Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-02
HOT AIR AND WIND
Seems to Be Surplus Of Both
at Whitewater.
LAUNCHING POSTPONED
EXPOSURE TO WEATHER INJURIES
ONE OF THE WINGS.
House Boat Yet Remains in the River
Where It Drifted During
Recent Storm.

| Special From a Staff Correspondent.
Underwater, Va, September 2.-Prof.
Manley was asked this afternoon by
a reporter for The Star If there had been
any change in the intention to have an
early launching of Prof. Langley's airship
with favorable weather conditions. He
waited minute before answering, when he
| seemed to be bordering over the matter.
and then said:
There is no need to make any change in
the statements already given out"
This meant, 1t is understood, that the
plan previously announced to accept the
first favorable opportunity for launching
had not been altered.
Langley at House Boat.
Prof Langley reached the houseboat from
Quantico on the Key at 10 o'clock He had
come down from Washington, whittier he
went yesterday when it was seen that an
experiment could not be made. The in
ventor went above, where he held con-
sultation with Prof. Manley. Both agreed
that the wind was then blowing too strong
about eight miles an hour-to trust the
flying machine in the air
A close inspection of one of the set OF
four wings on the superStructure ready for
use, showed it had been slightly damaged
by exposure to the elements. 1t was no
ticeably wrinkled. So 1t was taken down
for repairs. 1t is not believed that any
damage which could not be repaired in a
short time sustained. The houseboat
yet remains where it drifted in the storm.
May Move House Boat.
The airship experts have been consider
ing the ACCESSIBILITY q moving the house
boat to the place where it was put when
first brought down the river. This point is
da8p ind tod nv NJ the W hnOyS
with which the houseboat was originally
equipped.
1t is something less than a half mile
northeast of the position occupied by the
ark since last Fridays storm Because
the question of removal was pending the
big reserve anchor was not cast overheard
at the new mornings.
Had the experts decided definitely to re-
main where the wind and tide carried them
they would have let loose this anchor 1t
weighs /, 100 pounds, and will, 1t Is believed
in addition to the smaller anchors, hold the
houseboat fast against any storm likely to
occur off Whitewater. Had it been let go
when the craft was running before the re-
cent gale it would have arrested the flight
at once.
Necessitates Considerable Difficulty.
But a removal necessitates considerable
difficulty, which perhaps more than coun-
terbalances the benefits to be derived there
from. At the old position the houseboat
would be in the center of the area original
ly selected for the flight of the airship.
1t would be. however, a mile and half
below the point from which the launching
decided upon for last Friday would have
taken place had the weather conditions
permitted. But the change Of base would
hardly mean any very considerable dis
advantage for the experts in launching
In the prospective test Friday the course
desired for the machine had been mapped
out. While it was not publicly announced
there is reason to believe that the alrship
was expected to be navigated toward the
Virginia shore Just above Whitewater.
Southerly Direction First.
The ship would have taken the air going
in southerly direction at first. for the
wind then blowing from the SOUTH
then it would have been directed by the
navigator in a wide circle until It's prov
was pointing northwest.
On that course 1t would have continued TO
travel until close to the beach when 1t
would have been brought gently to the sur
face of the water. This. at least, is what
the scientists are believed to have ma pped
out.
The stakes driven in the beach at that
point and the stationing of a photographer
there just before the expected flight indi-
Gated such a design. But the measurements
new base.
Most Any Place Might Be Selected.
Most any place on the shore might be Sc
lected as tie point for directing the course
of the airship. The object in placing man
with cameras on shore near where the
flight is expected to end, 1t is understood. Is
to provide for pictures of the airship in the
stage of coming to the water.
E he aphi a 6 q
pected to travel it can not be followed at
close range by the tugs and hence pictures
of the lowering can not be made from them
The airship, If it goes well, will speed at
a velocity of something like forty-f1ve miles
an hour. This will soon place her out of
reach of the tugs 1t is true that one of
these might be stationed near where the
flight of the ship is expected to terminate,
but the steam craft attending the house
boat are limited, and their services would
be needed close by in the event Of any dis
aster to the vessel in the early stages of
the flight
Applies to Any Other Stage.
OF course. the same applies to any other
stage. but when the ship has once been got
ten to going right the experts believe that
she will behave well for the balance of the
trip. 1t is likely that two Of the three
steam vessels will be stationed near the
house boat when the launching is made.
The other one will be at more distant
point under the designed course. When the
flight begins the two near by will start in
rapid pursuit.
All will be kept. SO far as can be done.
In the best relative positions to the fiying
machine to render it and it's navigator as
s1stance whenever necessary.
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