Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
AIR SHIP SURPRISED THEM.
Roy Knabenshue Drove Balloon Over
Broadway.

New York had a brand new thrill yester-
| day when half million persons saw Roy
| knabenshue sail his airship two miles
| against a six-mile wind and back to the top
| of a tree In Central Park Until a spark
| plug was torn out by catching in the aero
| nauts trousers as he moved forward and
back the framework of the ship in d.
recting its flight he had the ship under per-
feet control. Had 1t not been for this ac-
cident. he says, he could have easily circled
the Statue of Liberty or passed under and
over the Brooklyn bridge-feats he promises
to execute within few days.
Ascending from vacant lot at 62d street
and Central Park west, where the airshfp
is housed in tent, knabenshue rose at an
angle of forty-f1ve degrees. only to find him.
self helpless to operate his driving appara-
tus. He had thrown the power on too sud
denly, the effect of which to throw
the driving chain off. A light breeze lifted
the ship across the street and the release
of a small amount of gas in the balloon let
it settle easily on the West Drive. His re-
ception there by a policeman was one Of the
interesting side lights Of the occasion.
Get out of here with your machine. and
do 1t mighty quick or you'll come along
with me-" he was told.
Knabenshue was more anxious to re-
main than the policeman was to have him.
1t was a matter OF only few minutes to
replace the driving chain, and the airship
rose gracefully above the trees and sailed
away amid the cheers of a crowd that had
gathered.
At sharp angle 1t shot up until 1t had
reached an altitude of about thousand
feet. when the aeronaut brought 1T to an
even keel and headed a trife west from
south Keeping his rudder in constant mo-
ton as the head wind sought to turn the
fish-shaped balloon from It's course, which
forced knabenshue to proceed by short
lacks. he drove the airship over the line OF
Broadway until he had reached point
fifteen hundred feet above 42d street.
By this time the streets were filled with
thousands gazing excitedly a the first air.
ship that has flown over New York, and
other thousands crowded on housetopS, all
straining their eyes at the ship and at the
speck in control of it. They saw Knab-
enshue sweep widely about on the wind as
easily as yacht swings off to be swept be-
fore breeze. In a course straight and
true as arrows flight he drove the ship
due north and on a descending plane until
he was only couple of hundred feet above
he heads of the crowds in the streets. The
chug-chUg of the engine was distinctly au-
dible, ana Kna benshue's every motion as he
directed the course of the ship was easily
discernible.
Until point above 59th street was reach
ed everything went well. The flight SEEM
ed to be success in every respect but at
the moment when the aeronaut was ready
to direct his course to the lot from which
the start had been made, a spark plug
caught in his trousers as he was sliding to-
ward the bow of the ship to head it down
ward by his weight
Instantly the propeller ceased to revolve.
For an instant the air ship hung suspended
in the air, and then 1t was seen to shoot up
ward. Fearful that some accident had oc
CURED which threatened the safety of the
aeronaut. the thousands in the street held
their breath as the ship shot up and still
up. knabenshue could be seen as a speck
sliding about the delicate framework vain
~ trying to regain control of the ship.
1t was useless for him to hope to repair
the damage in the air. and there remained
nothing for him to do but to descend But
with his engine stopped and the rudder
less there was grave danger Of the ship be-
ing wrecked by falling on chimneys or be-
ing caught in wires.
Knabenshue gradually released gas from
the balloon, which slowly descended as the
light wind carried it over the park. At
Gith street and the West Drive it settled in
the top Of tall tree, but so lightly that
the aeronaut was able to hold 1t away from
the branches while willing hands seized the
hundred foot rope dangling below, A bag
of sand cast overheard lifted the ship from
the treetop. leaving it free to alght In the
driveway, where a hundred men and boys
caught it on their shoulders.