The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-03
LANGLEY PARTY IN CLUB ROW
ALL OVER ATTEMPT TO GUARD
FLYING MACHINE.
IL Is Alleged That Mechanics Have Been
Giving Orders In High-Handed
Manner and Mount Vernon Club Menu
hers Intend 20 Have Practice stopped.

Giving Orders In High-Handed
Manner and Mount Vernon Club Menu
hers Intend 10 Have Practice stopped.
WARRINGTON. Aug 2--As the result Of
an investigation to be made by members
Of the Mount Vernon Dncking Association,
which owns Chlppaamwic Islants on the
Potomac about forty miles below Washing
ton, where the members of the Langley
flying machine expedition have been MAX
ing their headquarters, Prof langley ms tbe
asked TO tell how II is that twelve or fifteen
mechanics. laborers and soldiers, composing
his party, have been living at the club
house, and to explain the authority under
which he has taken possession Of the island
and holds II guarded against all corners.
As has been published in THE SUN, Prof.
Langley's houseboat, the Buzzard, contain
ing his $4,000 aerodrome, with which he
expects to navigate the air, has for several
weeks been lying off Wide Water, Va,
about five miles below Chappawamsic
Island. The members of the expedition
sleep at the Mount Vernon Ducking Assoc
ciat ion clubhouse, however, and have their
meals there, journeying to and frc m several
times day by tug.
Members Of the Langley party have
asserted on number. Of occasions that
newspaper men would not be received
at the club during the stay Of the Buzzard
and the continuance of the experiments
The facts upon which the inquiry will
DO based came out recently through the
desire Of charter member Of the Ducking
Association to spend few days at the club
house.
On inquiry he found that, although Prof.
Langley was not at the island, the men,
bers OF the Langley expedition were in
full possession Of the island and clubhouse
and were giving orders as to who should
and who should not be admitted. and were
behaving generally in what was considered
high-handed manner.
II Ia now said that the members OF the
party have no right whatever on the island,
and that under strict Interpretation of
the rules Of the Ducking Association, Prof
Langley has no authority to invite party
OF his employees to live at the clubhouse
and to censor the visiting list
Members Of the club have no objection
to Prof. Langley making the clubhouse
his Headquarters during the continuance
of the experiments. but they do seriously
object to having the house closed to them
selves or to whomever they choose to in
vite.
The newest feature OF the situation is
the fact that a party of newspaper men,
accompanied by members of the association,
will go to the clubhouse on Chappawamsic
Island and remain there as guests of the
association. In view of the remarkable pre-
cautions taken by the members Of the flying
machine expedition to prevent any informa-
ton leaking out with regard to the ex-
periments, the situation which will result
when the party now at the club is aug
mented by additional guests will UNI
doubtedly be interesting
There is no intmaton that this step will
be taken to induce the members Of the
expedition to go away from the clubhouse,
but 1t is freely predicted that this is just
about what will happen. In any event,
the members of the Langley expedition
will be given to underst and in plain terms
that they get the privileges Of the club
house on sufTerance only, and that there
must be no attempt to exercise unlawful
authority or TO supervise the visiting list.