The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-08
THIS AIRSHIP NOT A Myth.
II Rose From the tennessee Exposition
AID DISAPPEARED.
SAILED AWAY AGAINST TIE WIND.
Thousands Viewed Its FIight-Its Inventor
10 the Instructor in tho Nashviile Young
Mems Christian Association-Des
scription of the Ship.

NASHVILLE, May 7.-Thousands Of
people, speechiess with amazement. stood
and stared yesterday at the strange look
ing air-ship. upon which the latest
grateful and least boastful OF all the army
OF air navigators. scared up from tho
Centennial Exposition grounds. and, ris-
ing higher and higher as the wondering
multitude watched him, vanished out OF
sight and left them all dumfounded.
Tho man who sailed away into tho
blue Is Professor Arthur Barnard. He Is
physical instructor OF Nashville Young
Mems Christian Association, and. be-
sides having a mastery faculty for me-
chancal inventions. is as muscular as 4
lion and as pluclSy as n bull terrier.
There have been incredible tales told
about Nashville and the surrounding
country for months concerning the nyins
powers OF Professor Barnards machine.
nobody believed them fully. lie had
wrought In secre at the thing and experi-
mented in lonely spots far from any hu-
man habitation.
THOUSANDS WATCH THE ASCENT.
But great as was the doubt OF his
ability TO make the thing fly with him
not soul doubted that he had the sand
to try 1t.
The announcement that no would make
the ascent yesterday brought a multitude
of people TO the Exposition Grounds from
all over the surrounding country. The
afiicers were there in full force. and all
The invited dignitaries climbed with
them into specially constructed stand to
watch the flight OF the modern Daedalus
The machine was placed IN an inclosure
which served TO keep out the curious
crowd that tried TO examine II. and with
meddesome hands to make its wheels
go round" In the throng were half n
dozen rival inventors from Baltimore.
Philadelphia. Chicago. and other cities
who have models of flying machines OF
their own filed I'm the Patent Office at
Washington. and who scoffed at Bar
nard's quaint declaration that his ma
chine would go when and where and
how he wanted 10 TO and come back the
same way.
MADE OF ALUMINIUM.
The snip Is made OF aluminium. and Is
built on telescope lines. The prov. sharp
as needle. has a steel cap. Six giant
fans like mighty wings. swing at the
sides OF the monster. Their frames are
OF steel and the webs Of filmy oiled silk.
On each side arc three broad-hanged
motors. and far astern two similar, but
much larger ones. From stern TO stern
under meath the fabric. stretches a STEEL
ribbed keel. II is with this that the ship
is balanced as it journeys through the
air.
The airship rose to an altitude OF 100
feet and started Off in a westerly direc-
tion al q rate of about fifteen miles an
hour passing over West Nashville. three
miles away. in twelve minutes. 10 show
that he had the machine under control
the Professor not only propelled II against
the wind. but reversed his course after
getting 500 feet IN the air. and turned
completely around.
The Exposition Company made con-
tract with Professor Barnard for the
construction Of the air-ship some months
ago. Professor Barnard promised to sail
against the wind In rising. and he did so.
1t was his intention 70 turn back and
land at the Exposition grounds last night.
but he broke one blade of the propeller
after going twelve miles from the city.
and was compelled 20 land at that point.
The air-ship was brought back In
wagon. The Professor is thoroughly sat-
isfied that he can control II In action. IL
will be continued In use at the Exposi-
tion.