The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-08
Rrial Navigation.


About q year ago, an elaborate de-
scription appeared in these columns
Of DR.. Solomon Andrews projected
flying ship, then building at Perth
Anboy. Since then, the enterprise,
following all improvements, has taken
UP its residence in New York, and for
several months has been undergoing
preparations at the corner Of Hous-
ton and Greene streets, having passed
into the hands of an efficient COM
pany, of which DR.. Andrews, the in
vehtor, is president.
Yesterday afternoon at 4 p. NJ, all
being in readiness, four gentlemen-
DR.. |Andrews, President; G. w. Trow,
Weep c.. NJ. Plumb, Secre-
tary; and G. Waldo Hill, director
Of "The Erial Navigation Com
pany,"' entered the spacious basket of
the stNreon" cut loose from terra
frnau. and started upon q voyage of
discovery through the azure ether
that hung as a veil of beauty over
the busy city. The ship easily and
gracefully ascended at once to a
height Of some 1900 feet, or conside-
rably more than six times the height
of Trinity steeple, where, in mid air,
the ceaseless hum of the city ascend
ed with diminished and softened
effect, and from whence the multitu-
dinous mass of humanity that darken
the streets appeared as Lilliputs, sur
rounded by houses of equal minia-
ture extent, each intent upon his
petty task of pleasure.
The island and its suburbs lay
stretched in masslike distinctness,
through which rivers and streets
threaded their sinuous way, with al
effect to which distance lent enchant-
ment that converted edifical gross
ness into outlined beauty, and toned
down deformities to varied and sug-
gestive smoothness and cleanliness rs
pleasing to an artist as it would have
been satisfactory to the argus-eyed
Board of Health.
For the first five minutes the ship
drifted steadily in North
course, but, little ballast cast out,
she instantly and gracefully obeyed
the direction of the rudder, and was
headed in South-westerly line along
which, though under minimum of
gas, she shot at an undertaking un-
swaying rate of less than three mi
nutes to the mile. AS the trip was
purely experimental, the aronauts
kept ahoat no longer than would
assure the practical success of the
undertaking, and suggest any needed
improvements and alterations advisa-
BILE to the more complete outfit of the
flying conqueror of the atmosphere
and the annihilator of current. A
further 1engthening of the 'serostat'
or gas-containing section, of the ma
chine to thirty feet, so as to secure
fight angle Of fifteen degrees, and a
stronger stiffening of the rudder,
were the only additional measures
recommended by the results of the
trip. These will be Immediately eff
fectuated.
While in the car, the wind blowing
quite freshly, came almost directly
athwart the faces of the voyagers,
and pieces of paper cast on the
bosom of the mir we're waited in n
course contrary to that pursued by
the machine, thus conclusivc,ly prov
ing that, unlike balloons, the " "Ereon"
can proceed if need be, against, and
not slavishly, with the wind, as the
former always do.
After being supra nimJos for about
twenty-five minutes, the docile and
beautiful steam-winged bird was sue
cessfu1y persuaded to pay terrestrial
visit to Astoria, where both her high
ness and her privileged masculine
conveys were received with surprise
and welcome acclamations by the as
tonished denizens, and whence, gath
ering in her plumage, the Queen of
the Air allowed herself to be borne
in plebian cart to her resting-place
in the metropolis. Other and more
extended fights are in design during
the summer weeks.
The initial and gratifying success
of this measure is the reward OF
years of thought, toll, expense, and
intelligent scientific research on the
part of DR.. Andrews, in the face of
skepticism, opposition and red-tape
Indifference, and assures him not
only recognition and peerhood among
the foremost inventors Of the age,
but we hope return of substantial
results that will be none the less de-
served because wholly n secondary
consideration to his mind
Lovers can henceforth soar actin. lily
as near Heaven as their aspirations
can carry them already, while above
the terrestrial grandeur and fashion
OF Central Park Y1Iaaarra ,,,r+;o oo,