The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-21
A1RsH1Ps OF HISTORY.

BySrllQk, new HlSu IL Lue dii ofci
Rome during the reign of Nero from
"a to So A. D. The account of the
adventure is very brief, but not
more so than was this pioneers car
eer as an aviator, for it is recorded
that his evil genius bacame displeas-
ed with him when he was aloft and
suffered him to- fall and dash out his
life.
The fate of this first martyr Of the
air seems to have discouraged ex-
perimenters for many centuries, for
we must turn over a thousand years
of history before putting our finger
on the next birdman to be definitely
mentioned. This was Elmerus, a
Thirteenth century monk. Taking
the flying squirrel for his model hs
gave successful exhibitions from q
tower, soaring sometimes above a
furlong through space.
The first birdman to fay q consid-
cradle distance appears to have been
John Babtiste Dante, fifteenth CEN
tury mathematician, who lived In
Perugia.. He framed pair of ingen-
ius wings with which, it Is narrated,
he amused his fellow Perugians. One
of the most successful flights was ov-
er Lake Trasimene, that body of wat
ed with no outlet, OH whose northern
shore Hannibal annihilated the Ro-
mans. But the aerial career of Dan
te or Perugia was cut short one day
when "he fell on the, top Of St.
Mary's Church and broke his thigh. "
That the great Leonardo ia Vim
ci (1452-1519) was a birdman as
well as a painter, sculptor, musician,
architect, engineer and mcdaniel
an, is stated by some authorities.
While making the careful observa-
tions on which he based his Treat
ise on the Light Of Birds" he so
thoroughly fathomed the secrets Of
flying as to be able to build a pair
of mechanical wings with which, ac-
cording to Cuperus' Excellence of
Man." he practiced flying success
fully.
Soon afterward came an artificial
eagle" which Johann Muller, bishop
Of Ratisbon and noted German
mathematician and astronomer,
built at Nurem berg during the gener-
alton just preceded Columbus dis
covery of America. This aerodome
Is reputed to have down out to meet
the Emperor Charles V. and to have
accompanied him back to town.
In 1910 an aviation exhibition was
arranged for the amusement Of
James w. of Scotland and his court,
the Tongland. After the court had
all assembled the prior mounted one
of the lofty battlsmects of Stirling
castle and donned an elaborate ~
rangement of wings and feathers.
Then he leaped forth and fell inglori-
ously onto the dunghill.
A daring flight from the Steeple
of St. Marks cathedral, Venice, Is
mentioned by the Lord Bishop but
history does not perpetuate the name
of the aviator who performed the
feat. The same authority mentions
another unnamed man who made a
fight at Nuremberg, the same city
from which Bishop Muller's artifi-
cial eagle went out to meen the en-
porer.
One of the most noted birdmen of
this time was Allard, a tightrope
performer who appeared in France
about 1860. Wearing wings he
made a number OF flights from vari-
Gus heights. But while performing
before Louis XIV he got bad fall,
and seems to have thereupon quit
the flying business.
The most successful blrdman OF
these times appears to have been one
Besnier, locksni:h, who succeed
ed in flying at Sable, France, a few
wears after Aliard's aerial career had
ended so painfully in the presence
Of the great Louis.
According to che Journal des Saw
ants of Sept. 12, 1878, Besnier flew
with wings consisting of four rect
angular surfaces, one at the end OF
each Of two rods passing over his
shoulders. With these he would
raise himself from one height to an
other until he reached the top of a
house, from tbs roof of which he
would pass over the neighborhood
houses. Finally working himself ur
to a great height he would make q
downward swocp and cross river
of considerable breadth.
Successful flls is were made at the
same time by one Baldwin, Of Guibre
who built Besnier's first pair oil
wings. He and his disciple were
birdmen indeed. They flew only BY
their God-given means Of locomotion
! The monoplaEe is first met with
in a picture from Faustus Feroutius
1905, showing flying man support
ed by a RECTANGULAR fabric stretched
upon a frame from whose four corn
ers depend ropes passing under hi:
arms.
During these latter years OF the
Seventeenth century Francis Lana
a Spanish Jesuit, designed All air
shin. which was to consist Of a boat
shaped body from which rose a mast