Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-05

He is now in fair way of being recon-
structed. ~ - q E
Curious Experiment with Flying Ma.
shihe' sistssss.+f. si,ed
| Walter Y. Collins writes, from Min
neapolis to Chicago, curioris account
of an experiment by Mr.. David X.
Smith, of that place, with flying ma
chine of his own invention. We give
it as pleasant reading in this warm
weather
This morning at IL o'clock, the hour
appointed, we were promptly at Mr..
Smiths store and found him ready to
start. At the door there stood two teams
and wagons, one of which contained
what supposed to be a canvas tent,
with poles, &c. In the other we took
our seats. The party consisted of Mr..
Smith and his clerk, James McLednan,
Capt. Cobb aud myself, Patrick Riley
and Andrew Ward, the drivers; six in
ALL Mr.. Smith was enveloped in large
linen buster, which quite concealed his
person. During the ride he appeared
rather serious and taciturn. In two
hours we reached a point about twelve
miles west of the city, aud there stop
ped. The country was rolling prairie,
wholly uncultivated, and with no trav-
eled road for several miles on either
side. The canvas, &c, was taken out
and spread upon the ground, and /
found to my lmazement that instead of
a tent il was an immense kite, made of
sail cloth, with strong jointed frame.
1t was of the kind known as the "house
kite, hexagon in form; and when put
together was twenty-five feet in length.
thus containing an area of over 500
square feet Its cord was about the
thickness of my little finger, but of
great strength, having been manufac-
tured to order The tail of the kite
was merely light rope ladder. Mr..
Smith now threw off his linen buster,
and could scarcely avoid laughing at
his extraordinary appearance. Beneath
his arm pits, and extending around his
body, there was copper cylinder foot
wide front top to bottom, and about two
feet in diameter. His ordinary clothing
had been replaced by tight fitting suit
of ribbed cloth, made apparently all in
one piece Attached to his arms
and body were pair of webbed wings
of strong material, with light frame
work of steel. When at rest, these
wings (if may so call them hung
loosely about him like closed umbreI-
Ia; but when his arms were raised they
became extended and gave him an odd
resemblance to the ''Green Monster"
in the pantomine.- Scores of ordinary
biadders were fastened to the suit above
mentioned, and equally in every part.
Some were placed close to the body,
and others depended ut various lengths,
from one to three feet. From the
mouth of each a hollow, flexible tube
communicated with the cylinder These,
if extended, would consequently form
a network of air tubes. / made these
observations hastily, for Mr.. Smith at
once placed himself upon the rope lad
der and requested that the kite, which
had been set up on q slight elevation,
should be raised. The Captain and my
self called out together that he had for
COTTON his parachute; but he replied
limpatiently that he did not need it. We
ldeclare, however, that we would not
permit so foOl-hardy an experiment I'M
less this precaution were taken, and af-
ter little parley he consented. A steady
breeze was now blowing from the south
east. Riley and Ward took their place
in the wagon beside the coil of rope;
McLennan acted as driver, while Capt.
/ Cobb and 1 remained on the ground as
spectators. The horses were started
into gollop, and the kite rose, slowly
and heavily, but steadily upwards. i
glanced at my watch; it was twenty
minutes past two o'clock. The kite con-
tinued to rise. with a slight swaying
motion, higher and higher. 1t seemed
as though the daring eronaut must be-
come sick and dizzy at his lofty Leight.
Suddenly was startled by an exclama-
ton from my companion, and noticed a
dark object falling from the. kite and
futtering slowly downwards. 1t was
the parachute which Smith had thrown
away The persons in the wagon, which
was now half mile distant, did not
seem to notice this occurrence. OBJ
viously Smiths situation, if his inven-
ton should fail, had become one of APP
palling danger; since it is almost inn
possible to bring kite to the ground
without violent and jerking lateral
motion. 1t seemed equally perilous to
stop or to proceed. q Trembling with
anxiety, we watched with straning eyes,
his fast receding form. L had an excel
lent field glass, which gave me perfect
WOW VI hAo CNSiy anu HOW We
noted that both the bladders and the
wings had begun to. expand. Higher
he rose, but we could detect
in his attitude no sign of doubt
or trepidation. The bladders soon
became distended SO as to almost hide
the man from view. He had now reach
ed an elevation, as near as I could Judge,
i of 1,200 to 1,500 feet, or about quar-
ter of a mile. He now detached his arm
from the ladder, his feet remaining up
on it, and waved the wings upward and
downward, as if to try them. For an
instant he stood thus, and then, relin-
gushing all support, he sprang off into
the empty air For moment my
heart stood still. I held my breath, ex-
pecting to see him dashed to the earth.
But he did not fall; he did not even
seem to tend downwards. His wings
played with great swiftness. and he
fioated in horizontal position, with
apparent ease. Again, / glanced at my
watch. The hand pointed to twenty
seven minutes before three. The kite,
deprived of ifs ballast. had SINK tn the