The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-21
MODERN DARIUS GREEN.
A FOOLISH CONNECTICUT FARMER
AND HIS FLYING MACHINE.

He Started for Cuba But Came Down In
bis Barnyard q Dismal Wreck-Took
Compressed air Aboard to Use as Motor
Power.
The old-time experience OF Darius
Green and his flying machine has
been double discounted by the adven-
turous invention of a Woodbridge
(Con) farmer named Dickerman,
who for some time has had an idea
that upon him alone devolved the
duty of successfully solving the secret
of aerial navigation.
A few years ago his attempt to navi-
gate machine he had built to fly re.
suited in injuries to the inventor. that
laid him up for six weeks with a bro.
ken limb. But no sooner is he healed
from one shaking up than he is ready
for another in the cause of science.
A month ago he bought wagon
body and an electric battery storage
system. He attached the wagon body
to quantity of canvass made in the
form of an umbrella.
This was supposed to initiate and
hold the wagon in mid-air. He rea-
soned that if he placed his wagon on
the top of the barn, with the canvas
held aloft, spread in parachute style,
and then, when all was ready, pulled
the barn out from underit, Dickerman
had some idea of an electric motor for
his machine. A man in New Haven
told him that compressed air was q
powerful and cheap motive power.
1t came in cans, the man said, and
when once he got to going the whole
outdoors could be utilized in furnish.
ing power. Air could be compressed
in the cans while in motion, and would
be q continual and limitless source OF
supply.
Dickerman figured it out that after
starting his ship with the aid OF the
electric motor, and obtaining good
velocity, the compressed air could be
brought into play for additional
speed, and then the ship would be
speeding through the sky at a rate so
rapid that with the cans enough com.
pressed air could be captured to insure
a continuance of the speed.
Dickerman bought up all the wind
mill arms he could find and attached
them to the outside of the wagon
body, which he had propped up on
the top of his barn. Cog wheels con-
nected with the shaft of each with q
rod that was to be turned by means OF
the electric motor.
What compressed air was and how
it was utilized Dickerman knew not,
but he had great faith. he brought
out his rusty fowling piece, bought
two pounds of powder, half a dozen
revolvers, a dozen sticks of blasting
dynamite and q can-opener with which
to open the compressed air cans, and
he was ready to start, he said, to the
aid of Cuba.
A day or two ago he made the start.
The ship was perched upon the top OF
the barn, loaded with the arms, am
munition and the can-opener and
feather pillow and provisioned for
weeks cruise, time enough, the in
ventor was satisfied to circumnavigate
the globe. The start was to be made
at 1. 30, so that Cuba would be reached
before dark. A gallon of oil and q
lantern were slowed away under the
motor, and Mr.. Dickerman bade his
sister goodbye and repaired to the
barn roof.
Mike, the hired man, and half q
dozen of Dickerman's cronies were
present to boost the ship along on its
triumphant trip. Dickerman got In,
settled himself down in the rocking
chair, which he had placed there to
| insure comfortable trip, started the
motor and waited. The canvas over
head lay quiet and the motor made
but one dismal turn.
The arms struck the roof and refus-
ed to 90 around further.
"They'n 60 like sixty when we're
clear of the barn." said Dickerman
confdentially, ''push there, Nike"
The hired man and his aids exerted
q tremendous leverage. Dickerman
sat maiestically in his chair, and
shouted "Good-bye." The air ship
,oppled over the roof. There was q
thump and crash that fairly shook
the barn, and on the ground, piled up
in a mass of debris, lay the wagon box,
covered over with a white pail OF can
vass. Mike pulled off the canvass.
There sat Mr.. Dickerman with the
chair frame, in which he had sat,
doubled about his body to the arm,
pits. Its cane seat, broken by the
shock, had doubled the inventor up
like q iackknife. Dickerman is at
present under the doctors care. His
faith in his invention still lives, and
bo eo1e he will vet fy.