CURTIS, WILLIAM ELEROY

(18501911), American journalist; 6. Akron, Ohio. He graduated at Western Reserve University in 1871, and from 1873 to 1887 was on the staff of the Chicago Inter-Ocean, where he became widely known for his work in interviewing the James Brothers and his investigations of the Ku Klux Klan. From 1887 to 1901 he was Washington correspondent of the Chicago Record, later being a ociated with the Record-Herald. He served as chief of the Latin-American department and historical section of the Columbian Exposition (1891-93). His publications include Capitals of Spanish America, 1888; Yankees of the East, 1896; Between the Andes and the Ocean, 1900; The Turk and his Lost Provinces, 1902; and Modern India, 1905. (1878), American aviator and manubent Jay in the direction of mechanics, and when only 18 years old he established a world’s record for the fastest mile ever made on a motorcycle. He was director of the Aerial Experiment A ociation of America from 1907 to 1909. He won many prizes as an aviator, notably the $10,000 prize offered by the New York Wor'd for the fastest flight from Albany to New York in 1910, He has made numerous flights in America and abroad and has rendered services to aviation only second to those of the Wright Bros. He has engaged extensively in the manufacture of airplanes, being president of the Curti Aeroplane has received a medal from the Smithsonian Institution.