The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-03-03
FLOATED BY KITES.
Novel Experiment by a United
States Army Officer.
He Was Elevated Forty-Two Feet
by Four Kites.

The utility of the kite in war times
has been tested at Governors Island
with satisfaction, says the New York
Press. Ii entenant Hugh ID. Wise OF
the Ninth Infantry, who has been ex-
perimenting for months, was elevated
to an altitude of forty-two feet, and
swept the surrounding country with
his glass. He was assisted by Corpo-
raj Lewis and five other officers of the
post
Four kites were used. They we're
attached to n windloss running out n
half-inch manila cord connected
with an iron ring drawn up fifty feet
above the ground. From the ring the
kites ran up on two onc-inch cords
Two kites, ono above the other, were
attached to each of the latter cords.
To the ring was also attached tackle
and block running heavy rope to
the ground.
On this rope Lieutenant Wise was
pulled into the mir by two OF the off.
GERS. At the time the estimated pull.
ing force of the kites was 400 pounds.
The wind was blowing at tho rate OF
fifteen miles per hour from the south
west. Lieutenant Wise placed himself
in seat attached to the tackle rope.
At first the kites were unable to lift
him more than twelve feet, owing to
the variation of the wind. When a
steady blow was finally on at clock
in the afternoon, he was hauled up n
little above tho caves of the officers
quarters, ut which the test was made.
The distance was estimated at forty
two feet. He remained there for
some time, brought his glass to bear
on all sides, and then signaled to be
lowered. The test was repeated, and
Lieutenant Wise expressed himself as
highly gratified.
The four kites used weighed sixty
five pounds aud their cost was calcu-
lated to be about $12 each. In form
they were parallelopipedons, consist
ing of frame boxes braced out with
wire and covered with strong cotton
cloth.
Lieutenant Wise is the only person
in this country who has succeeded in
accomplishing this much with kites
Experiments. however. have been sue
cessfully made in England and Austria
lia. Captain II. Baden Powe II, of the
British army, was elevated one hun
dred feet a year ago, and Lawrence
Hargrave assembled forty feet recently
in Australia. When seen Lieutenant
Wise said:
"Captain Powell had the use OF a
parachute in his ascension. may use
q parachute in connection with the
kites in abort time. think that
the kite may be exceedingly useful.
Such able persons as President Lang
ley, of the Smithsonian Institution |;
Professor Marvin, of the Weather
Bureau, ind Civil Engineer Chanut Of
Chicago, have been investigating the
subject. l think ultimately kite will
be perfected which will carry man
in gale which would tear balloon
into pieces. The portability OF these
contributes to their usefulness. They
will, however, always labor under the
disadvantage of requiring u strong
breeze. My kites are modification
of the Hargrave Invention. L attri-
butte my success to hard work and
study. have never made any experi-
ments without working the theory out
beforehand. 1 had great deal of bad
luck, and the mum ber OF kites broken,
and the work was sometimes very dis
couraging. l have now. altogether.
about sixty kites of various sizes and
forms. New York Press.