Of both the hydro.aeroplane and flying
boat, was the hero Of lfe-saving act last June,
rescuing two occupants OF broken down motor
boat with the big four-passenger flying boat of Mr.
Harold F. Mccormick. Mr.. Curtiss and Mr. c. c.
Wilmer were flying over Lake keuka in the boat
to test it and were running for home ahead of a
coming thunder shower when mile from shore.
they noticed motor boat in which two men
were 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
the tail Of the flying boat and took a 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 few back to Hammonds
port.
The airboat and hydro-aeroplane NAV be said
to be the logical adjunct of life-saving stations
and, therefore. absolutely necessary. AS an es-
sential purpose of life-saving station is to re.
lieve wrecks and save people from drowning
speed in doing 1t 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 a mile a minute, and the
atman who sees every detail Of what goes on be
low can either land by the object or rescue just