The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-07-04
LIBERAL BOY
FLIES AIR SHIP

bu6S HtN VIII
The article printed below is clipped
from the Los Angeles, California,
Tribune OF June oath and is interest
Ing from the fact that the inventor
was a former Liberal boy, having at.
tended school here and is we'll known
to a good many OF the people. His
father, O. Y. Martin was at one time
In the hardware business here and
sold out TO the Blake Hardware Co.
Mrs. Alta B. Childs, sister TO Mrs.
Wm. Feather, saw the young man
make the flight. At one time, Mrs.
tChilds was also Liberal resident.
| The story is told that Mr.. Martin
made the arst telephone used In this
city, using tin cans for the trans.
nltter and receiver and twine strings
as conductors OF sound, The system
extended from his home to that OF a
helghbor.
Rising from the waters Of New
| port bay with the ease OF water
| fowl and circling the south coast In
easy response to tbs working of all
lcontrol levers, the new hydroplane
cruiser recently invented by Glen
Martin, yesterday afternoon proved
all predictions for Its creator and
promises to be the new step In the
transporting OF aerial passengers.
Following two days OF strenuous
labors by Mr.. Martin and eight me-
chanics from his factory at Newport,
the new vehicle OF the air and water
was assembled yesterday afternoon.
| "At 3 O'Clock with every bolt tight,
every stay taut, the engine tuned
to the minute, the big hsh-bird was
wheeled down to the waters edge.
"Three minutes later the hydro
plane, carrying Mr., Martin, Captain
N. A. Ulm OF Santa Anna, and Chas
Day, uperlntendent OF the Martin
factory, slid easily into the water
and catching ii g splash of the waves
road with the ease OF gull.
"Ry the movement of a lever the
Vitals OF the big engine that propels
the machine began TO lhroD A
clutch was thrown in by Mr. Martin,
sad as the big propeller oegaas to
whirl the machine picked up in speed
and raced oyer the surface of the bay
"FOr 200 feet the aviator carried
his passengers on the surface OF The
bay An instant later with the pull
ing OF another lever the hydrOplane
pointed upward and with the ease Of
a bird leaving the water IL took the
air and with burst of speed circled
the beeches of the south coast sec
tIon. Far TO the north it flew, skirt.
ing the low range Of hills, only a
minute later TO be playing at the
south end Of the bay.
"Three ascents were made by Mr..
Martin and his passengers In his
trials of the machine. Each time
the start was made from the sur
face OF the bay, after givleg the ma-
chine a short run over the water.
Each fight consisted of about flf.
teen minutes which, according to Mr.
Martin, afforded ample time to prove
the superior working qualities of the
machine over the hydroplane hereto
fore In use.
Altogether, Mr.. Martin estimated
that he spent one and quarter
hours on the water and In the air
During this time the engine and all
features Of the machine we're given
heavy tests and proved satisfactory
to him and entirely up TO his ex-
pectations.
The second and last test to he Civ.
en- the machine in local waters will
be made by. Mr.. Martin at two O'Clock
this afternoon, when he will again
tune it up on Newport bay and work
1t out fully from every angle,
with the exception of todays
trials the machine will he packed
and shipped BY express to Chicago,
where Mr. Martin will drive it in the
9O0.mile reliability and Durability
cruise that is to be run over course
on the great lakes, between Chicago
and Detroit,