The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-28
Light Thrown on the Most Re-
markable Mechanical Mys-
terry of the Age.
Description of an Eyewitness Who
Saw the Fly ing Machine in Sue
ceSSful Operation.

OF May, 1880, actually n.y. every UooE AZ
the world was excited to know the partic-
ulars. The two eminent scientists would
only say that their flying machine did fly.
and that the experiment was made near
Occoquan.
The reticence of the professors may
have been pardonable II ON their point OF
view, but it was exceedingly exasperatIng
to the world at large, and a correspondent
of the PittsbCrg Dispatch set out to locate
the place and get pen picture OF the Won
derful machine.
After various vicissitudes the secret
workshop of these modern magicians was
discovered on an island in the Potomac
River, and is described as follows:
Hid away in a secluded cove at the
edge of the marsh, unsupported until one
came close to it, was the lark, - in which
has been fondled flying creature, which
will be OF far greater significance to the
future of humanity than the dove which
winged It's way from the Ark of Noah.
The lark" suggests a sort of boathouse.
Upon an ordinary fatboat, or scow, a
cabin has been built, almost as wide as
and two-thirds the length of the vessel.
Three windows in each side have strong
board shutters, which are closed and Sc
curely fastened when the engineers are
absent. So, also at such times the heavy
do is secured with big paddock.
The interior is an unknown world to all
save the inventor and his assistants.
Here some parts of the mysterious winged
creature are made, and the whole is fitted
together when an experiment is to be tried.
Upon the top of the ca bin is a curious
framework that revoIves on wheels like a
turntable. Upon this frame the aerodrome
is placed when ready for flight, and its
head is turned toward that point from
which blows the most advantageous wind.
A portion of the frame which works upon
hinges, or loose joints, is then raised by
leverage to lift the airship clear of all OBJ
struction, steam is let on, and slowly and
stately the monster bird rises in the air.
One who has seen the aer, lrome in va
rious stages of development gave to the
writer much more satisfactory account
OF the latest performance than that made
public by the inventor. As a neighbor to
the island he has had unsought opportu-
mites TO learn facts which he describes as
follows:
"This fying machine, as it is called, has
passed through many changes since l saw
the early experiment, but it is changed
less in form than in material. the last
form, which gave such astonishingly sue
cessful results, being by far the lightest in
weight, while presenting a much larger
wing surface in comparison to the weight.
THE wings, or planes, are about four
teen feet from tip to tip, are of fine steel
rolled almost as thin as paper, are guyed
or stayed with fine wire and are some
what similar in shape to the outstretched
wings of bird. The engine and propel-
ling wheels, which are so diminutive they
look ike toys, are placed centrally under
the wings, like the body of a bird. and
serve purpose similar TO that of ballast
in marine vessel. In fact the aerodrome
is but an air vessel possessing many of the
characteristics OF sea-going vessel. 1t IS
both flying fowl and swimming fish.
II happened accide ntally to be placed in
a position to witness the experiment of the
9th of May. My heart jumped into my
mouth as the toy naphtha engine began
to revolve its little wheels and vent Its
hiss like the whisper of zephyr. Slowly
the great bird began to sail away. Grace
fully as the eagle and with as sublime a
strange creature rose higher and higher,
choosing a circular course for some rea-
son l cannot explain. The circle included
almost the area of the island and the
highest flight was probably $50 feet. Twice
1t traversed this circular path, soaring
more steadily than the frightened buz-
yards, which watched it from far away,
and then it's motion was retarded by the
lessening pressure of the steamer Start
ing slowly on its descent 1t swung once
more around segment of the circle, and
gradually and gently as a feather is waited
downward till it settled into the shall
low water. 1t had not sustained the least
injury.
"a second time the bird of steel was
placed upon the framework from which it
started. The tiny reservoir was filled with
fluid, the steam began its little hiss, the
signal was given, the lever was moved,
the wheels began to revolve. The course
this time varied from the other, but the
phenomena of flight were similar, the alti-
tude reached being perhaps little higher.
The remarkable feature of the perform
ance was that after the steam was ex-
hausted and the propellers ceased to
equanimity of the machine. It's outspread
wings balanced perfectly, and its approach
to the water was on the line of a gently
inclined plane. The professors, mechanics
and photographers who caught the bird
in its flight were wild with delight at the
wonderful success of the experiment."
What do you suppose will be the next
move of Langley and Bell2''
"From what l overheard l am assured
that they will at once begin the construc
ton of a large machine, with at least a
one-man carrying capacity, and a steam
or electric motor with sufficient lasting
power for thorough test. The present
machine, even with its spread OF fourteen
feet, may be called a mere toy, as it
scarcely weighs more than thirty pounds.
I shall be greatly surprised if within the
next year we do not witness the spectacle
of aerodromes in grand flight with full
grown men at the helm. The safety and
practicability of the invention seem now
so we'll demonstrated that l think OF APP
plying for the honor of being the first en-
gineer 10 take fight with the big bird of
steel.