Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29
Airship Experts Get Together
After Storm.
BUZZARD WAS BLOWN
HOUSE BOAT IS NOW TWO MILES
BELOW Underwater.
Prof. Langley Was Greatly Disappoint-
ed, as Everything Was Ready
for the Flight.

Special From Stan Correspondent ,..,.,
Underwater. Va, August 29.-The
Langley airship party spent today in esti-
mating the repairs of the damages done to
the housenoat and its equipment of small
craft in the storm last night. ~" r<,
Where the houseboat rested this morning
is two miles below it's former moorings. 1t
is much closer to the Virginia shore.
A large section of the port deck was
crushed III by the pounding against the
naphtha launch while driving before the
gale. The extended arms of the vessel had
snapped like pipestems.
Lost All Her Tenders.
The houseboat had lost all of her tenders.
After securing the adjacent waters from
daybreak to sunrise the tug Camilla dis
covered the naphtha launch floating bot
tom upward, a complete wreck.
Not far distant was the float used in
hosting the machine to the superstructure.
1t had not been seriously damaged.
Two of the batteauS were recovered, but
one of them was damaged almost beyond
repair. The crew of the tug succeeded in
mooring the wreck of the launch and the
float near the houSeboat.
A Serious Reverse.
The damage sustained altogether has
proved a serious reverse to the scientific
enterprise. It will delay the launching for
a considerable time.
Not only was the houseboat and its at
tendant craft damaged, but the flying ma
chine. from its suspended position inside,
was badly shaken up.
Inc wings, securely fastened and covered
with canvas In the compartments on the
superstructure, escaped serious injury.
Storm Broke Furiously on Ark.
The storm broke furiously upon the "ark''
last evening at o'clock. The wind came
from the northeast 1t soon increased to a
gale, reaching a velocity of forty miles an
hour.
Before ten minutes had passed the big
unwieldy craft commenced to yield to the
pressure of wind and sea. She was fasten-
ed by two heavy anchors, which were
thought sufficient to hold her.
There was another big reserve anchor on
seek Excepting a guard, the boat had been
left alone by the scientific party, which had
gone about o'clock to Clifton Beach.
Travelled Gradually Down Stream.
For an hour while the wind held its terri
fic velocity the houseboat travelled gradual
ly down stream. Occasionally her anchors
caught for a minute or two, but the pres
sure was too strong and she broke loose
again.
People watching from the Virginia shore
with glasses thought at first that the YES
sci was absolutely deserted, but later one
of the starboard windows was opened.
But the man inside did not appear on
deck. The craft rolled alarmingly. 1t was
feared that she would be wrecked on the
beach several miles below, but the appre-
hension was relieved when the wind lulled a
little and the anchors held on the mud bot
tom in shoal water.
Tenders Were Shy. c@ asa
During the storm the tug Camilla was at
Clifton Beach and the tug Key at Quantico
Neither came out until after the wind sub
sided.
The houseboat was then visited and a
search for the lost craft was instituted, but
without success in the increasing darkness
The storm brought a bitter diSappoint-
ment to Prof. Langley For two DAYS he
has braved the intense heat of the river in
the hope each day of witnessing a launch
ing, and yesterday afternoon just -beforS
returning to Clifton Beach, he stated that
he hoped to have a flight today with good
weather conditions. --,-,'si--. .ss
ALI Was in Readiness. 90
AS stated in yesterdays dispatch all was
in readiness in the afternoon for a launch
ing when the increasing wind necessitated a
postponement.
an hour to double as much Prof Langley
and Chief Assistant Manley then had a con-
sultation and decided to begin the work of
taking the machine down at once.
1t was none too soon. for a half hour after
the superstructure had been cleared the
wind was blowing hard.
Prof. Langley stated the cause of his al
tered plans, indicating his hope for today
Damage Not So Great.
n tata
Nanley this afternoon it appears that the
damage sustained by the airship expedition
in the storm last night was not so great as
at first thought.
The chief assistant replied evasively when
asked by ga Star reporter If a launching
might be expected with good weather con-
ditions Monday.
He then asked if Prof Langley in
tended 10 remain down the river and re-
piled that he did. He said that the aero
drome was not damaged in the storm
This indicates attempted launching
early next week with the elements favor
able.
Probably a portion of the party will go
to Washington late this afternoon but
most OF the experts will remain at Clifton
Beach.
Recovering the Launch.
The morning was consumed with the
recovery OF the naphtha launch. It's. wreck
did not mean it's ruin.
After it was hauled up and pumped out
it showed no great damage. The boiler
was rent, the propeller twisted and some
of the stern timbers were broken The
float was recovered uninjured.