Evening star., 1903-07-15
THE LANGLEY A|RSH|P
Houseboat Leaves With It for
Down-RiVer Point.
AN EARLY EXPERIMENT
THE MACHINE HIDDEN FROM
EYES OF THE CURIOUS.
No One Not in Prof. Langley's Con-
fidence Advised of Destination
Of the Apparatus.
AN EARLY EXPERIMENT


of Prof Samuel P. Langley's aeronautic
apparatus aboard, has sailed for quiet
down-river point, after many days of delay
She left here shortly after o'clock this
morning. in tow of the tug Camilla, Capt
Davis, and with her went a large float,
gasoline power launch and the steam
launch Cygnus, which will serve as tenders
to the houseboat Prof. Langley will seek
some unfrequented spot where he can con-
duct his experiments unobserved. Exactly
where he is going no one but himself
knows. The tug Is chartered to take the
boat to a point on the river in the vicinity
of Potomac creek, but will cast off her tow
line in mid-stream and the remainder or
the journey will be made with the launches
towing the big houseboat.
AS long as the tugboat remains in sight
the hauseboat will remain stationary, and
it is expected the final anchorage grounds
will be sought after dark tonight.
The last experiments conducted by Prof
Langley were at a point on the river not Iaf
from Liverpool Point wharf on the Mary
land side of the river, and small house.
boat, the first one used in the Langley eX-
Deriments, was anchored near that point
for year or two. but was taken away not
long ago. 1t is generally believed the big
houseboat will also seek the same locality.
Great Secrecy Observed.
The greatest secrecy has been observed
in guarding the machine from the gaze OF
the curious, and it has been impossible for
any one not IN Prof. Langleys conf
dence to get any idea of it's construction.
A reporter was not allowed upon the wharf
at the foot Of Sth street, where the boat
moored and no questions would elicit
answer from the scrupulous guard.
However, the view from the river side is
unobstructed, and the reporter hired a boat,
and with his camera proceeded toward the
peculiar structure, with the intention OF
making several views and a detailed exam
ination. But when within fifty feet guard
shouted a warning to keep away and not
to come in the slip where the boat was
moored. Fifty feet was close enough for a
photograph to be made, and some idea of
the vessel could also be obtained.
1t is an ordinary houseboat. about thirty
feet wide and fifty feet long, fiat bottomed
and drawing probably not than a
foot of water. The interior is fitted up as a
workshop with machinery and benches.
Upon the roof Is built massive frame
work forming large turn-table, on which
is built broad platform with railings
around it. and through the center of which.
and projecting over the water some dis
tance is built section of track upon
which the airship is to be given its initial
momentum and from which it is to be
launched There are numerous windows in
the SlOeS OF the WORKSHOP, all or winch are
screened when the vessel is moored at the
wharf ana two large DOORS one at each
end. are hidden by lattice work. Up on top
OF the platform was discerned a large OBJ
ject closely covered with canvas which
is supposed to have been the body of the
new aeroplane. Through the door could be
seen five or six workmen moving about
and 1t is probable that some of the i'm
portant work of construction is yet to be
done.
Fastened to one end Of the houseboat was
a small power launch-one of those men
tioned-with the curtains down ell around.
Mounted on the stern of the launch was a
small gasoline engine of three or four
horse power. to which was fitted an air
propeller. this being about four feet above
the water. 1t is presumed that Prof
Langley has been using this to make calcu-
lations of the size and speed of propeIlers
necessary to attain a required momentum
1t is said that the professors most I'M
pOrtant development in the present machine
is the construction of the propellers The
one on the launch appears 10 be steel
framework over which oiled silk has been
stretched.
Form Of the Machine.
The machine. as far as can be learned.
measures about sixty feet in length, and at
it's greatest diameter is about fifteen feet.
The body is cigar-shaped. and tapers grad
ually to either end. Thin steel tubing ia
employed in the construction of the frame
work, and the steel skeleton is inclosed in
a network Of fine steel wire Situated in
the forward part of the body of the vessel
are two wings, one on either side, and each
is said to give surface of 450 square feet
In the rear portion of the vessel are two
other wings of the same dimensions as !
those forward, also placed one on either
side OF the body. The finest kind Of oiled
silk was used in the covering of the wings
The vessel. it is said. presents an expanse
or sustaining surface of about 1880 square
feet. sustaining power of 500 pounds
is furnished by the four wings and after
considering the weight of the machine, in
Guiding the navigator. the engine and five
torpedoes, unloaded, floating or soaring
margin of over 200 pounds is secured
1t is understood that considerable econo-
my in weight has been secured through
the utilization of a gasoline motor light
enough for the work desired of it. The
motor is Of the explosion type, weighs 20
pounds, and is of twenty-five horse power
This motor is situated just in the rear of
the forward wings and Is inclosed in a
little compartment beneath the body of
the vessel. Immediately aft Of the engine
compartment is swinging car. or cabinet,
in which the navigator will sit.
Office Of the Motor.
The motor works propeller shaft which
runs from the engine room through the
body of the vessel and beyond it in the
rear. There are, 1t is said two blades on
the propeller. thought to be covered with
the same material as that of the wings.
which act precisely as the propeller blades
in marine navigation. They can be made to
reyolye at a tremendous velocity, and the
shaft is dirigible In order that direction
may be given to the machine when launch
ed into the air. The propeller, 1t is under
stood, can perform both the functions of
propeller and steering gear, although the
latter is a separate part of the machine.
1t is understood that the ship was con-