Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-05
3riA NsyigatiGsaeTsEssfsl sne ssslJ Trip Of the Fly


From the Y. Y. Tribune, May 26.l -
The long-anticipated attempt at erlal
navigation, which it was several weeks
ago promised the pedole of New y ork
should witness, has at last taken place.
About clock yesterday afternoon, DIR.
Solomon Andrews, the inventor and con
structor of the flying ship, accompa-
MED by party of friends, started with
his apparatus to make the trial, which
he has consented shall be considered the
crucial test of the correctness or fallaey
of his theories of aerial navigation. The
IA cent was made from the enclosed yard
at the corner of Greene and Houston
streets, where the apparatus has been for
several weeks on exhibition. The party
of adventures comprised DR.. Andrews
and Messrs. Geo. W. Trow, c. MsPlumb
and G. Waldo Hill. So quietly had all
the arrangements been made that very
few persons besides the travellers were
aware that the trial was to occur that
day.l DIR. Andrews commenced filling
the balloon of his vessel about o clock
in the morning, and about p. m. 1t was
pronounced to be ready The other pre-
parations occupied but short time, and
about 4 o'clock, as we have said, the sig
nal was given to "eut loose, and the
ship and its living freight rose rapidly
into the air.
The yard which had contained the ap-
paratus being barely large enough to re-
ceive it, and inclosed with high fence,
and further surrounded with lofty houses
and chimneys, it had been feared that
some difficulty would be encountered in
setting out, but in this respect the yoy-
ayers were happily disappointed, the
balloon rising almost directly up until 1t
was above all surrounding obstacles,
when it began to drift rapidly away Al
most at the start, by some mischance,
the rudder ropes became entangled m
some portion Of the rigging, which pro-
vented her steering. The wind was at
this time blowing a light but steady
breeze from the southwest, and the bal
loon driited with it some considerable
distance s~At hast, however. the voyagers
seemed toEet their machine under con-
troll, for they turned her repeatedly in
different directions, and at last headed
her to the northward and eastward
crossed the East river, and passed rap
idly out of sight. The rate of speed of
the machine, when last seen, seemed to
be about 20 or % miles an hour,
As this is absolutely ly the first trial, not
merely of this, but of any apparatus con-
structed in similar manner even the
inventor declines to make any prophe-
cies of what may or may not be achieved
in this trip Whether he intends or eX-
poets to osreaeh any particular point, is
known only to himself. The only infor-
nation which he youchsaies to any one
is that he ssintends to see what she will
do" The principle upon which he
bases his theories has been previously
and successfully tested, but the present
construction of his apparatus has not
been, and 1T is not improbable that nn-
foreseen difficulties may arise in the
management of the apparatus which wall
prevent his accomplishing all that he
evidently hopes to do.
A full account OF the construction OF
the "Aereon," and the principles on
which its operation is based, was pub
hshed in the Tribune of Monday, May
IA, but it may not be amiss to briefly
mention the main points OF ITS difference
from ordinary balloons. The aerostafot
this apparatus, instead of being pear
shaped, like that of the common balloon,
more resembles a long lemon, terminal
ing in sharp point at either end. This
floats horizontally in the air, and by
means Of a strong netting passing over
the whole bag, supports the car, shaped
like a cradle, of wicker-work, about eight
feet in length by two in width A strong
leather strap passing along the top and
bottom of the balloon, and drawn toge-
ther by cords, forms a deep groove IN the
upper and under sides. The principle of
ils operation is, that owing to its peeu-
liar form, it will move much more easily
in the direction of its length than in any
other, and consequently when it is rising
through the air or sinking toward the
earth, if one of its points be turned par
tally in the direction in which II Is
going, the balloon will glide of in the
d;vs,.,iop in which IL il pointed and thus