The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-13
men AND WOMEN TO FLY
WASHINGTON MAN CLAIMS TO HAVE
DEVISED 4 METHOD.
Wings for Human Beings Said to BE
n Possibility Of the Near Future
Mature of the Device.
Washington Times.

Washington Times.
AS the news comes from France of the
invention of a practicable air ship, an
other phase of possible aerial navigation
presents itself in this city in the device of
an unknown man who has made the sub
ject an engrossing study for over forty
years, and who claims TO have at last met
with success.
Juliu E~nglehardt, a native Of Baden, has
lived in this city for over twenty years
without exciting any extraordinary degree
of public attention; in fact, during that
period, he has lived alone and practically
unknown, since, so far as can be ascer-
tanned. he has absolutely no intimates. a
bachelor, possessing a sufficient amount of
money to enable him to exist without earn
ing his bread by the sweat of his brow,
Mr.. Englehardt has patiently toiled all
these years to bring his scheme to %fruition.
and this result, he believes, he has ac-
complished.
The trial of his machine has not yet been
made. and its inventor is very reticent as
TO when, where and in what manner he in
tends making the final test of its capability.
From his expressed confidence in his in
v%ention, however. his friends are inclined
to believe that he has already made pri-
vate tests and that these have been emf
nently satisfactory.
The machine itself is a complete novelty
among all the attempts hitherto made, or
even. perhaps, conceived in matters of
aerial navigation. Imagine a huge pair Of
wings, shaped much like those of a bat, or.
rather, like the pictorial representations of
the wings of Satanus, but measuring at
least twenty feet from the points of con-
tact at the shoulders to the extremities.
These wings are constructed of a material
hitherto unknown, which is the discovery
of the inventor, and which is extremely
light, the braces or ribs being of the same
material, hardened and hollow, and cap
able, at the discretion of the operator or
wearer of the wings, of what very closely
resembles muscular action. By a very sim
pie system or levers these ribs can be
worked by a motion of the arms, which in
wolves little or no fatigue.
The material of the wings is made in
two layers, the space between them being
filled with a modified form of oxygen much
lighter than air. This gives the wings
an appearance of thickness when ready
for use Singuiarly contrasting with the
apparent frailty of the ribs, which are
hidden from sight by the pillowy surfaces.
The mOdus operandi of the remarkable
device is about as follows: TIL wings,
terbalance the weight of the wearer-that
is, they overcome the force of gravity on
the part of the individual, who is thus
suspended. like Mohammed's coffin. be-
tween earth and heaven. To rise, he ma
nipulates the levers controlling the ribs
tion of the wings and Immediately he scars
aloft at greater or less velocity, according
to the quickness of his motion. Another
movement of the ribs sidewise causes the
Wearer TO advance in a forward direction.
Although a steering device Is connected
wings allows for the greatest skill and
nicely. The ribs and surfaces are not.
Joined together. but are made into one
piece. and as the material is highly elastic
and very strong. there is little or no dan
ger of "A tear and a possible accident. As
soon as the vearer wishes to descend to
terra hrma, he allows the oxygen TO escape
from one or more of the compartments
into which the surface of the wings is di-
vided by the ribs, and this. of course, does
not hinder the proper manipulation of the
latter, thus allowing him to alight. pro-
Viding he has the requisite skill, at the very
point desired.
When the oxygen is entirely discharged
the wings can me made to collapse and
occupy a remarkably small space.
OF course, as the inventor says, when the
use Of these wings becomes UNIVERSAL.
every place will be supplied with reservoirs
of the condensed modified oxygen. The
picture of the population, when the state of
affairs alluded to by Mr.. Englehardt comes
about, could not but appeal to ones risi-
bility. Fancy looking for a person one is
ttHCCliiS w III II alI.
The use Of the telescope will then. too,
doubtless. be universal. Flocks will take
the place of crowds. The familiar words
walk and stroll will be replaced by
fly and fit" There will be no more
meeting ION the level" Front doors will be
built at the tops OF houses and much on
larged, and the order of floors will be re-
versed, the sleeping rooms on the ground
stories, because or the greater privacy.
The streets ard sidewalks will be de-
serted and chimneys will be menaces. At
hight lights will be required to he placed
on the roofs or buildings. while street
lamps Will be of little or no further use, ex-
cept on business ~thoroughfares. A person
will have his choice of entering by the door
or by the window, providing ne first col
lapse his wings. 1t will be necessary TO
adept greater precautions against bur
glars. Strict rules will have to be made
with a view toward guarding against the
danger Of collision.
People will rest on roof tops, parapets,
and the SUBMITS Of tall buildings, so that
one may make an appointment to meet a
friend on the tor of the monument or the
dome of the CAPITOL. As pocket telescopes
will probably be in vogue. persons will be
enabled to recognize each other at conSid-
cradle distances. The wings will doubtless
be Of many colOrs, and may, perhaps, be
adapted so as to meet the exigencies of