Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-24
LIGHTING SNAKE BITE BIRD T0LDH|M WRONG
Physicians Saw Ratters Vic Secret of Flying Not Embodied
!: tim Holds Out and Will Live. in DressIers Arship.
:lHEAD Is NOT so SWOLLE EN- DIVES DOWN HUNDRED FEET
Ambitious
i After Accident. Abused by Feathered Tribes
BOYS IN CANOE ALL NIGHT CROWD WHAT CAN DO
4 Good Aeronaut swims
DIVES DOWN HUNDRED FEET
Ambitious Aeronaut's Confidence
Abused by Feathered Tribes.
TELLS CROWD WHAT HE CAN DO
Problems of Aerial Navigation Solv-
ed-But Machine Fails to Make
Good and Aeronaut Swims.

/ NEW YORK. August 24-Dame Nature
smiled roguishly and unafraid yesterday
when Rudolph Dressler essayed to prove
! that he had uncovered one of her mys
teries-the secret of the flight of birds
and applied ii to a flying machine.
In fact. Dame Nature wore much the
same expression when she watched the
airy effort, immortalized in prose, of one
Darius Green.
Several thousand spectators at Coney
Island were less complaisant when they
saw the DRESSER machine, with Charles
Hilbert aboard, poised in space more than
100 feet above the sea.
Dressler Confident
1t was like a bird at the end of a
+ branch. to be sure, but the question was.
Had it been nurtured in the nest of
science long enough to develop real
wings?
Had he not spent all his spare time for
the past fifteen years in solving Dame
Natures secret? When not thus en-
gagged lie has tended his notion store at
800 West Sth street, Coney Island. The
confidence he felt was impaired to Charles
Hilbert. who has lived with him several
| months. and who formerly was a member
of the balloon corps of the German army.
maiden trip yesterday Dressler gathered
around him friends on top of the lofty
platform whence start the shoot the
chuteS in Dreamland
Dressler Discourses.
Birds held the secret of flight until
today said Dressler. IL chose the alba
tross for my Investigations. My ma
chine over there has oiled silk wings
which are as good as feathers any day.
You flap them with your feet. There never
was anything very difficult about that.
but when 1t came to putting regular
sort of tail on the problem of flying be-
gan to trouble me-
Most people don't know that a birds
prOpelling power Is combination of tail
and wing effort. l obtained this effect
by affiXing thirty-two canvas blades to
the end of my machine. You, my listeners.
will best understand when l say that
these blades work something like turbines
except they don't go round and round
Hilbert was listening while Mr.. Dress
Ter was talking, but he turned every now
and then to look at the machine which
wOrkmen We're getting ready for action.
Each time he looked he puffed more nerv-
ously on cigarette.
The machine had an Oiled-Silk plane of
thirty-six square feet above the two
wings. this plane being provided for its
sustaining qualities.
Bamboo, Wire and Irvine.
There were ninety-siX square feet of silk
in the two wings. The framework was
made of bamboo, braced with wire and
Irish flax Irvine. The total weight of the
machine was thirty-six pounds. Affixed
to the wings and working on pulley con-
trivances were stout cords which led to
stirrups in which the operator places his
feet to pedal. producing the Topping eff
feet of the wings
>e <la
chute. the chute's structure to the water
is more than 100 feet. Hilbert looked over
and volunteered the information that 1t
| looked about 200 feet, but was assured
ne was mistaken.
A strong iron pipe was extended from
the roof of the structure out and over
The water. The machine was carried TO
the edge and suspended from this pipe by
moose 1t was planned that when the
pipe was tilted downward the flying ma
chine would slip off. and, as one OF the
spectators said, the blamed thing would
go it,
The wings spread gracefully outward
as the machine was suspended and the
blades. which were to serve as tail,
Mapped merrily in an suspicious breeze.
Hilbert climbed over the railing, cast his
eyes toward land for several moments
and then placed his feet on the bamboo
walking stick and drew himself aboard.
Darius Green Launched.
! The crowds in Dreamland. bathers on
the beach and hundreds of persons along
shore were watching. Hilbert looked
mere speck to them, and the flying ma
chine was so ethereal that they could
| scarcely see it. Excitement was at fever
pitch.
Hilbert was facing the ocean when he
gave the. signal to start him.. The iron
pipe was tilted, but the machine failed
to slide. Volunteers got two long sticks,
and while Hilbert looked around appre-
hensively, tried to push the machine of
the pipe. 1t went by fits and starts. 1t
drew within few inches OF the end.
Hilbert's legs were shaking SO that the
bamboos swayed. The volunteers gave
a final shove and the machine was
launched.
Dropped Like a Plummet.
Those on the platform had only a NOM
ent's view of the start but Hilbert was
seen to give a prodigous dig with one
foot and to set the wings Topping. He
dropped straight as a plummet. The
thirty-two blades which were depended
upon to do the propelling, whired fiercely,
but unavailingly.
Cries went up from the thousands of
spectators as Hilbert and the machine
dropped out of their line of vision. Then
a parachute was apparently the only fea-
ture OF the cOHtIlNdiiCe WHICH got DuSy
in the slightest. 1t checked Hilbert's fall
somewhat. But he dropped SO fast that
those on the platform had no more than
time to lean over the railing before the
machine and manipulation struck the
water.
Hilbert disappeared and the machine
settled over the scene like wounded
bird. The life-savers who were stand
ing by in boats dived overheard and
swan at top speed toward the machine.
Hlbert's head bobbled up before they
reached the machine. and he struck out
for d caisson dozen yards away He
beat the life-savers and pulled himself
out OF the water.
He consented to enter the boat how
ever and be rowed ashore.
1t was seen that he was not injured
and the crowds set up a tremendous
cheering.