Evening journal., 1910-10-05
RICHARDSON
FLEW in 1857
His MonopIane Went But 80
Feet---Maine Man Made
Attempt to Fly at Frisco

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Among the interesting facts brought
10 mind by the aero meet at Atlantic
is the account of an attempt TO navi-
gate the air in California as early as
1857 by Samuel S. Richardson. a ma
tive OF Baldwin, Me-, and an uncle OF
John s. Richardson, Of Boston, who
was formerly assistant District At
torney under the late District Attor-
ney John p. Moran.
AIR. Richardson, probably one OF
the earliest exponents OF the mono
plane. made his fight in San Francis
co. He succeeded i'm elevating his
machine but a few feet and In flying
only about 30 feet before he same to
grief in gust Of Wind. lie mover
made another attempt to hy.
Samuel S. Richardson was born
April ~, 1921. and died rich mine
owner, IN November Of 1904. The fol-
lowing account Of his attempt TO fy
was printed in the San Francisco
Chronicle, April IL, 1892
1T was away back I'm those early
days about which now hangs such a
glamor Of unreallty that the writer
(Henry DegrooD found himself a
member OF the editorial staff OF tho
old Alta California. Seated alone in
the sanctum Of that venerable but now
defunct institution, the grandmoth-
er OF the daily press on the coast,
there entered a handsome, broad
shouldered. well-built young man,
who IN n hesitating way asked: BE
you tho editory
II frankly admitted that | was and
my interrOgator proceeded. My name
Is Richardson; I can hy; that IS, I
have been building a nying machine,
or more properly speaking, an air-
ship. and I just tell you she Is bound
TO navigate the atmospheric ocean like
a bird
Briefly described. the fabric con-
sisted OF a rectangular framework com
posed Of bamboo poles, being about
IA feet long, feet wide and 10 feet
high, the several parts fastened to-
gether with copper wire. Extending
he whole length of the structure were
four strong poles OF like material, |
wo on each side, the one above the /
)ther To each Of these poles was |
'astened a row of gulls wings, care |
ully preserved BY drying, amounting |
n all TO 100 or more.
"By an ingenious device these wings
,ould be moved up and down in uni
on, the lower row being operated by
readles worked by the feet, the up
,er by loops grasped by the hands.
seated on a bench at the back end
4 the craft It was calculated that the
eronaut would be able to operate
hese wings with force enough to not |
'nly elevate but to propel it with |
,reat velocity.
"For raising and depressing, tack
ng and steering, a variety OF gear
nad been provided
Early the next morning Richardson
and Degroot went up Jackson and
Stockton streets to the hills In the
direction Of Black Point, overlooking
North Beach. A company Of helpers
dragged the flying machine and a
great crowd followed, jeering the ear
~ bird-man numerically.
Meantime the wind was blowing a
perfect gale from the southeast" con-
tinued DegrOOi Fearing for the safe
ty of the young man | urged him 70
defer the trial until better weather.
THE more wind tho better. The con
ditions couldn't be more favorable,
was his answer
kuaoroitWptW shrdlu shrdluu pupu
"Aud now everything being in read
iness, the captain, seated In his car,
gave the command, All hands stand
by: heaNo away, my lads whcreupon
the quartet Of roustabouts. stationed
az each corner, lifted with all their
might; Richardson working vigorous
ly the apparatus the while. Up went
the sirship, carrying its occupant, 10,
20. 30 feet. when a terrific blast Of
wind coming under he car turned
both Il and it's contents upside down.
In this position the gale carried the
concern over the edge Of the bluff
whore Il came down with a forco that
smashed the frail structure into
smithereens, after which the agglo-
merated mass Of bamboo, man and
feathers, rolling over and over, went
crashing TO the bottom.
Here was a denouement not who'll
ly unexpected yet truly alarming
Richardson Was unconscious and
frightfully bruised and bleeding.
When he came to he asked where
did she light?' and then he wept
For the first time he lost his tenn
per. He paid his lieutenants, caution
ing them not to speak OF the attempt
and asked them 70 leave him. Then
with the aid of Degroot, he dragged
the wreck OF the machine to the wa
ter.
Together they threw It into th,
surf. the Yankee builder remarking
III she won't fly. perhaps she vii
swim" which she did, the wrecl
floating of toward Fort Point
Tie RetOrt Courteous.