The Washington times., 1902-09-21
ENGLISH AERONAUq
TELLS OF HIS TRIP
Ships Dirigibility in Wind
Not Yet Determined.
NO TROUBLE TO DESCEND
Journey Covered Thirty Miles-Sailed
Twice Around Big Ferris Wheel at
Earl's Court and High Over London
Propeller Placed in Front.

LONDON, Sept. 20.-Stanley Spencer.
the aeronaut, who sailed his self-con-
structed airship a distance of thirty
miles yesterday, received many congrat-
ulations today. He was not disposed to
exaggerate yesterdays achievement in
steering an airship across London, yet
he claims that his machine is absolutely
perfect in gentle wind He had in
tended to cross st. Pauls Cathedral and
headed that way. He found it was too
foggy, however, and turned toward the
West End, where it was clearer. In an
interview today he said:
In a strong wind l should require 4
stronger balloon. The steering was ab-
solutely perfect. She answered her
helm beautifully and never made more
than four-foot pitch
This was not the impression conveyed
to the casual observer. to whom it ap-
peared that the machine was not under
anything approaching perfect control.
At times it whirled apparently in an &C.
centric manner, but for considerable
stretches it behaved wonderfully we'll in
the wind.
Point Not Determined
The ll-important question is whether
Spencer would be able to exercise con-
troll over it's direction in a wind. This
question has not yet been settled. Mr..
Spencer made no announcement before
hand as to the exact route he would
make the mao hine cover. When he
started his intention was to go over
London In saIre direction.
He says the highest altitude he reach
ed was 1,5O0 feet. The only exciting
moment during the trip was over Chel-
sea, when the airship went very low,
and the balloon pointed toward the
earth. 1t came down with great ra-
pidity.
''WhenI was about 500 feet from the
ground and 500 yards from a church
spire," said Spencer, '.the people
thought l was in danger, and yelled
frantically, thinking ! would be
smashed against the spire. The yells
sounded blood-curdling and made me
turn cold. l altered the rudder and
swept beautifully around the church and
glided away on my course.
II began the ascent at 4:30 o'clock in
the afternoon, and descended at the end
of the journey like a butterfly on a
flower, at o'clock. ! calculated that
the entire distance covered was about
thirty miles. Before crossing the
Thames I made two circular evolutions
and circumnavigated the big wheel at the
Earls Court EynoSition
People Looked Like Ants.
1.-The people looked like ants. They
could see and hear the propeller work
ing. / thought of alighting at Harrow,
but there were many houses, SO I pro-
ceeded to Eastcote. where l descended
in perfect safety without any assist
ance.
"a few minutes after l got down an
old farmer came along. He was too
frightened to come very near. Per-
faps he took me for the first arrival
from Mars He came to my assistance,
however, later. and between us we man
aged to disinflate the balloon. Others
came and aided me, so that two hours
after alighting the whole airship was
packed for London
The skeleton framework of the airship
is a frail-looking affair about fifteen feet
long, with cradle for the aeronaut a
few feet from the back end. The tractor.