The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-11-11
NEW FLYING MACHINE.

While the ingenuity of man has enabled
him to seek out many wonderful inventions,
and to initiate nature in thousand surprls.
ing ways, it is strange that, with million of
models before HIM, from tumble-bug to a
condor eagle, he has yet been unable to con-
trive machine with which to navigate the
air. The balloon has thus far been the near.
est approach, and that compared, to the most
parliamentary bird or insect, is at best a rldic-
ulously bungling contrlvance. The attempts
at making flying machines have been nsmer.
GUS enough, but thus far apparently as vain
as the pursuit of the ignis Jatuns of perpetu.
al motion. A Mr.. w. j. Lewis, of No. 81
West 35th ST., New York, however, cll inns
that he has Invented machine that will en-
able HIM to "hy like bird" The machine
having been closely inspected by a committee
ofscientifc men, who give it a qualified en-.
dorsement the New YORK World regards it of
sufficient importance to give the following
account of 1t:
A huge watch spring weighing several
lpOunds Is connected with an upright shaft,
upon which are arranged-one at the top and
one half way up-two propeller wheels, the
flanges of which are made of stiff paper, and
are made off peculiar shape, In which shape,
| by the way, is said to be the secret of the Rr-
al locomoion. Upon the springs being
wound up the propellers are set IN rapid mo-
ton; and instantly the apparatus leaves terra
firma and scars in the twinkling of an eye to
the ceiling To raise 100 pounds Mr.. Lewis
estimates that it will be necessary for his
aerial planes lin other words, the flanges Of
the propeller wheels) to cover twenty square
feet of air, which, as the propellers can be ar.
ranged one below another on the same mast,
he claims is entirely practicable.
Claiming that the same law by which he
raises four pounds by steel watch springs will
navigate an grial steamer as big as any of the
White Star ships, he talks enthusiastically
| about the ship he hopes soon to construct.
The keel will be in the shape of a very Obtuse
angle, the longer side of which Will have sew
cral masts, each mast containing a number
of propelers whose work will be simply to
! lift. AT the extremity of the shorter side
will be large propeller at right angle to the
keel, whose work will be to push All these
propellers will be attached to universal
joint and worked by a powerful steam engine,
which will be in car suspended from the
long portion of the keel. The engine started,
III OlICc u uOuUlc VIII Dc given W inc
boat, and 1t will be lifted and pushed forward
simultaneously. The desired altitude being
reached (Which will be regulated by the dis
lance to be traveled,) all the masts will be a
lever canted forward to an angle, which will
enable their several propeller wheels to push
like the one at the stern. The rudder of the
craft will be at the bow, and Mr. Lewis claims
she will be as easily managed as any ocean
steamer. In making journey of 100 miles
it will be necessary to raise to q height OF
abont one mile and then by partially shut
ting off steam the ship will descend upon an
inclined plane at any speed desired. Mr..
Lewis is of the opinion that by wearing Ger
tain covering for the back portion of the mead
a man need experience no Inconvenience
from travelling at the rate of 200 or 800 miles
an hour.
TO exhibit the possibility of giving his
boat any desired direction, Mr.. Lewis yester.
day directed his machine at various angles,
and in all instances 1t flew straight in the di.
reCtion pointed. Before the introduction of
steam AS power in aerial navigation he pro.
poses To construct a boat with pedals, and by
the use of his own strength will attempt a
journey to Philadelphia, being quite ready To
take any moderate wager that he Will reach
that city within half an hour from the time
of starting.