Evening star., 1903-07-22
WORKING At NIGHT
Prof, Langley's Assistants
Push Work on Airship.
TRIAL EXPECTED SOON
ARRIVAL OF THE TUG D. M. KEY
TODAY.
Expected That the House Boat Will Be
Towed Back to Its Former
Anchorage.
;pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening star
Underwater, Va, July %, 19o3.-The
arrival of the tug ID. M. Key from Wash
incton at the Langley boathouse this morn
Ing occasioned the belief that the latter
would be removed to Its original position
lower down the river. But though the tug
remained alongside for several hours no at
tempt to change position was made this
morning.
The whole force of workmen and scien-
lists We're engaged today inside the house.
Last night most of the party remained
aboard busy until a late hour. This night
work is an innovation, and indicates that
Chief Assistant Manley proposes to run off
a test Of a model within a few days.
Last night the citizens of Whitewater
were startled by the appearance of
a strange light, which seemed to start at
the boathouse. travelling with remarkable
rapidity along the Maryland shore. Some
asserted that it was the airship. but 1t
was finally accepted to be nothing but the
erratic flashing of a search light from a
river steamer which was passing down at
the time.
Private Allison got busy today with his
Krag -Jor gensen, but not in defense of his
scientific charge. He fired repeatedly at
some target across toward the Nlrg MA
shore. One Of the hands trotted out on
like a huge gun and mounted on NOV
able rack. AS a press boat drew along
side the man operating the strange ma
chine pointed it toward the boat and pulled
the lever. 1t is believed to be designed for
taking quick and accurate pictures of fly
ing objects, such as an air ship, and Will
probably be used by an expert in making
photographs of the flying machine when in
the air. ~:.=-I.s1i2
Use New House Boat.
tI,o< No
Smithsonian institution experts have not
been directed as in former trips TO
experiment at Quantico Island the seat Of
the Mount Vernon Boat Club, and the
headquarters of the scientists. The old
boathouse there, which was used three
years ago for launching models. is now in
disuse, most of the suDerstructure having
been torn down When Prof. Langley was
experimenting with models at that time he
sent off a number of small ones from the
top of this old boathouse. The attempts
were partly successful. At least this is the
statement of citizens of Quantico, who de-
clare that they vividly recall glimpses of
strange looking machine, which was seen
a few times soaring above the waters be
tween the island and mainland. Just how
1t was managed. If it was managed at all.
they do not seem to remember very well.
but one of them told a reporter for The
Star that the wonderful flying thing would
make curious noises as II forced its way
through the air. Most of them now talk
freely about Prof. Langley, the houseboat,
the flying machine and his former efforts
in their neighborhood, but there not
many, it may lie presumed, who claim the
distinction of having seen and heard the
professors airships at work.
No Models at Quantico Island.
People familiar with the buildings and
equipments on Quantico Island state that
the scientific party has nothing there in
the way of airship models. All the efforts
of the scientists are directed to preparing
for future experiments from the large boat
house anchored four five miles down the
Potomac. Most of the men return to the
clubhouse for their meals, and 1t is there
that they spend the night. The trip down
to the boathouse is usually commenced in
the steam launch at I o'clock a. m. Yes
terday ono of the natives startled by
the Tapping of something that sounded like
wings just outside the yard. Looking up a
piece of canvas was seen hoatinS toward
the ground. An inspection showed that it
was a piece about six by four feet cut
with curious angles. 1t was waited from
the hilltops to the west by light breeze
The discoverer could not account for Its
strange advent, but thought at once Of
something connected with the Langley air
ship But spread out on the ground 1t
amounted to nothing but piece of ordinary
canvas curiOusly cut The idea that 1t had
any special significance received little con-
hrmation \ theory advanced. however.
was that 1t had belonged TO the Langley
houseboat and had been blown off during
the storm Saturday to find lodgment on
the hills west of Quantico. from which place
II was again gathered up by the brcezes. 1t
looked though IL might have been intend
ed for a wing for model airship y party
from the EouSeboat attracted attention
from residents near Whitewater by comm <
ashore and driving several SNAIL posts In
the sandy beach. They made certain calcu-
latiOnS before erecting the posts. but failed
to explain their purpose before embarhing
again for the floating house