The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-20
WORKS ON AlRSHIP.
Frisco Aeronaut Hopes to Garry Off
the Prize.

San Francisco, May 1s-At his work
shop in this city, DR.. August Greth. the
aeronaut, is rapidly completing his i'm
provements on the airship with which
he expects to win the $4,000 aerial prize
to be competed for by, airships at the St.
Louis exposition this summer
Several trials have been given the ship
recently. in each Of which an added meas
ure of success has been attained, and the
doctor is confident now that with the
improvements which were suggested by
his last aerial flight he will be able to
navigate the air at will
Within a few days he will make one
more ascent, and upon this will depend
largely his success at the ST Louis race
DR.. Greth has the utmost confidence In
his ability to navigate the air freely.
Il will succee din the end he said
today. and when go up 1 will travel as
far as l may please. 1 believe that
will be able TO make a trip that will
prove that navigation of the air is as
feasible a scheme as can be ina gined. ."
Tinkering away at his airship. DR. Greth
related to the correspondent the story of
his most recent voyage through the air
1t is a wonderful narrative of the accom-
piishments of the past few years in the
navigation Of the air. DR.. Greth was ac-
companied on his trip by Fred w Bel
cher, an expert on the style of automobile
engines that the doctor uses for motor
power in his ship.
I'VE left the ground said Dr. Greth
lat Just $50 O'Clock and after a success
full air cruise until 1915 O'Clock were
compelled TO descend on account of our
driving gear going back on us. How
ever, | consider this my most successful
attempt and / hope for the accomplish
ment of great things within the next
week or SO.
when we began TO ascend we rose
easily and almost directly into the air
above our shed, and | felt from the way
the machine was acting that everything
was going right. l had just enough con-
fidence to try a few maneuvers
We began TO circle and we made one
complete turn. Elated over the manner in
which the ship behaved we decided to
try another turn and before we left the
locality we had made the third circle
The big ship twisted and moved
through the air as directed every time 1
Illrew the wheel over. and with feeling
Of perfect safety we began our trip TO
San Jose
We struck of at a good speed toward
the bay shore. and when nearing the
water we found ourselves in a position
almost over the Union iron works We
slowed down to get our bearings and then
made up our minds to venture out over
the water
we were fighting a head-on wind all
the time. yet the balloon behaved nicely
and our machinery continued TO work in
good order
We left the vicinity IF the iron works
and crep; out slowly over the water. We
could see for miles in every direction. and
beneath US IN the bay we saw vessels
lying at anchor and others under way. all
as small as beads 10 our eyes.
we stayed OF our course over the hay
for but a few minutes. then we made
rather a sharp turn. and headed Of In a
southwesteriy direction toward the land
We still had the wind against IS. but
Ne experienced 10; the least trouble until
the shat that drives the propeller
threw itself oct % place, and then ne
knew that we had a difficulty wncih
would spoil our trip.
'.Selcher worked desperately 70 tx she
shaft so that we nigh, continue "a san
Jose but he finally gave up ard we were
forced TO come down Disabled a we