The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12
CAN HAVE A NAVY In The AIR
Prize Of 100000 HaS Brought Cnl a
Man.Of-War That Sails The SKY.
RISES BY BALLOON FROM MID-OCEAN.
The owner "a Carpet-Bag Inventor, But
Those Who Went to Laugh Ecmained
to Wonder at Ills cenius-hanN IN
ventions TO lie sprung Upon the
Public.


Since the introduction into the Senate
OF a bin by Henry cabot Lodge. Offering
prizes for machines that viii fly, the
activity in aerial navigation has been
Unprecedented Never since the Mar
Quiso dc Bacquc. in lH2. tried to fly and
fell upon his barge. breaking his leg.
''in an unsightly and unOrainly attempt
TO penetrate into the regions Inhabited
by God and the angels has so much
been going on TO reach into the domains
OF space.
Leonardo da Yinci. I'm the middle ages
tried repeated nying-machines, owning
UP 10 what he would now call a "fad'
for them, but never with great success.
The argument presenting itself TO the
minds OF an who are trying 60 ily Is this.
overhead is great body OF wind
possessing force enough 10 remove houses
and Impede the progress OF steam lOcomo-
uves. Why IS 10 not possible for me 10
utilize this force 20 some extent? Why
can / not rise by means of it and re-
main aloft as long as I please? Why
can not move along with IT and through
IL? Why am l not able TO turn this great
power 10 my own uses?'
And this same problem Is the one that
has been puzzling minds longer than the
telegraph puzzled them. and IL IS for the
speedy solution Of ~ that Senator Cabot
Lodge offered his bin giving prizes 20
the first inventor who would solve the
secret that govern flying machines.
UP LIKE A ROCKET.
There have been many flying machines
built. And successful ones, too. They
would mount into tho air and soar as
high as desired. Bot that was the end
OF their ccomplishments. when the
flyer wanted 10 descend he could not
do so at will. lie was borne along as
far as the wind wanted 10 play with
him. just as a kite would be. I'm vain
ne tried and wrcstlcd with the wings Of
the machine. The more he tried the
further he few.
Suddenly tho wings would turn. I'm
obedience 20 his repeated tugs upon
them. and down he would come like q
stick from the sky. His own weight ana
the weight OF the machine would drop
him 10 the earth with a force consider
able enough TO crush him. and when
rescued from an ignominious heap upon
the ground there would he an assorted
mass Of broken MP man and flying ma
chine Broken wings broken legs. dislo-
Gated shoulders and dcmoralized ribs
were all there was 10 show for the aerial
triumph.
The drop had been too much for the
experimental and his machine. The re-
suit was such as II he had tied a stone
around his neck and jumped out of
fifth story window. That practically is
the history Of flying machines, with
few exceptions in tine cases of ingenious
persons who have been skilful enough 10
keep their balance and wait for the wind
before trying TO get TO the ground. But
the practice and the skill necessary TO
accomplish this result utterly untitled the
machine for general use.
The late activity among those who
nave partly learned 10 fly Is bringing
70 light some very odd contrivances de-
signed 10 sail the air and triumphantly
capture the 100000 prize. If the money
were lying upon the ground Ike a sheep
off guard. and the flying machine were an
eagle soaring the air above. the money
could not seem easier 10 grasp than il
now does TO the inventors. Each and all
are sure Of H.
a CARPET-BAG INVENTOR.
One Of the latest Of the inventors is
man who stole into certain large city
a few days ago with q carpet satchol I'm
one hand and a shawl strap I'm another.
lie wore a suit Of plain gray and though
his tile was not the latest spring crea-
tion. he was well enough dressed 20 show
that he had money ana that his machine
he'd not been built on brain alone.
ms. s-A rev weeks this worthy gentle
man has had more visitors calling al