The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-30

| GU. tIltU tHt tbSib'Vi' +"hfVhiptu-
ously. can you fly. you young idiot?
Are YOU a condor?"
| Tom REDEEMED. and was silent
| For q long time after this Tom kept
| quiet. and remained away from Durham.
II was soon after this that Mr.. Morton,
the contractor. met Tom
Entering the boys little workshop one
night, he was surprised by the sight OF
very curious-looking machine.
MAY ask what this is. Master Tom
| he said, pointing to the frame.
| ooh that" answered the boy. with q
smile that Mr.. Morton, is my flying
machine" ..
And you can fly with 1t, I suppose"
said the contractor, with careless
| laugh.
"Certainly." replied the young inventor,
"but / can't fly anywhere | ike just yet
! 7 can Hv on calm day. though in GER
tain direction. but I've not perfected IT,
| When | do. | hope TO be able TO go IN
| any direction
! The machine looked in part something
Ike q windmill on the end OF gas
bag. He made out, too, small pox Win
nroneuer screw. which seemed to be
Good gracious he exclaimed this
Is really Interesting. Where did you get
| the idea?' ro
Il have been reading books on aero
nautics for a long time. SAID IoHl'
What do you call it,
1T is an aeroplane."
81 should like TO see 1t tried.
"Weu Mr.. Morton. l offered Mr.. Dun
ham n cross the chasm with It and carry
a hall of Irvine. so you see l am pretty
confident. But Mr.. Durham simply IN
suited me-" a..
of
he was right in refusing TO allow you
to take such a risk
mo risk at all" responded Tom sturd-
ily. There is not a particle OF danger
on a calm day"
"Do YOU really say So" inquired Nor
ton. IL was under the impression That
YOU were only Dragging, ike boy
Tom flushed. The contractor went on
In a different tone. 'If you can really
GO over in that machine or balloon, or
whatever you call 1t. and carry over a
hall of Irvine, you will solve an engineer
ing problem which battles me at present.
A was about to send to New York Tor
bomb gum this delay in the work is an
enormous loss to me"
81 will gladly try it," said Tom.
ut seems TO me frghtful risk, said
the contractor. "You say you have no
fears?"
assure YOU that there Is no danger.
your father has seen it tried? That
alters the case. II you succeed. Tom,
I'll give you e check for a thousand dol
lars"
"The money is as good as NINE" said
the bow quietly ut will be such
lark to SIND mother a check-the earnings
of the despised flying machine" he added
to himself.
The youthful aeronaut insisted on maxi
ing all his preparations in secret; he
would allow no one except the contractor
to enter his workshop, TO whom was ex-
planned much that was mysterious until
he began to be hopeful Of the experiment
The gas bag soon assumed the shape
Of a great cigar The peculiar shaped
screw was attached 10 a slender steel
axis running under the frame work be
meath the balloon. A rud Ter was bolted
into the end of the frame, having tiller
ropes on each side running through pull
leys in grooves. Then Tom showed Mr..
Morton that the mysterious box contained
nothing but a storage battery or small
size The motor was n rough one con-
structed by Mr.. Seward, and had been
tested The cog wheels were all ntted
together and oiled, then Solted nrmly
10 the axle rod
When ready the frame work was taken
apart and carried piece by piece 10 the
platform on the great pier. A stout, net
ting Of ropes, made by Mr.. Morton HIM
self. under Toms instructions. linked the
gas bag 10 the frame. Special precsu-
lions were taken here. and Mr.. Seward
inspe cted the work as it went on.
He assured MIR. Morton that he had
seen the little model at home In Wash
ington act very well and carry small
weights. though no other power was used
than a minute battery. But this machine
was To carry a stout boy who pulled
down the scales at 10 pounds.
A seat was placed amidships on the
frame and firmly screwed on. Two stout
levers, acting like bow-facing oars. were
attached to the machinery Of the cog
wheels, working on out-riggers. These
turned a powerful driver which assisted
the driving wheel OF the motor. and Tom
practiced on them for q day or two
until the friction was considerably re-
duced, the screw In front whirling around
with great velocity and the strong ropes
holding the machine In place. cracking
and straining the stress.
At last everything was ready for the
imitation of the gas bag A supply OF
sulphuric acid and iron filings was at !
hand and the manufacture of gas was
begun. The whole machine was firmly
secured by stout ropes and the bag was
soon filed.
Tom took his seat when the balloon |
commenced 10 bulge out against the net |
ting. and established electric connection. |
The screw began TO revolve like lightning
and he worked the levers.
-Four men stood ready with sharp
hatchets 10 cut the stay ropes simuta-
neously at the word of command. The |
ballast was near the seat and the string |
Of the gas valve also. II the buoyancy |
Of the balloon was not sufficient to sup |
port all the weight this ballast could be |
easily thrown overheard. though Tom said |
II that were done the steadiness OF the |
machine would be impaired
"All ready" he shouted cut"
The hatchets descended together. The |
stay ropes were severed and the aeroplane |
shot forward like bird. The boy bent |
TO his work and the speed was In
creased. The precious twine. which was
wound on on oiled reel. ran out behind.
and In about five minutes the aeroplane
was over the other side Of the canyon.
A great shout went up. Then Tom