Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-31
TAKING A PRACTICE SPIN on TIL Fl

carry a spread OF canvas ana SIEVE" i'i0-'
IS absolutely unique. -,
In casting about for some means 10y
which the riders Of this 0he laIse5O
practical machine ever cons ruV,eD -.
conld receive additional aid IN ther
record breaking attempt, Mr.. Marion
ono day conceived the idea OF auuins
sail power to the machine
The subject of adding two Dig sans -
the machine was suggested 10 IL -
Naslin. who is himself an ehthusle9e
mon the subject Of record breaking py
|,i,;ntatte sextette and septuplet riders,
en5 after some discussion and stuuy Ol
- matter IL was decided 70 rlS 'He
huge machine with sails, and see "HaI
v,-orid result when, with seven alFoils-
,,nhad riders and two drawing sans
IL should be set going against time.
Tbe idea was a decidedly mover one LOT
while sails on single bicycles nad previous
" been tried with more or less su0-0~''
The idea of actually rigging q big seven
-. ,,ocbine with a complete suit OF
sails. which should be controlled Oy '.e
-i8ers. was something decidedly new III
the history of cycling .
This septuplet Is an exact couNterp@-
cf the sextette which raced the hnhpli
state Express, with the single exception
mat whereas the seXtette carried SIX
riders. the septuplet, as lis name I'LL
plies, has seven. .,t-
IL has never been SHOWN III 'N-'
country. but was sent as soon as II wa
conetructei TO Paris, where II remalheu
g. two months. after which il wa
shown by It's riders in number OF
cities of Europe. 1T was then taken 10
I London. where IL was a constant sou4
~ wonder and comment TO the Ehblan
riders. .,,,,,,-,,,-r,D
The machine has just been returned
60 tbis country. and Immediately on lts
arrival here Severn Dorien, weli-kno"H
Saeiener of small sail-boats, was CON
suited and after consideration OF tne
man said that he saw no reason WY
a suit OF sails should not WORK a. WI.
on a big machine as upon q sai-po''1
or ice-boat. lie was accoluIil5t' ssaTs
tho order to make proper sun " go -.
e. the machine. and these nave JUS
bean fitted on to the light spars which
carry them. - ,,o,,,
The noasts are Of wood, light but very
..rory Tha forward one Is htted OF
Stoned into q metal holder or SOCK. T.
vhich rises from the framework Oh ,no
machine lust back OF the seat OF 'he IL .
1der. while the second mast Is plaOvu W
tween the sixth and last rider.
Tive forward mast is about II rect IN
,o,ath while the second or rear suck -
some feet shorter. The rig Is aitlOse "
canoe rig. The sails are somewhat III.
angular in shape, and when set are 49, 49,,
Sr nosltion by numerous small cams "I'i0N
ere I'm the nature Of small oooihs ruiii ,liss
Sron, the mast through the salls 70 'i0''
outer edges. ~, -, .ha sacoba
- seventh riders by means of a system
- cords and pulleys in the same manner
- tie sails OF canoe are governed
r,he lower booms are on a level win the
..ats Of the riders, but inasmuch as there
a. very little lacking done when the ma
chine is under Hail. so 10 speak, TINS Is
,sot so great a disadvantage as IL Ut hiS'
appears. o..,,.,, 20 cona
about or set the sails on the o'hel aiuo -,
a cord and pulley so as 10 clear the heaos
- tha riders and allow the sails TO swing
Tbe upper gafr CT the front or larger
n oxten6s several feet above the top
~ the mast. while the boom projects out
ward about u feet from the macnlhe'
This gives q sail area OF approximately
va square feet while the second or rear
.a,, has AN area OF about - square feet'
thus giving a combined san area VI so'iio-
thing over 200 square feeL
In the preliminary trials which have
thus far been made with this machine,
a has been demonstrated that while the
sails are under certain conditions OF the
wind OF very material assistance 10 the
riders In the matter OF speed. they cannot
be used to advantage with any breeze
which may blow.
Under certain conditions OF wind the
hir fail area holds the wind, and on
several occasions the seven riders have
had 20 90 some sudden and wonderful.
gvmnastlc performances in order 10 avoid
a nasty spill.
When. however. the wind Is fair. the
sails carry the machine along at rate
which equals that Of railway train, and,
IN fact, exceeds the speed OF many local
trains.
Tho big machine with It's sails and It's
crew OF athletic riders 10 now all ready
for the race against the record, when 1t