The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-01
AIR SHIPS
SAIL TESTS
IN new YORK
Santos -Dumont Machine Be-
haVss Very Well and Takes
aFIightOf More Than a Mile

New York, Oct. 1.-The rival airships OF
Santos Dumont, Six OF Brighton Beach.
and Leo Stevens OF Manhattan Beach.
sailed contest yesterday afternoon.
starting from their respective anchorages.
IL was not a race, as they were not near
each other at any time; IL was rather an
endurance test.
The Santos-Dumont got the decision.
according 10 witnesses, by sailing a mile
and half and landing in vacant lot.
The Stevens craft suffered a arrangement
OF its machinery after II had gone about
1000 yards, and its operator alighted on
top of a telegraph pole. leaving his ship
TO be cut down by linemen.
The, Santos-Dumont was operated by
Edward c. Boice. who bought IL when
Santos Dumont left this country in a huff
In August. Santos-Dumont brought the
ship here, intending TO sail IL around Lib
erty Island IL the bidding was good
When he left he said that the Aero club
had not produced the money, SO he was
going home.
When Santos-Dumont left the country
Boice said that the ship would be sailed
IL he had to guide IL himself He kept
his word.
At $3.50 o'clock he manned the ship
and workmen took IL from the barn at
Brighton Beach, where Il has been on
straight up for about 300 feet. Then IL
swung in a circle over the Parkway baths
and back over the hotel, and started
slowly toward Sheepshead Bay.
The route carried the ship at righ,
angles TO the wind, but that made no
difference In the control OF II. In circling
Boice appeared 10 have IL under good
control, and when he started in a straight
line he held his course.
So slowly that AZ seemed IN he drifting
with the wind, the airship moved across
Sheepshead Bay and disappeared from
the sight OF the members of the Aero
club. who were Witnessing the ascent
from Brighton Beach.
Boice had planned TO alight in a va
cant lot near the Sheepshead Bay race
track. When he left Brighton, George
Kerr. George Schofeld and Stephen Crute
members OF the Aero club. started for
the lot in -Boice's automobile and were
there when he came in sight. Boice
found that sailing in the air and making
a landing in lot were different propo-
sitions.
He brought the machine down all right,
but lack of practice caused him TO make
a slight miscalculation. One end of the
ship caught in a tree as it neared the
ground. while the other end sank to the
earth. Boice climbed out, and found that
the shipwreck had not amounted to much,
so he climbed into the automobile and
went home. Workmen hauled the ship
of and took IL back TO Brighton. They
said IL was not damaged.
Boice, who is about 2S years cid. never
was In an airship on a flight before. but
says he once went up in balloon. After
soaring was over he declared that every
thing had worked we'll
When Boice and his ship appeared in
the sky over Brighton Beach, Leo Stevens
and his men at Manhattan made ready
and started their ascent in hurry. The
was the one which he built at
Beach to rival the Santos
Dumont The ship cleared the house all
right and went straight up in the air
about 1000 feet. He had gone about 1000
yards. he says. when he lest the crank
TO his generator, and the machinery
baked. Stevens attempted to land at
West First street and Neptune avenue,
Coney Island, but stopped about Is feet
from there, on the top Of a telegraph pole.
He crawled out of the basket and down
the pole.