West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-01-12
TRAVELLING BY KITE.
An EnGiish Acroraut's Unpleasant
Adventure.
The Singular Accident which wac an
Outcome OF n Peculiar Mania
for Aoronautics Ia
England.

About forty years ago mania set In
among aeronauts. who believed that
carriages drawn by kites would super
scde railways TO u considerable extent.
Among those who followed this fascin-
ating study. says Answers" was DIR.
Pococls. an uncle of w G.. Grace, the
champion cricketer OF England. DIR.
Pocock made many journeys from Bris-
tol To- London In little carriage drawn
by couple OF large kites flying quar-
ter OF u mile or so in the air. and he
often attained speed of twenty miles
an hour IL was thought. too, that
kites would supcrscdc sails for ships,
asd, in fact. for some time scientific
England went kite mad In order TO
thoroughly understand the action of
these gigantic kites (some OF them were
as large Is a ships mainsail) "A certain In
trepId John Tahrenheit1--no relation TO
the famous chemist OF that name-made
several voyages in n basket, an ordi-
nary wickerworlS affair, such as is used
by lnundresses, tied to a kite. On one
occasion the kite was started at Rom
ford. In Essex. It was attached 10
pony chaise. which was so constructed
MS 10 be easily steered by means of han
cycles. In the chaise sat two men, one
brother Of the kite traveller. tho other
gentleman who spent n considerable
fortune In experiments of this dcscrip-
ton. The party waited until u suita-
bic day came and at length thcy arose
one morning Ut four o'clock with the
pleasing Intelligence that half gale
was blowing from tho west. Every
thing had been i'm readiness for some
time. and, after n hasty breakfast, the
kite was unrolled. stretched on It's gi-
gnntic bamboo franc and held in the
roadway by a couple 81 laborers.
Fahrenheit seated + himself In the
basket The three STOUT lines with
which the kite was held and controlled
were carefully examined. and after con-
siderable mnneuvcring tho enormous
spread of canvas WAS wnfted upward.
with its human cargo seated calmly and
nonchalantly in the basket For a long
time ii looked rs though the kite would
not ascend properly and the lines fire.
quently hung slack, but atG:30 the wind
had increased 20 such an extent that II
was thought cxpedient TO pay out"
more line and the three travellers seated
themselves In the chaise, which began
10 move along the main road at a brisk
pace. Once in motion the speed i'm
creased, and the difficulty OF steering
the chaise and looking after the guide
ropes was 80 great that IL was thought
expedient 20 bring the experiment To
hasty conclusion This, however, was
easier said than done. as they passed
milestone they determined to time
their speed. and found 10 their surprise
that they had covered u mile In $50.
Three miles ont of Chelmsford rain DO
gan 70 fall in torrents and violent tugs
were felt at the guide ropes II had
been previously arranged that they
should form the signal for an imme-
diatc descent, and, taking advantage of
somewhat steep incline, when the
rate OF progression would naturally bc
diminished, the brakes were applied.
Fahrenheit was observed making vio-
lent signals with his hands, and the
kite was found TO be falling with alarm
ing rapidly So great, indeed, had the
speed become tlai il wns evident that
Fahrenheit's doom was sca cd unless
some immediate effort could be made
To stop the fall. Mr. McLcnnan and
his two assistants thereupon promptly
determined to take the only possible
step which could save MIN. BY pulling
IN the ropes violently the kite would
slightly GsceEd, and 70. throwing off
their coats. they tuggcd with might
and main. Ia 1--we minutes Fahrenheit
was on terra Grna. 1t appeared that
the rain had thoroughly soul,cd the
canvas and added pounds 10 the weight
Of the kite, causing II 70 fall Had not
prompt measures been taken. there can
be but little doubt that the pondcrous
machine would have caused the violent
death Of the occupant of the basket.