The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-11-02
AIRSHIP IS
SUCCESSFUL
California Arrow Proves Feasibil.
ity Of Aerial Navigation Be-
yond Doubt.
CAN BE DIRECTED AT WILL
Tests at st. Louis Confidently Ex.
pected to Demonstrate the
Practicability OfThis Way
OfTraveling.
CAN BE DIRECTED AT WILL

81. Louis NOV. l.-BaldwinS airShip
California Arrow" was caused by Its
commander, A. Roy Knabenshue. OF
Toledo. O.. to perform a number OF
very remarkable evolutions during the
trial OF Tuesday afternoon. The wind
was blowing from the northwest at the
rate of ten miles an hour, rapidly in
creasing to eighteen; but nthe teeth
of the breeze the vessel moved easily
back and forth AT the height of from
800 feet and upwards over the ex-
position grounds, and twice returned
nearly to the point from which II set
out. Just as II had described In the
air a huge figure eight for the second
time the spark Of the gasoline engine
was raised a little two high and the
motor ceased TO work. the vessel being
at the time abSut 500 feet above the
Plaza of st. Anthony between the
palaces of Transportation and Varied
Industries.
But this accident only served to EN-
phasize the triumph for even then,
after the propelling apparatus could
no longer be used and the machine
was adrift on the wind. the aeronaut
was still able, simply by the shifting
of his own weight and the manipu-
lation OF the rudder and the ballast
to turn the craft around. raise and
lower It in the ali and to control. to
a considerable extent, the direction of
its movement Mr.. Knabenshue de-
cided just where 1t was best to land,
and at $50 gently sank down at VAL
ley Junction, East st. Louis, and
alighted without the slightest injury
to either himself or the machine.
Could the motor have been used
throughout the trip the landing would
have been made, without any difficulty.
in the aeronautic grounds at the same
point from which the ascension had
taken place.
The ascent and evolutions were wit
messed by thousands Of exposition visl-
tors, and greatest enthusiasm was
aroused by the perfect success with
which the apparatus was propelled In
any desired direction, either with,
across or against the wind, so long as
the enjine remained in order.
The California Arrow is the prop
erty of Captain T. S. Baldwin and has
been constructed after his plans, rep |
the final outcome Of thirty
years study and experimentation. 1t
las a cigar r-shaped gas-bag of var
lished japanese silk, So feet long and
seventeen feet in diameter, WITH a
of 5000 cubic fet. On the up
Der surface and at the ends Of the silk
s doubled, and at the points Of great
st strain trebled. The car, forty feet
ong, is a light framework of white
edar braced with piano wire. 1t is,
n section, a perfect equilateral tri-
ngle, SO that 1t grows smaller and
mailer towards the ends. 1t Is pulled
trough the air by two-bladed silk
ropeller, eleven feet from the tip to
p, set at an angle of twenty degrees
t the front end Of the car. The
raught of air caused by its 200 revo-
ltions a minute serves to prevent ex-
osions by constantly cooling the ,
.ercules engine set about eight feet
ON the forward end of the car. The
lgine weighs only 66 pounds, but per-
oms $500 revolutions a minute and
rs a working capacity Of seven horse
ower. The aeronaut has seat and
mining platform about twelve or
Iirteen feet further back, and he can
owe from one end to the other Of the )
II at will, though change Of position