The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-18
MAY CARRY A MAN.
Flying Huge Kites With Lighted
Lanterns for Tails.
An Army Officers Experiments
on Governors Island.

AtlNNltnHHt H. ~ " 1850 NHittN
States Army, stationed at Governors
Island, has been experimenting for
some time with kitos for use by the
Signal Corps Of the Army 10 has
observed a rigid silence regarding his
work, but the sight OF the kitoa has
frequently attracted the attention Of
boatmen, ferryboat passengers and
persons along the Battery.
Tho kites had no tails, and yet
wero apparently not Of the ordinary
variety Of nilless kites. so far as
could be distinguished with the naked
eye, while even with the aid OF glass
il was difficult to determine their
exact character. A star-gazer thought
he had discovered a new eUmet Gov
ernor's Islundward the other evening,
but inquiry revealed that the Lieuton-
ant was out kite-nyiug, aud was light
ing tho aerial path OF the curious
high-Ayers with lanterns.
There was another exhibition of
kite-nying later, which attracted an
wonted attention, for attached TO
one Of the kites was nothing less than
the dangling form Of man. 1t was
suspended fully a quarter of "a mile
above the earth, and wheu once the
kite took a sudden lunge downward it
is safe to say that many witness ut
the Battery felt his henrt jump.
The experiments OF HTgreaye and
his announced Intention TO make an
ascent by means of kite to demon
strate its usefulness in military recon-
noitre may have prepared some OF the
onlookers for the sight they witnessed.
Investigation, however, showed that
the form was only a dummy. 1t was
dressed in uniform and weighed forty
pounds Perhaps a weightier dummy
will be tested before live soldier es-
says the perilons ascent. That is the
eventual purpose OF Lieutenant Wise's
experiments, however. Without such
details as the Lieutenant could give,
the following description of the kites
was obtained, aud was said to be
approximately correct:
Two kites, if they may be called
kites, were employed. A quarter inch
rope was used, and the kites were at
tached to it, 400 feet apart. The
lower kite was twice the size OF the
upper one, and beneath it the dummy
was attached.
The kites are built on the aeroplane
principle, both in the same way. The
larger one is a box frame, nine feet
square on the main surface and thirty
inches deep. 1t is merely a frame,
representing the edges of box of
those Dimensions, but the space with
in the frame is a network of wood and
wire braces
Around either end of this frame is
wrapped a piece of light sail cloth
about thirty inches wide. II the boz
we're solid instead of an outline frame,
it might be likened to a square cigar
box, bound at either end with revenue
stamps or labels. The wind has free
play in one end and out the other, al
we'll as through the centre, between
the bands. The kite-cord is attached
to the interior network of braces il
the centre.
Given a start and held SO that the
wind plays through the ends, this con
trivance ascends as an aeroplane, tn
cord being at an angle varying from
fifty to sixty degrees, while the kit,
preserves remarkable equilibrium
and steadiness. The smaller one hav
ing been started, it lifts the large
one, and the two ascend at rapi
speed.
A windIass is used for paying on
the cord, as four men we're unable t
hold the kites without its aid. Whe
taken in they settled easily to th
ground.
Lieutenant Wise refused to tai
about his experiments or his devic
after the kites were taken in. Ne
York Times.
Informing the Old Gentleman.