New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-11
SANTOS-DUMONT ON AIRSHIPS.
INVENTOR HERE, TELLS OF HIS WORTHLESS STONE, ALSO
ON THE DEUTSCHLAND SPEAKS OF HER CAPTIVITY
WANTS AMERICAN BACKING
N. SANTOS -DUMONT EXPECTS NEW
YORK TO BE THE GREATEST
AIRPORT" IN THE WORLD.

Alberto Santos-D -Dumont, the great aerial navi-
gator arrived the steamship Deutschland at
| noon Yesterday At midnight Wednesday. when
the big ocean greyhound fast approaching
the gateway of the New World. the inventor
sent the following message over the Marconi
system:
II bow to the greatest country in the world
The inventor met at the pier by the
Brazilian Consul in this city, the vice-consul
and the whole consular staff. He will remain in
this city five days, after which he will go to
ST. Louis TO consult with the commissioners In
regard the races for the S2o0.oao prize for a
dirigible balloon which he expects to win He
will then return to New-York on his way TO
England where, during the coronation, he Will
compete for the Pearson prize and yet another
prize which will be offered in few days for
aerial navigation. July August will see him
back again in this country, and at that time he
may make practical test of his airship in this
CITY, should a suitable prize be offered.
II am twenty-eight years Of age" he said.
"and within my lifetime. possibly within ten
years 1 expect to sec aerial navigation an ac-
complished fact, and passengers carried across
the ocean between Paris and New-York, by
airship.
II hope New-York will be the greatest airport
in the world" he said a little later in the inter
view with a sweeping gesture of his hand. which
was comprehensive enough to embrace the
tire harbor of the greatest city in the Western
world.
NJ Santos Dumont has great hopes of receiv
ing such support in this country.
Your great country" he said, with its un-
limited wealth. its great enterprise and its pub
lie spirited men, would be more prone to give
me that support than any other country in the
world, I have been able to convince the
of he pti commercial
possibilities of aerial navigation
NJ Santos Dumont brings with him part OF
the machinery of his newest airship, the sew
enth he has built When he declared his
effects to the customs officer. he said the parts
he brought with him the Deutschland were
crank and hywheel of $1,000 value. Other
parts Of the air vessel arrived on L'Aquitaine
last Sunday. These were the motor and few
other pieces. The rest will arrive on La Cham
pagne. which is due here next Sunday
Santos -Dumont's airship No. Z will remain in
this country when the inventor sails Tor Eng
land where he is going TO use the model known
as Santos-Dumont VI M Santos -Dumont
brings with him his chief mechanic. Albert
Chaplin who will take of his machine and
put it together if circumstances should demand
AS travelling companion and manager he
brought with him NJ. Manuel Aime. former
secretary OF the Aero Club, in Paris. under
whose auspices the aerial navigator undertook
the at the French capital n. Aime VIII
go with him to st. Louis.
At another time, when he was asked whether
he did think there would be many danger
Gus competitors for the prize at St Louis, he
laughed merrily.
Have there been any airships constructed
while / have been the trip across?' he asked
The question answered in the negative. but
the inventor was informed that there were ru-
mors that some people were engaged In building
machines that fly through the air.
We'll have you seen any machine ny ne
next asked.
This question also answered in the mega
tive and NJ. Santos Dumont then laughingly
remarked that the more competitors there were
for the prize at st. Louis the better satisfied he
would be.
As an afterthought, he added that If the
position took place next year he would probab bly,
be alone. but that if it was postponed there
would be more.
In speaking OF the disastrous results of his
ascents at Monte Carlo and at Paris the inven-
tor described his adventure at the French cap
ital as by far the worse.
'I was dashed up against a tall building,
said NJ Santos -Dumont, mot so tall these
buildings though" with gesture toward the
Manhattan shore, Wnerc tne SkFscraperS STOOD
out in bold relief.
Incidentally M. Santos -Dumont said that he
was not at all pleased with the treatment he
had received from the Aero Club in Paris. They
nd tried to withhold the prize offered by
Deutsch from him. and had paid only after con-
siderable controversy. The prize amounted to
100 OO0 francs. which the aerial navigator
promptly gave to charity
Thus far NJ Santos Dumont has always made
his ascents alone. His ship, however, the
ore he brings to America, will accommodate
three or four passengers IT has forty-fve
borsenower motor. and lift considera bly,
more than a ton weight. The motor weighs six
mounds tn each horsepower. 1t is much stronger
iban any of the earlier models in its construc-
ton
CT