The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-21
HE FLKw-L1xE FALLING STAR.
The Sad Result or . Lirestnae's Tinkering ~
Zephaniah Phelps or Avon, Cons.

HARTFORD, Dec. 20.-Zephaniah Phelps, .
seventy three year-old eccentric who lives In
the back woods fourteen or fifteen miles from
here. tried yesterday morning 10 fly with
continuance he has invented. He started from
the top OF Wadsworth tower. on Talcott Noun
tain. The machine did not work right. and he
fell down through the troes to the ground. He
broke his collar bone and arm. He Is a distant
connection OF Congressman william Walter
Phelps. Tho Phelps family have lived near
Avon for many generations. till they have null
tlplied to tho number OF several hundred.
Zephanah belongs to o branch which has al-
most dod out. He has no near relatives ex-
cept n married niece who lives on the road be-
tween West Troy and Albany Zephaniah was
a strange boy and spent more time iooling
his fathers farm. lilo invented several ma
chimes which had no utility. and did nothing
except show the occentricities OF his genius.
His two hobbies were to try to get perbSe,tual
ments, and no had tho old wood shop oit filled
years old his father. Nehemiah Phelps. died
and left Icphaniah the farm. 4 his he sold and.
h1 s W.S Gs al 1
since. All his time he has spent oyer. his in
yeentions. His abstemous mode OF lifo made
cdent he was tall. wcll-knit man.. with a. full.
Grizz!od. gray, beard, and long hair. Near
81 epS cod TRsTS Sfs ra Mst
worth tower; 1t is a tall wooden structure
fifty feet high and chained TO the rock by iron
cables TO keep it from being blown away. There
is a pavilion, pear BY kept In the summer by
drive to. From the top Of the tower there is a
finc view, and East Rock, by New Haven, twenty
%s e sn tSsae sy
rapid fall to the meadows. where the Farm Ing
ton River flows. In tho summon time 1t Is
most deso!ate imaginable. This tower old
Zephaniah Phelps chose for his jumping OH
e Sun ry %so h"d been hunting
and ran across the old mans shanty a few
weeks ago. no showed his flying machine. He
keoly. the motor man Tho motive power OF
his machine was gas generator. which re;
used tho expansive force Of the gases. He said
| he could use tho same water over and over
again. taking advantage OF the exhaustion and
water again. lie had a LOT Of scientific works,
and explained with inordinntcly long words
was wt to be applied to two tnrEne wheeiS one one
e. be tied under his chest and the other behind
in tho n mr. rGs sGS
copper cylinder from which tho air had beer
somo forty-two pounds. At that time the ma:
chine was not in working order. The old mar
| HHu some trOuDie hDOut gettlnH MS cOntTl
| yances properly balanced. but he was very
| hopeful. and said It would DO fixed we'll enough
| for him to hy in u fcw days.
| Early yesterday morning he secretly got al
| his apparatus in order and trudeed through
the woods from his shanty to Talcott Noun
tain. He Jagged it all to the top Of tho noun
tain and climbed up the tower. He tried t,
rs. Some hours aftcrward ho was found lyinl
| on the ground grooming and moaning with in
tense pain. Tho snow around was tinged will
his blood His right arm and collar bone wer.
| broken. II II had not been for the trees whicl
broke his fall he would havc been killed..
| do not caro- so much for my hurts" salt
| no feebly but had hoped to mako my nam
IMMORTAL, and now am afraid l am 50 erin
OF my piihciples or my machine. When 20
on top OF the tower ] strapped myself to tn
exhausted cylinder and tied on my turbine at
tachments. Then stood on the, edge an,
started my gas machine. The turbine wheel
rovolved as well rs had expected. and CARRIE
me ciear of tho tower and some feet away.
was going finely when tho wind caught me IN
turned mo downward. crashed into tho treo
and thought would be killed but tho branche
broke my fall" The machine was n total wreck
1t cannot be fixed or mado up ngnin. Severe
curious persons have boon tinkering with tn
fragments, but can make nothing out OF it.