Evening star., 1914-05-17

HROF. HENRY, often called the
father of the Smithsonian lnstitu-
ton in Washington, was deeply in
terested In flying and flying machines,
there being today on exhibition in that
famous building several models of aero
planes over which he and the inventors
tinkered in the early sixties. This fond
ness was once the cause of the learned
scientists getting into most unpleas-
ant predicament and almost led to his
being seriously charged with being a
confederate spy.
In the spring and summer of 1863 the
southern cavalry had grown very bold
and daring in its raids, approaching,
at times, almost within sight OF the Cap
ltol and once capturing in his bed and
spiriting from the bosom OF his troops
a brigadier general encamped but L few
miles from Washington.
These forays led to very strict guard
being kept upon the line of the Potomac
river along the southern portion of the
city Nightly pckets pat-olled the streets
and the lonely eXpanse of greensward
and park south of the White House and
surrounding the Smithsonian building.
From time to time some of these guards
had seen persons engaged in actions all
but suspicious in the grounds about this
building. There had even been seen
persons in the hollow of the night. liut-
terng white and ghostly looking things
from the lofty towers of the building.
Across the river fitted the rebel cavalry,
engmatic, ever on the alert
ON a certa1n night, new picket, while
pacing through the grounds adjacent to
the Smithsonian, saw through the night
the dim form of a figure bearing some
thing white that .iuttered in the night
wind. Before he could reach it. however.
il had disappeared around the corner
of the building Tile picket reported it
TO the officer III charge; strict silence
was maintained, and the next night
party of them lay i'll wait.
Sure enough, there came forth from the
dim vista of the trees into the open
spaces near the monument an apparition
with shapeIess winged thing. As they
watched, the appartion went through
many strange motions and eyolutons with
the mystical burden. The thing would
dart into the air. soar a moment and
fall to the ground At length, convinced
that he had fallen upon a conspiracy OF
rebels signaling across the Potomac river.
the officer rushed from conceament and
seized the apparition of the antic move
ments This at once materialiZed into
man of middle age, who protested against
arrest declaring that he was Prof. Henry.
secretary and superintendent of the
Smithsonian Institution. and, when asked
by his doubling captors. why he WAS thus
out there in the dead OF the night. tossing
strange white objects of uncouth form.
or no form at all. into the air. while
rebel cavalry were thick as thieves Just
across th, river. he declared that hr WAS
experimenting with flying mdchinr. and
that he chose that strange hour for his
tests because no one could learn his
secret method of construction at that
Tim" nor would he be Worried by a gap
ing inuuisitive crowd Of on-lookerS.
At this explanation the captain of the
guard sniled a broad smile. NO san"
man ana most Of all. II learned man
Of Prof lirnrv'S reputation, he Thought.
would bc wasting time out there in the
middle of the night when most folks
were. in bed with such chimera as a
flying machine. Clearly the fellow was
lying and he was either crazy or.
what was by far more likely, Con
spy attempting to signal
across the river to his companions,
whose cavalry was flitting along the
hills beyond. peerinS into the city.
So they hurried him to the guard
house and hastened 10 inform the
higher authorities that they had caught
/ Most suspicious iish and had prob
4bly unearthed Il nest Of spies
Prof Henry was too much uf d phi