Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-31
MAY FLY TOMORROW
Today's Whitewater News Has
Familiar Ring.
WIND BLEW TOO HARD
BuzzAnD CAN Be aor INTO POSI-
r1oN spEfD1LY.
Prof. Langley is Still at Clifton Beach
and Will BE Present at
Launching.
Special From a STAT Correspondent.

Special From a STAT Correspondent.
Underwater, Va. August 31.-Prof.
Langley's airship will not be launched to-
day. There are two reasons-the wind and
the cloudy weather. Either condition is
sufficient to prohibit a test.
The wind blew hard all morning, with in
dications of continuing until evening. With
a calm. clear day tomorrow the launching
will be attempted. BY rapid work the air
ship can be gotten into position in little
over two hours
Reached House Boat Late.
The Smithsonian scientists did not reach
the houseboat until the early afternoon
They were brought from Clifton Beach in
the tug Camilla.
There was nothing to be done on the
aerodrome. but the mechanics, who re-
turn from Washington on the other tug,
had to repair the slight damage sustained
by the houseboat in the recent storm
A new equipment of small boats has been
secured. Private Allison spent Sunday on
the hOuSeboat. With the small craft away
and the launch disabled. he was without
means of getting ashore. But had an
other storm arisen he could have held the
ark by cutting loose the big reserve an
Choir.
Langley at Clifton Beach Over Sunday.
The party Of Smithsonian airship scien-
lists remaining at Clifton Beach over Sun
day included Prof Samuel P. Langley. He
has announced his intention of staying
down the river at least during the earlier
part OF this week. and he may remain
longer If a test of the big aerodrome is
postponed.
1t will not be delayed any longer than is
absolutely necessary. Since the arrival Of
TONS 10,
been employed to bring about an early test.
The test has been prevented only by adj
verse conditions.
The experts have worked hard to protect
their equipment from the elements and to
overcome difficulties as they arose. This
energetic conduct will be maintained until
the PRINCIPAL aim-the launching of the big
aerodrome-is accomplished.
Anxious to Get Away.
AS Prof. Langley stands sojourning on
the water In hot weather poorly, he Is anx-
tous to get away. 1t is probable that after
witnessing the first experiment he will re-
turn to Washington, though that will de-
pend upon the fortune in making other tests
soon after the first.
Apart from his personal desire to behold
the flying machine in the air he Is said to
be somewhat sensitive about the light in
which the repeated postponements have
placed his enterprise before the public
He does not accept either for himself or
his associates any blame for this. but at
tributes 1t to a misunderstanding on the
part Of the public as to the extreme uncer-
tafnty made necessary by the delicate ma
ture of the experiments.
Insists No One Can Tell.
The inventor emphasizes the statement
that no one can possibly tell when his fly
ing machine will ba launched. It is an
event dependant upon so many conditions
undetermined until the very last.
Too much care cannot be taken to protect
the apparatus. Owing to the time required
to get 1t into position for a start, the
weather may change from a calm to a
storm. 1t would be madness to disregard
weather indications, and a rash attempt at
a launching in an increasing wind would
probably speedily result in the wreck of the
costly and magnificent machine. Repre-
sentfng great financial expenditure skilled
wonderful possibilities, the safety of the
airship is too important to be trifled with
in order to satisfy a desire for an early
trial.
Doing the Best They Can.
Having completed the machine, and
standing ready now for launching at the
first good opportunity, the experts believe
that they are doing the best that can be
done under the circumstances.
AS Prof. Langley says, he learns success
by failure, and unsatisfactory results in the
first experiments will not prevent contin-
ued attempts