Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-11
A Successful Flying Machine at Las t.

- SoSSSSStN- thS AAeSAAAS oS Aoo Is
The first open-air exhibition of Prof {.
+. Richelrs flying machine was conducted
at Hartford. Conn, on Wednesday after
noon last. 1t went up to the height of fuI-
Iy two hundred aud dty feet, past the
>pire Of Colt Memorial Church, aud sailed
| of until over the Connecticut river, the op-
orator meanwhile exhibiting his power to
! change It's altitude and direction at will.
/ When he assembled there was but little
wind blowing, and the machine appeared
| 10 be under perfect control; but gradually
a breeze sprung up, and IL was deemed
| safest to make a speedy return. as there
were indications In the sky OF a gathering
storm. The machine turned and made
/ its way back In the teeth OF the wind until
directly over the ball grOnud whence ii
had ascended, and then aightcd within
few feet OF tne point from which ii had
I started.
From tbs demonstration OF its capacity
/ il was generally conceived that it could do
much more than its modest inventor
/ claimed Tor II. lie never expected il to
IA, not bta lie wa n anF sFffnin& & Ha
view in IT,, construction, as may readily be
seen by glance at its proportions, bat lie
does claim that it can be raised or lowered
at Will TO leave adverse currents and enter
favorable ores; that il can be made TO tack
80 to effect a little headway even
against a breeze, and that in still atmos-
phere II can be moved about readily
and aS perfectly at the will Of the operator
as boat upon quiet water. All that, and
even q little more, there il abundant
evidence OF its having done on Wednesday.
The inventor, Mr.. Richell. is Maine
man, but has, during several years past,
lived at Corey. Pa The project OF con
2 Arf,, chi -
vorte subject for contemplation with hun
during nearly ten years past and Tor the
last seven of that time be and his friend
Mr.. W. II. Lyman OF Cory, Pa, have
inCubated his idea together In Noyrm-
Der, 1876. they went to bridgeport, Conn,
To put their plans into execution, as they
believed they could there obtain most read
ily Just the peculiar materials they requir-
ed, and have them put together in the most
perfect manner. Their confidence 10 au-
kce resources and skill was not misplaced,
but their crude ideas were not immediate
crystaiHed INTO perfect machine. never
theltss.
la the first apparatus which they con-
structed. some parts were TOO heavy, 9th
erS too large, aud there was an Ineffective
application OF power. Then second one
was built, that now upon exhibition aud
though it cannot be said to be so far per
fected as to be capable of application to
practical service, such as serving mail
route. or even as popular vehicle tor
travel, ii is still of very great importance
As proving the correctness OF theories upou
watch it was based
\ second exhibition was given Thurs
dav afternoon At the word 60" ouin-
Ian began turning the wheel. the horizon
tai fan revolyel with a noise like buzz
saw, and the machine darted up almost
gertlcally 10 height Cf about two hun
drrd feet There, a strong. STEADY current
of wind setting toward the southwest was
encountered, aud the machine was swept
away by it, bruad,ide TO the spectators.
Then the operator WAS seen throwing his
vertical tan into gear. and by It's aid the
aerial ship turned around, pointing lts
head in whatever direction he chose to
give II. All this was but the work of a
move HE apparatus about, he could not
make any head"ay against the Strong
"lnu
reversing the motion OF ms horizontal
nan ne aescehoed apparently about one
huholtu iee', 10 get out Oh the current
H.,