The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-13
Propelled by Steam, 1t Moves Through
the Air Like n Rtrri

Washington City, May e-The first pub
lie statement regarding the flying machine
experiments conducted by Prof. Samuel p.
Langley, the secretary OF the Smithsonian
institution. for some months past. was
made to-day with authority OF Prof Lang
ley. The weil-knoHn scientist has been q
believer in the eventual practical use Of
air vehicles for years. and for q long
period he has been making experiments
with device Of his own invention near
OccoQuan. Va Much secrecy has been
attached TO these trials CT the aerodrome,
and the little that has leaked out has ex-
cited intense interest among scientists
throughout the world. Prot Langley has
always been very guarded about the ex-
periments. and the account Of his latest
attempts with the flying machine embodied
In the following statements prepared by
Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, the we'll
known inventor. published with the sane
ton Of Prof. Langley. will therefore be
o. great Interest to the scientific world
generally:
Last Wednesday. May 6. witnessed q
very remarkable experiment with Prof.
I.angley's aerodrnsre on the Potomac river
Indeed. II seemed 10 me that the expert
msnt was OF such historical Importance
that # should be made public. / should
not feel at liberty TO give an account OF
all the details, but the main facts I have
q W.. A<esEEfrS = FUtEF1k E1fsIE you
and they are as follows:
The aerodrcrne or flying machine in
question was OF steel. driven by a steam
engine. II resemhled an enormous bird,
soaring in the air with extreme regular
ity. In large curves sweeping steadily up-
ward in a spiral path. the spi-als with a
diameter OF perhaps 100 yards until il
reached height Of about ioe feet In the
afr. At the end OF a course OF about half
mile when the steam gave out tire pro-
pellers which bad moved il stopped, and
then. 20 my further surprise the whole.
Instead OF tumhiuz down, settled as slow
" and gracefully as {; Is possible for any
bird 70 do. touched the water without any
damage and was Immediately picked out
and ready 20 be tried again.
"A second trial was Ike the a-<r axesa.
that the machine went in a GlTerer, d.
recuon. moving in ore continuous gentle
ascent az X swung around I'm circles Ike
a great soaring bird. At one time II seemed
TO be In danger. as its course carried n 70
a neishooring wooded prouoatory. but
apprehension was immediately siiayef as
Il passed twenty-five or thirty feet above
the TOP OF the hlghes. trees thsre ara
then. ascending stil further. IS sfs.-,
finally gave out again and II settled tn,,
the waters Of the river not quite A mar
ter os a mile from the point where i. rcs.
No one could have witnessed thesa srv4-
imenis without being convinced tha. IN.
practioahsiiiy OF mechanical flight haa
been demonstrated
"(Ssgnsd1
ALEXANDER GRAHAM Rrrr-
Prof Langley also made public a surns.-
riertsl statement giving some E-n.o-far.
csiA regarding his experiments He ssia:
me aero17oz,e. OF flying machine. h.s
no gas 70 Eft Il. as IN the case OF ,he hal-
loon. but. On tire cc5trary, . Is aArz,, or.
thousand times heavier, baik for huIs TIA,
the air on which il Is made 70 rV,, .ns
~ "a slstAtrs Il somewhat In TIE wav IN
wS4ch thin zee supports a swift skater
The Fsowsr IS derived from steam, erws-.
taroagh the means OF prrDeIl.rs ns,
SW.1g 70 Tire sale On which tks a-.,..f
aeFo1rome Is oulit. there has been re- c9r-
o~nsinS apparatus 20 use the wa,~~ ,vs~
anI over Eno0Ea can be cavrsasa Ta- o-s,
very brief s-gAt. a tlracaaEy whsrh 49,.
nes belong 10 larger machine thar ~.
present sxars-!e, in which ths su-,po~rfnw
ssrtaces are aus aaoss. fs feet from tn :,
~ Tie distance eSwz each -3-,a s..
anclf en@-aasf mile. Ths rate Ct srss,. -
lersss. as In tire case Of arv xekg-.e -,
sfsc- o. whether :; - Fcirx "a a ls,r., an ~,
hikL In TIE case % this las.. o. Nav & .he
hsaai1A was ASCENDING that Is 70 say ~
= a. Sesns - Ill ell tAs .sras. ana wsut
ss<ssxa distance ~ ess-aAls mia q. n,ra