Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09
SNAP SHOTS FROM MlDAlR
Camera Supported at a High Altitude by
Immense Kites.
Experiments in Photography Made by
Mr.. w. A. Eddy-Vfews of
Public Buildings.

ington yesterday than ii ever did before.
At noon it was spread beautifully in the
breeze nearly a thousand feet above the
dome of the Capitol, and away beyond it,
like a flock of huge bright-plumaged birds,
lowered seven immense kites, which had
brought about this patriotic decoration Of
the heavens.
Mr. w. A Eddy, perched on the roof of
the coast survey building, New Jersey ave-
nue., manipulated the kites, and a great
crowd of adults and Juveniles stood In the
streets and on the Capitol grounds, and
stiffened their necks gazing at the display.
The first kite sent up was yellow one,
six feet in diameter. 1t sailed upward like
an eager hawk, making at times great &C.
centric circles, and again darling at angles
as II In pursuit of prey. Four other yellow
kites of the same dimensions were attach
ed to the cord and one after another fol-
lowed the leader upward.
Mr.. Eddy was delighted. The cord hold
ing the soarers sawed and tugged at the
steel bar Of the windlass which held them,
and the wind, which was blowing steadily
from the southwest, gave promise of con-
tinuing When the five yellow kites had
reached a high altitude big red kite, seven
feet in diameter, was sent to join Them
Disperses the Birds:
A flock of buzzsrds circling above the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum witnessed the
startling intrusion upon their domain, ana
turned tails in the direction of Wicomico
They kept going faster when a red. white
and blue kite of similar size Joined the
red one. A hawk, however. was not at all
frightened Twice during the display he
flew over from Virginia and took part In
the procession. When the kites were sum
GENTLY altitudirous Mr.. Eddy sent up,
spread out, an American flag ten by seven
feet in dimensions and the crowd burst
into acclaim.
After the flag was fioated for some min
utes Mr.. Eddy sent up single camera,
having previously foated another Kite,
making eight in all. He would have used
a ninth kite, but the strain on the cord
was fcrty-eight pounds, and he was afraid
to run the risk of its breaking.
All the rest of the afternoon MT. Eddy
devoted to securing pictures. four views
of the Congressional Library ana three OF
the Capitol being taken. There was one
picture secured of the dome ana TWO OF
the House wing. The snap OF tne camera
WIS plainly heard by the people on terra
firma.
This was an interesting development OF
the experiment being effected to show that
sounds coming down from aloft are as
plainly heard as those heard from the earsn
when one is going up in balloon The
experimenter said that this phase or ms
work had never been as clearly shown as
it was yesterday.
tremely well pleased with yesterdays work,
and said he was very fortunate to get
such results during such very not wave
II am also very grateful for the cour-
tesies that are being extended to me IN
Washington" he said.
..Sunerintendent Duffield has been par
ticularly kind. He has given me the lib
erty of the Coast Survey building, and has
placed at my disposal the remarkably
well-eouipped Photographic dark room of
the survey Capt. Forney has been eN-
cee0ingly kind in every way.
Further Experiments.
.r have concluded to continue my expert
n.ents at the Coast Survey building. / do
not care to use the Capitol building or the
grounds. now that have found that the
general tenor of the law governing them
would make such occupancy inappropriate
10 say the least.
81 would like to express my obligations
also to Mr.. 8. s. Kelsey. Mr.. e. r. Drew.
Mr. Edward Young md Mr.. j. r. Tilley
for their great assistance to me- 1t Is very
pleasant to be so generously treated at
the nations capital
The wind this morning was from the
northeast and of little strength. and Mr..
Eddy did not think he could work success
fully unless 1t grew stronger during the
day. He was ready. however. to begin
to secure between forty and fifty pictures
of the Capitol and Congressional Library.
and will then transfer. with Colonel Bing
hams consent, his apparatus to the monu-
ment grounds and continue his experiments
there.
Tn the immense open space around the
monument" said Mr.. Eddy, there will be
splendid opportunities for kite flying and
procuring Views In such place the direc-
ton of the wind would make no difference
In picture taking Of the objects desire to
reproduce. It Is not necessary for the
camera to be Immediately above the object
can poin. the camera In any direction
very easily. I have taken many pictures
of myself while flying the kites.
Specimen Views.
-Here Ii one taken while was expert
menting ON top OF the Bowling Green build
Ing at No. II Broadway. N. Y. This roof
10 200 feet above Broadway. The view in