Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-14
BROKEN PROPELLERS
AIRSHIP STILL CUT
TING CAPERs AT Underwater.
Prof. Manly Hopeful and Busy Re
pairing and Strengthening
the Aerodrome.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
UNDERWATER, Va, September 14.-Prof.
Langley's airship, which is now up for re-
pairs, will hardly be in a condition for an
attempted launching before Wednesday or
Thursday. Nothing official as to the fu-
ture plans could be learned here this morn
ing. as Professor Manly and the rest OF
the Smithsonian party had not returned
from Washington. where they spent sun
day. The houseboat was in charge of Pri-
vate Addison. the military guard. 1t Is
known, however, that the flying machine is
in q sad plight, as the result of the acct
dent Saturday afternoon, when the port
propeller went all to smash The wooden
portions, though extremely light when
hurled against the body of the machine
wrought considerable damage. AS In each
of the former mishaps of a like character,
the supporting framework of the airship
bore most of the brunt of the attack from
the cavorting propeller. The bars were
bent as on the other occasions. but more
serious damage was done. The propeller,
striking about am.dships. damaged part
of the intricate machinery connected WITH
the motor. The piece, which is very olIh-
cult of access. will have to be removed ana
replaced before the airship can be put In d
position for an attempted launching. More
time to get at 1t Is required than in the
actual work of repair. This is one or the
reasons why the accident Saturday has
proved more disastrous than the other two
propeller wreckings.
Accidents No Surprise.
The accidents have not taken Prof. Manly
by surprise, and the same may be said OF
the inventor. Both Prof. Langley and his
chief assistant fully realized that they were
liable to occur at any time during test
and it may be said that they would have
wondered not a little If nothing of an I'M
toward nature had occurred. Though Prof
Manly declines to make any statement con-
corning the structural weakness that mas
been demonstrated in the propellers 1t Is
understood that he will push the expert
ments with the motive apparatus right
along with the constant view of succeed
ing as soon as possible in getting the pro-
pellers and the motor to work harmoniously
and properly in every respect.
To Strengthen Propellers.
Since the first disaster to the propellers
he has given them much attention The
great question is how to construct them
strong enough to bear the heavy strain and
at the same time to be light enough for
the purposes Of an airship. Wooden pro-
pelIers have been tried, but without prom
Use of success. The ones now In use are
constructed with a light wooden frame
work, with delicate steel bars to give
strength The fan Is constituted by fine
oiled fabric, canvas or linen. stretched very
tightly over the bars. The entire weight Ia
very small, quite small enough If the right
service could only be gotten out OF the
apparatus. With the machine once In the
air 1t is believed by the experts that this
service can be furnished. and yet it is not
considered safe to trust to opinion without
practical demonstration before the
launching is attempted.