Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
A PERILOUS RIDE.


Zephaniah Phelps. Of Hartford, Conn, IL q
man seventy-fve years of age, and correspon-
dent of the New York World says is regarded by
the few OF his neighbors who know him a.
crank. Phelps lives In an old hut In the woods
near Avon, and has for years devoted all his at
tention to mechanical inventions. He has two
pet hobbies, perpetual motion and an aerial
navigating craft incidentally he has devised
several machines which in no case have been
patented. Many years ago he applied for a
patent but failed to obtain it and. disguised
with the whole system, he made no subsequent
attempts to secure legal protection for his in
ventions. The models were thrown aside and
in many cases burned by their eccentric inven-
tor. Phelps is distant relative of Congress
man Phelps, of New Jersey. The whole region
In which he lives is thronged with people Of his
name, but Zephanah belongs to a branch now
almost extinct. He married early in lfe but
for years has been widOwer One daughter
was the result of his matrimonial venture. She
Is married and lives somewhere in the vicinity
OF West Troy, New York.
Wadsworth tower is a tall wooden structure
over 1O0 feet in height. 1t is built on the sum-
NIT OF Ta!cott mountains and gives one of the
finest views in the country. 1t Is fifteen
miles from this city and is in summer favOrite
resort of pleasureseekeTs. In winter it is utterly
deserted, the keeper. man named Bartlett,
warmer, if more lowly. quarters. On Friday
morning Zephaniah Phelps made his way to the
top of the tower. He made several trips. each
time carrying up pieces of machinery. No one
Interfered with him, and about 10 o'clock he
had his latest machine in order and ready for
use. 1t consisted Of q strong but light gas
generator, q combination of cOgwheelS and
pulleys and two light pitch turbine wheels, both
arranged at slight angle to the vertical. The
whole contrivance, including two triangular
wings, weighed about 60 pounds.
The gas generator was easily worked, and
within few minutes both turbines were in con-
dition to start. The old man opened the valves.
and, seating himself in loop of rope suspended
under the generator, pushed his machine from
the tower. The turbines lowered rapidly and
the flying machine and its rider moved slowly
away. For moment the machine rose a few
feet and then began to drop. Phelps found his
generator losing power with every second and
attempted to discover the cause By some mis-
take he opened the discharge valve and instantly
was falling rapidly with his turbine motionless
and useless. The only check On his descent
were the two triangular wings. These spread
out and checked somewhat the descent. Still
he fell with constantly increasing velocity. and
after descent OF several hundred feet he
struck the trees on the Simsbury plains below
His fall was broken, but nevertheless he lost his
hOld on the rope loop. and, while the machine
caught in the branches, he fell with terrible
force to the ground below, breaking his hip and
several ribs.
The old man tainted from the pain and lay un-
conscious for nearly half an hour. Coming to
his senses, his groans finally attracted the atten-
ton of a chance passer-by, who came to his
rescue. The old man was nearly dead from
pain and cold, and tainted on being removed.
mile distant, and is now lying in a critical con-
ditiOn.