The times., 1897-09-05
HIS KITES ON THE CAPITOL.
Mr.. Eddy VIII Photograph the BuilI-
Ing From the Sky.


Two kites without tails created n im-
mense sensation yesterday afternoon among
the Juveniles of Capitol Hill.
Mr.. william \. Eddy, who has Teen
experimenting with kites for the last
seven years, and in aerial photography
for somewhat less time, is in the city,
where ne proposes 10 conduct experiments
in both arts combined.
Everybody in the United States has
heard OF Mr.. Eddy, of Bayonne, and his
patie7ce and BRAIN, which have been
rewarded by the demonstration that with
cameras attached to kite strings it is posi-
ble Ia, take views OF things on the earth
That is the whole story.
Mr. Eddy is accompanied by Mrs. Eddy
and theif little daughter. Mrs Eddy Is
an enthusiast in her hasGand's wcrS under
stands 1t appreciates it's Importance, and
talks deliehtfully about 1t.
Mr.. Eddy mas brought with him twenty
one kites, the Eddy kite, and these
have been stored at the Coast and Geo
deuo Survey, Supermt end ent Duffield
ha wing taken an interest in the proposition
TO have the United States Capitol pho
togra ph ed by this peans-
There was published in The Evening
Times yesterday full account OF Mr.
Eddy's plans. It was stated that he would
fly his kites yesterday afternoon and take
some aerial photographs. 1t was impos-
sible, however, to state where these IN
teresting performances We're To take
place, so that people had to look out for
tue kites anywhere in the air.
OWNS, to the latcLess OF the hour at
which the kites arrived in town 1t was inn
possible to take photographs, but Prof.
Eddy flew soIne kites. He is at the Con-
gressional Hotel, near which on the west
side of the Coast and Geodetic Survey is
W hat is technically known as vacant lot
1t IS however, filled with piles Of bricks
md tangled underSrush and weeds higher
han mans head. Prof Eddy Went Out
alone to the northeast side OF this lot and
launched a kite SIX feet high, four feet
wide and without tail. 1t created a
sensation. 1t was after 6 p. m, and the
streets TO the west were crowded with the
people who take special interest in kites,
milk bottles and bread and butter.
They did not know where the kite came
from. so they swarmed into the forest on
This vacant lot looking for the other end
OF the string. They whooped and yelped
and perrneated the jungle in full cry, shout
ing TO each other and making ali inter
eSting hut babelous din. A half dozen
or more rabbits ran out of the thicketS,
some of which escaped into the Capitol
preserves, others passing various street
crossings more than ten miles an hour.
A great many of the children got lost
in The forest, babes in the Wood, so to
speak
BY this time the kite was said to be
LOO feet high and the uproar of the
gaIlins was several stories higher, BY
and by Mr.. Eddy tied another kite TO the
original string and this went up only about
200 feet: and this led to the discovery
of the wizard on the east side of the lot.
A very ragged boy, who had pulled a
very dirty little sister ON top of a pile OF
bricks, shouted: Gee Whit 1t amt got
no tail!'
This was fact, but the sudden shout
ing of a fact a prupos OF nothing scared the
boys sister in a heap off the brick pile.
The boy iso fell. he, how ever, discovered
Prof. Eddy, and the jungle was soon
emptied into South Capitol street, where
the kites were being launched.
There was not wind enough to carry the
two kites for any length of time. The
secondary kite was, however, very skill
fully kept In the air by the manipulation
of the strings. 1t flopped, however, oc-
casionalIy, and then the swarm of boys
aud girls swooped down on it.
The only thing that saved it was that
tile children were afraid of kite without
a tail. The professor kept In a good hu-
NOR, however, and managed TO move
around in the teeming, noisy, aIl-colored
crowd
1t was dark before the Gro wd separated
itself, and all the time there WASH I a
policeman in sight.
Last night Prof. Eddy had talk with
Supu Woods, of the Capitol, with a view
of getting permission to fly his kite from
the roof of the House or Senate wings. The
felt pretty sure that the permission would
be granted, on the general rule that pho
tographers are admitted into the Capitol
where there is no advertising scheme In
volved. Prof. Eddy assured Mr. Woods
that his object is entirely for the advance
Eien. of science and involves no scheme.
Mr. Woods said to The Times last night
that the cnances were very largely that
the kites would be permitted to fly from
the Capitol roof, SO that the photograph of
the building may be taken in that way
Pro-. Eddy Kill use eight or ten kites
TO pull up the camera. He will also show
the draft power of the allied kites by