Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-01
CABLE f0ULEO BOUY
Langley Houseboat in Trouble
This Morning.
MIGHT DRAG ANCHOR
CREW FINALLY GOT IT CLEARED
AWAY
No Prospect of Launching of Air
ship Now Before Some Time
Next Week.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
Underwater, Va. August 1.-The entire
force of workmen of Prof I.angley's house
boat was out on the stern deck this morn
ing engaged in clearing the buoy of one of
the long cables holding AN anchor. The
chain had gotten worked around the bottom
or the buoy so that its hold on the bottom
was loosened This exposed the ark to
some danger of dragging. In order to ele-
vate the buoy heavy block and tackle
was rigged from the suspended launching
way. Tn. work of clearing was completed
about II o'clock. " hen The Star boat pulled
alongside a reporter called to Mr. Manl"y
and delivered a message from the post
master that there was mail at that office
for Prof. Langley. Il shall send instruc-
tions from the institution tomorrow" re-
piled Mr.. Manley, curtly.
After adjusting the cables the workmen
retired to the interior. where they resumed
operations with the slow-working gasoline
engine.
Party Will Return Here Today.
Saturday being a short working day for
the government employees it Is likely that
the party will start for Washington early
this afternoon on the ID. NJ. Key, having
passed another week without an experiment
of the aerodrome. owing chiefly to the in
reference of the elements
a drenchns rain which began shortly
after midnight, continued until nearly $
o clock this morning. causing a heavy sea.
The house boat received severe buffeting.
A number of persons who came here the
middle OF the week in anticipa ton of wit
messing the first test of the model airship
departed today, realizing that nothing
would likely be done until next week
Taking Every Precaution.
Chief Assistant Charles r. Manley is Civ
ing attention now to every possible precau-
ton connected with the process of launch
ing the aerodrome. Under his direction the
carriage from which the airship will be
cast has been put in perfect running condi-
ton. Until its completion It was carefully
covered with white canvas to protect 1t
from the weather, but it is constantly being
experimental with. So far as can be ascer-
tanned. the car works perfectly It's five
sets of wheels, which fit with the greatest
precision upon their steel rails, are con-
structed with view of securing perfectly
smooth easy motion, with the least pos
sible friction or swaying from side to side
With relation to the superstructure the
track is perfectly level. The swaying of
the house boat in response to the waves
precludes the possibility of having an alb
solutely level track for the launching but
it is relatively 50. Workmen are frequently
seen moving the carriage back and forth
to ascertain that there is no defect in its
motion.
Mr.. Manley's Duties.
Prof Langley. making claims to being
a mechanical engineer, turned the work of
perfecttng the mechanism of this carriage
over to Mr.. Manley. Both inventor and as
sistant recognize the Importance of secur-
ing a perfect launching apparatus. Prof
Langley has learned this from repeated
experiments with his models. Failure fol-
lowed failure when it was evident that the
chief cause the imperfection of the
launching device. Having constructed his
aerodrOme to fly like soaring bird the
professor has endeaVored to extend the
analogy to the point of beginning the flight
He noticed that most of the large soaring
birds in starting to fly required a spring
and preparat Tapping Of the wings,
So the launching oar for the flying machine
was devised to give the mechanical bird
the same start that flying creatures en-
ploy.
Velocity to Be Given Carriage
The scientists expect to have the car
riage travelling at velocity of about sew
enty feet per second when the aerodrome
Is turned loose. But right at this point
are difficulties which may seriously inter-
fere with the success of an experiment.
The aerodrome must be held securely In
position ana it must be relea Sed at the
identical moment when the car reaches
the end of its track or its valuable passen-
ger will be unable to start If 1t does not
sustain considerable injury. But after re-
reated tests and experiments Mr. Manley
believes that he has improved device
which will hold the airship firmly and
will release 1T with perfect ease at the end
of the track. If the car does as we'll in
the launching it has done in prelmi-
nary experiments there is every reason to
believe that the flying machine will be put
souarely into the air at a velocity which
will carry IT off for a considerable dis
tance Independent of the power of its en-
gine. This. however. will be started as
soon as the launching car Is released and
1t IS the intention to have the fving ma.
chine really going by its own engine at
the same rate that 1t Is being carried bv
the carriage when 1t sets out alone upon
Its voyage.