The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-26
A T,ocornotiva Kite


A Connecticut man has come forward
with plan to utilize kite-hying for pur-
poses OF navigation; and has actually
made a voyage, by medns Of locomo-
tive kite, across Long Island Sound.
As constructed, the kite in question
is simply an enlarged copy Oh that OF
every school boy. In height IL is about
eight feet and IN width five. The cross
pieces are OF stout hickory, say an incn
in diameter, firmly screwed in the CEN
ter, from which point they gently taper
TO the ends through which pass tne
usual brace lines. Stout cotton cloth III
the place of paper, properly weighed
'LaIl and an Ordinary goldfish line, seven
or eight hundred feet IN length, consti-
tute tne rest Of the equipment.
Tie start was male from the pic
turesque beach in front OF tue George
Hotei. al Black ROeK, we'll known mar
Dor to coasters, and directly opposite
Port Jefferson, where IN clear day the
great bluffs are visible to the naked eye
from many points ON the Connecticut
shore. Tine kite employed, vas that
used on Lne first occasion. The wind
blew fayorabIy and freshly, SO strong, IN
fact, that Ola sendIng up the airy motor
three or tour stout arms were required
TO hold il III check until The line could
be attached TO tue ring Jolt in the bow Of
the boat. The latter = as not more tnan
ten leet in length, mere cookie shell,
-uch as laIles use tor rowing upon OuE
likes and pouds. 1t had, however, the
Important advantage Of keel, which
will be descr bed IuTther on
THE START AND TIE RACE.
For The purpose vi testing Inc power
ha
OF the best sailboAts OF the nsignbOrloOd
was secured by parry Of gsnLiemen To
make race across the sound. Sir. Har-
raj accepted Lne WAGER, aEd conceded To
his competitors start OF nearly three
quarters oil a mile. Tae LreeZs was 80
strong that the Latter moved on under q
double reef. In the kite boat the only
preparation needed VI as the firm attach
ment oil tine thin line, One-elgBtI OF az
inch in diameter, to the Do@, a point OF
the wind in the direction and tue yOTu
..Iet co." The little vessel dashed of
ike { race morse, marking her speed
with long line OF loan. In the land
locked llarboT il was smooth sailing.
The danger and the speed We're moth
ing. IL Was only necessary 10 follow
The kite, but on rounding the lighthouse
and rocky points and reaching the open
" waters OF the ssinIaud sea" the excite
ment commenced. To maze the course
| it was necessary to sal vita the kite
nearly abeam, yet the dOry wonderfully
| resi- ponded. the tendency OF tue ten
| sion was TO lit the boz OUT OF the water,
| aud even the weigRL Of one Of the gem
| tIemen in tine boat, VINO always sat there
with open kniIe IN hand ready TO cut the
line at any sign OF disaster, sometimes
| tailed to secure the steering way tuaI
4 h.. hu faF hEW
depth Of keel and the bIrying OF her bow,
t. lay up comparatively close to the
| wind.
| A little more than an hour suficed TO
| show that .-the plIyThIng,n small as was
its area compared Win the nuge naiB-
sail OF its antagonist, was the winner b.
long Odds OF the race. Yet, "'EMIxL
heaven and earth, there stood the KITE,
| apparently as steady and mOtiOHless as
| il It had been nailed against the sky.
Its notion vas not perceptlOIs. Mean
| " whiie Inc tiny boat vas scuddiag over
tue waves al Inc rate OF nearly Tea males
an hour. La this connection a peculiar
| iIy is to be noticed. RJugn as as lBe
| sea, not a drop Of water Was shipped
during the entire Passage. Rl0IEg Il
tue Inp OF one wave there was species
Of RAPID slIding down nill 20 the next
4 50 EliAt IL S4HAost SuG DOAG ULS ,
bfeats-taen . siIgnS, very slight
caeek, a lifting of the boat BY the tain
cord 20 the crest of the next wave, and
aRotuer dash dOwnwsrds.
bus never as any time was there that
dangerous guFgiing under the stern
l which D-tCkenesI tHe probability Of being
overTaken and psrhzPs sEzmped- L.
was IIke . i0uInsy in a Marine rocking
cnaiT.
Inswo bOurs and ffty hrinutss the 1T
tie PAaiIne-shAS is LhE uAne- Of the
cookie sneIl-snIeTed the narrow gate
way that constitutes the entrance -
Pert Jefferson, ,IisrsnStWenty-sWo miles.
Here IN Lhe Ia1eI-I0cked hzrIsOr Ine WIND
subsided, tie Kite descended, and il was
necessary 10 recover IL from the wzEeg
and set il on end, as q SOFT OF subsidiary
or terrestrial sail, ana 50 tns bOss calm
Iy glidel I'D 10 the bezea- AsauHhll-
neF competitor was fully two and hal
miles distant and nearly hun down.