The weekly union record. [volume] (Oroville, Calif.) 1864-1866, 1865-12-23
A FLYING Machine.

experiment W -hi' DafIo ~ii44si4;
of Minneapolis, who is engaged in max
ing flying machine.
Mr.. Collins says that in conversation
with Mr.Smith, that enthusiast admitted
he had not overcome one difficulty in
his machine, namely: " the inability
to RISE" But there will be no difficulty
in descending from the loftiest elevation.
The letter writer describes the ex-
pertinent with the machine thus:
This morning at II 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 con-
tanned what supposed to be a canvass
tent, with poles, sc. In the other We
took our seats. The party consisted of
Mr.. Smith and his clerk, James Nc
Lehman, Capt. Cobb ana myself, Pat
rick Riley and Andrew Ward the dri-
vers; six in all. Mr.. Smith was en-
veloped 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 twelve miles west of the city, and
there stopped.
The country was rolling prairie,
wholly uncultiyated, and with no travel
ed road for several miles on either side.
Thee anvass, &C., was taken out and
sperad upon the ground, and found to
my amazement that stead of a tent
it was an immense kite, made of sail
cloth, with strong jointed frame. 1t
was of the kind known as the "house
kite" haxagon in form: and when put
together was twenty five feet in length,
thus containing an area of over 500
square feet. It's cord was about the
thickness of my little finger, but of great
strength, having been manufactured to
order. The tale of the kite was merely
light rope ladder. Mr.. Smith now
threw off his linen buster, and | could
scarcely avoid laughing at his extraor-
binary appearance. Beneath his arm
pits, and extending around his body,
there was copper cylinder, foot wide
from 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been replaced by tight fitting suit of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 (ifI
| may call them) hung loosely about
him ike a closed umbrella but when
his arms were raised they became ex-
tended and gave him an odd appear
ance, resembling the Green Monster
in the pantomine. Scores of ordinary
bladders were fastened to the suit above
mentioned, and equally in every part.
Some were placed close to the body,
others depended at various lengths,
from one to three feet. From the
mouth of each hollow, hexable tube
communicated with the cylinder. These
if extended, would consequently form
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 slight elevation,
should be raised. The captain and
myself called out together that he had
forgotten his parachute but he replied
impatiently that he did not need it.
We declared, however, that we would
permit so fool-bardy an experiment,
unless this precaution was taken, and
after little parley he consented. A
steady breeze was now blowing from
the southeast. Riley and Ward took
their place in the wagon beside the coil
of rope; McLennan acted as driver.
while Captain Cobb and | rememained
on the ground as spectators. The
horses were started into a gallop, and
the kite rose, slowly and heavily, but
steadily upwards. l glanced at my
watch, 1t was twenty minutes past two
o'clock. The kite continued to rise,
with slight swaying motion, higher
and higher. 1t seemed as though the
daring eronaut must become sick and
dizzy at his lofty height.
Suddenely | was started by an expla-
nation from my companion, and noticed
dark object falling from the kite and
futtering downwards. 1t was the par