The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-04
1ufle Experiments Con-
duefed Under the Patronage
of the Was Department
Don Zeppeifn's Afrship.

TIN the October issue Of the Strand
U>ondon) Magazine Of the current
Ill year. Mr.. Thomas e. Curtis des-
crtbes Count Won Zcppelin's new
sirship. recently tested at Lake Con-
stance in Switzerland. In an Introduce
DRY paragraph. as II to strengthen the
value OF this more than ordinarily sue
cessfui dirigibie aerial flight. Mr.. Curtis
makes this statement:
The celebrated flying machine invent
ed by Prof. Langley a few years ago.
proved that flying machines could ny"
Prof. Langley stands at the head OF
the Smithsonian Institution at Washing
ton, d. c.. and Ia an astronomer Of world
wide fame. But between his flying ma
chine and that brought forth by Count
Zeppelin there is total dissimilarity In
principle. The Smithsonian astronomer
invented and had constructed 31-pound
model that he named the "Aerodrome"
and which was tested at Qusntico on the
Potomac river some miles below WASH
ington in the summer Of 1896 The place
of trial was on . broad expanse of water
where secrecy was assured and where
there were only . few invited spectators.
Among these was Prof. Alexander Ora
ham Bell. of telephone fame. who was
deputed to make the report and who
claimed that the old and vexatious prob
lem OF m6CHanicat uf8nt WdS INV sOHseo
and that the test Of the ''Aerodron'e
had been "eminently successful" No
kind of gas was used.
The account as given by Prof. Bell.
whether by intent or otherwise, wns not
clear, a TO details Of real results. Tho
flying machine itself was securely housed
under lock and key and an armed guard
was stationed TO keep away all inauisitive
intruders II was known that previously
80 s<x he nvv.fV. INT uxfp
cmer had experimental with wing
Mapping flying machine and the account
OF the test at Quantico. as given to tho
press was 30 obscure As to particulars
as not to enable the forming OF any ex-
pert Judgment There was nothing from
which could he determined conclusively
from what principle Of action the pro-
fessor was trying to deduce his means
for mechanical Night.
This notable trial was made in June
and IN the month following, the UNDER
signed was commissioned in the interest
of an eastern journal with which he
was connected in = scientific character.
10 proceed to the capital and interview
the inventor Of the new flying machine
and report a. TO fts availability and prac-
ticai utility ~ = contribution TO aeron-
autics. When tho writer reached Wash
ington. d. c.. he learned with much
regret that FSof Langley and Chief Clerk
winlock had left the day before for 4
trip TO Europe. Those that stood next
20 Prof. Langley. however. were seen.
but these disclaimed all responsibility to
represent the "Aerodrome." They were
disposed TO bc reticcnt and rigidly nom
committai-evidently under instruction
but finally. with little strategy. became
cautiously aud ressrvedly communicative.
One thing only was wantei: that was 10
know which OF two mechanical principles
had been used to make night Then the
mere sight OF the machines was OF no
kind OF consequences. None of the gentlc-
men had seen the invention. did not
know where II was. and what surprised
them was that anyone should come for
Information on only q single point and
be Indifferent to seeing the thing itself.
Three Of the institution's attaches were
In the room and not one had any surplus
of Information TO impart. The writer
sixed tho gentlemen up and selected one
~ possibly not entirely impenetrable and
made an indirect approach as follows:
THE mere sight OF the Aerodromc'
IL Of no consequences. came here
under protest. desired my people
to wire for tho information on this
ono point Prof. Langley discards all
gaseous means OF attaining buoyancy
and proposes 10 achieve HIS purpose
by purely mechanical action. Now, l
am here TO say that there can be
but two principles applied to me-
chanical night. the one In the epicy-
ciodial. or wing action. as In birds and
insects, tho other Is the rotary pro-
peiler. as In Illustrated In the screw
that imparts motion TO tho steam