Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-10-27
Human Flying, from Time Imnemoria'
to the Year 1900.


knows the neurological fable Of the father
and his son who flew 90 high that the
sun melted the wax with which their
feather wings were stuck together, and 50
they fell and were killed. There is no
doubt that this fable has true basis in
an experiment to fly which had fatal
result, and was afterwards recorded oy
the ancient historians in their usual in.
correct and absurd manner.
2. Abaris, 9 6cythiaa, assembled In tAe
air on an arrow, supported and propeued
with peculiar wings, moved BY mechen-
ism. according to the historian Diodorus
of Sicily.
3. Strsbo mentions that the Eupro-
bates tried to ascend in the air, and ''6ll.
ed their wings for that purpose with
smoke" cheated sir, gasf).
4. Archytae, geometrician of Tarentum,
Greece, tried also TO dy. 1t Is not men,
toned by what means. but only that final
~ he broke his neck in consequence.
5. 1147, q Turk, in Constantinople, at
tempted 20 fly on the occasion of the public
festival during the visit Of the Emperor
Emmanuel tothe Sultan Ohisarthian, with
large gown extending beyond his arms
and legs, probably suggested by the con.
struction OF bats wings. He supposed
that he would be able to descend gently,
reaching the ground several thousand
feet from the high building from which
he started. He had announced this ex.
tensively. He moved his arms for long
time to and fro before taking the leap,
and, when he did 80, descended -perpen-
dioalAriy, and was instantly killed, being
dreadfuIly rnangled. This is mentioned
by the historian KnolleA
6. Roger Bacon, the well known
English monk Of the thirteenth century,
made q machine in which one could cit
down, and by means of wings moved by
the arms and legs, could fly like bird,
and sustain ones self for short time.
Z. Elmer, monk Of Malmesbury,
made, according to Milton, in his history
of Great Britain, wings attached to his
hands and feet, and flew with them from
the top of the Tower in London distance
of one-eighth of q mile. A strong wind
lnterfered with his balance, and he came
down rather suddenly and broke both
legs. But he ascribed this failure-still
confident of final success in the art of
hying-to his neglect in making himself
tail also, TO serve as rudder. Where
with he intended to move the tail 10 .
problem.
W. ID. d.
Italy, after having long practiced flying
over the surface Of the Lake Of THRASH
meme, in 1850, started from the highest tow
er in the city, and remained floating three
hundred feet high, directing his course to
of his wings became damaged, and he fell
on roof Of a church and broke leg,
whereupon he was nicknamed the modern
Icarus. Later he taught mathematics in
Venice, and lectured publicly On the art
Of flying, and the means necessary for sue.
cess. Many Italians, Frenchmen aud
Germans, encouraged by this, studied the
subject at that time, and experimental
extensively.
0. 4 musician in Nuremberg few very
dexterously about the year 1895, by means
of two very large wings. An Italian,
named Buratini, brought the secret OF
their construction to France, but nobody
would riak any money to realize his
plans
10. Boiori, an Italian matchmaker in
Troyes, France, after previously studying
: the fight Of birds, made wings with
which he few from church spire three
times across different parts Of the River
Seine. A strong wind, however, caused
him to fall, notwithstanding his utmost
exertions against it, and he was killed.
II. Reinier, a locksmith in Sable,
France, offered flying machines for sale
in the year 1850. He ascended, with one
OF them, TO the height OF one hundred
feet, and came down safely.
IL. Cook and Oliver, two Englishmen,
at Malnesbury, ascended, in 1860, and, by
means of wings attached to the arms and
legs, kept floating for considerable time,
and came down without accident.
IL. Elmero de Malmerio, Spanish
monk, about the same time, tried to dy in
the same manner, and, at first, with good
success, but afterward it cost him his
life.
Ia. The Jesuit priest Lana projected, in
1910, an aerial vessel, supported by four
globes, each of twenty-fo feet diameter,
and having vacuum inside. The vessel
was provided with masts and calls. This
was, however, evidently absurd, and was.
of course, never tried. The plan and
model were all that ever appeared, as il
often the case with visionary inventions.
Is. In the history Of the travels Of the
French Ambassador to the Court OF Siam,
In 1884, published in Paris few years
later, is mentioned Siamese pyrotech-
mist, who assembled on colossal sky rock
ct several hundred feet high in the air,
and then opened large umbrella. with
which he came down slowly. This is re-
markable, proving that the use of para.
chutes was known nearly two hundred
yeare ago in Eastern Asia.
Is. ID. Schyf made, in 1742. in Zaan-
dam, Holland, flying ship, called, g the
new post ard travelling nachiue;" but
the new invention, like that CT Lana (No.
14) was confined only TO models, and
drawings finely engraved on copper, and
extensively published at the time, and re-
published in 1912
II. Don francisco Gusman, of Lisbon,
Portugal, made, in 1745. an eagle, on
which he sat. and OF which he moved the
wings. He few with 1t across the River
Tay, but the Inquisition considered it sor.
Gerry and witchcraft, and ne very wisely
absconded secretly, in order to escape the
rack and stake.
10. Father Gslven, Dominican monk,
published, in ITS, work entitled LArt
de Nauigeur dams les Airs The Art Of Nav.