Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-31
AWAIT GOOD WEATHER
Airship Experts All Ready for
the Launching.
WIND TOO HIGH TODAY
MORE WORK DONE ON THE sU-
PERsTRUCTURE.
Many Interested Persons Gathering
Up at Whitewater, Where Accom-
modations Are Scarce.


| Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
| Underwater, Va, July 31.-The heavy
breeze blowing in the Potomac this morn
| ing developed about o'clock this afternoon
| almost into "a gale. strong sea buffeted
| the houseboat, swinging it about consider
| ably, but it's big cables kept it at its moor
! inss.
Operations on the outside were entirely
| suspended Though the indications are
| that the wind viii increase in severity as
| the evening advances it is not believed that
I any harm will befall the ark. Having been
provided with two additional cables and
anchors it Is we'll equipped to Withstand
the strongest seas likely to be encountered
at this season.
The Langley party did not arrive from
the island until nearly O'Clock, and no
unusual activity was observed about the
houscboat during The forenoon. The Off
cial photographer, Mr.. Smile, was busy
examining his cameras. including the latest
improved apparatus Tor instantaneous pho-
Biography. THIS instrument is mounted on Il
guustock and is used with the accuracy of
rife in obtaining photographs of objects
in flight through the air.
The photographer, accompanied by an
assistant, boarded the tug u. NJ. Key, car
rying with him the musket camera, and
an ordinary tripod camera. which were
tested III piiclvSl dplliIlS pcJtStS oh l'io
river, including one or two seagulls. The
musket camera is to be used when the
model and big machine are launched in
their flight.
and are expected to register minutcly every
movement of the model and the flying
machine itself.
Significant Movement Of Tug.
The trip of the tug Key, with its party of
scientists aboard was the most significant
that has been taken for a long while. First.
! the tug steamed to the Virginia shore near
| Whitewater where stakes were erected IN
| the beach several days ago. These wee
inspected and found in proper condition.
| The musket camera and the tripod We're
| carried ashore, and with other engineering
| Instruments extended observations We're
! taken along the shore and toward the
| houseboat. Completing this work the party
| embarked again, going straight to the old
| buoy, which Is at the site occupied by the
| ark when it first reached this place. After
making observations there the party steam
ed over toward the Maryland shore. thence
| returning to the ark.
1t was noticed that big and strong tackle
and rope attached to the hosting appa-
ratus, which is to be used in transporting
the model from the houseboat to the super
| structure, placed in position today.
| Although there was little activity last
| night, 1t is believed that this apparatus WAS
| placed in position some time before day.
break.
How the Ship Will Be Launched.
The aerodrome, when taken from the in
terror of the houseboat through the wide
end DOORS will be carried around to the
side of the ark placed upon the float in
position there, and elevated from that point
| to the superstructure.
That the first test of the flying machine
| model is to be made soon there would seem
ne IL.
| sion prevails generally, and there are more
| persons at this place in expectation of wit
| Messing the flight than at any previous
| time since the arrival off Whitewater of the
| Langley ark There being no hotels here
every available house is being utilized. In
! many instances four or five persons ara
| sleeping in a single room. FROM last even
| ing shortly after the work Of the day had
| been completed and the party had left for
Quantico Island a calm set in and lasted
| until this morning about the time that
| Operations were resumed. During THAT
| period the conditions were fine for test
| and it was considered unfortunate that the
| wind should have sprung up with great
| yigor so soon this morning.
Airship Party Taking Life Easy.
| While the scientists and mechanical ex-
perts connected with the Langley airship
| expedition are waiting for favorable wealth
| er conditions for the first test of the great
| aerodrome they are taking life easy. Hav-
| ing already performed the arduous duty
| of putting things in readiness for an ex-
| De riment the Smithsonian experts await,
| with evidences of composure, the time when
| their handiwork will be put upon Its merits.
! Such an attitude reflects the confidence
| which is supposed to INSPIRE the minds OF
| those at the head of the expedition. Nor
is it enioyed alone by them. MachiniStS,
| carpenters and other tradesmen, who have
| had the distinction of assisting in the con-
| structicn of what is claimed to be the most
| rftl air
lines share the belief that the machine
will be able to traverse the atmosphere
| While work is slack the chief concern OF
| Assistant Charles r. Manley and his aSSo-
ciates seems to be to avoid nOtoriety. AT
least they constantly manifest desire to
thwart the efforts of newspaper CORE
spondents to get news as 10 the state OF
affairs within the household and the time
when the experiments will take place.
Try to Conceal Details.
However much the1 SCIENTISTS may be
pleased to have their enterprise attract
public notice they certainly desire at pres
ent to conceal details. 1t is believed that
| they wish to guard against the depressing
| effect of publicity in the possible event Of
failures The government being financially
| interested in the experiments, 1t Is pointed
out that the favorable attitude OF the public
will have a wholesome effect In helping
Oong the ultimate perfectlon OF fro1.
! Langley's invention.
1t is not in the complete success of every
| experiment at this stage that the inventor
| and his associates have absolute confidence,
| but in final triumph in the long effort to
| solve the problem Of aerial navigation
| Everyone recognizes the probabilities OF
| many disheartening failures In the tests to
| be made in the near future. To keep these
proba BILE mishaps and failures from public
| notice as much as possible Is said to be the
| idea of Prof. Langley. In the absence OF
| the inventor. Assistant Manley and the
| rest are exceedingly Jealous of their charge.
| All close scrutiny from the occupants OF
/ uiSitinsr hna to is ated There