Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-07-16

them broke as it struck the water a powerful
blow
Then the whole airship every vestige of it,
to the tip of its beautiful white tail, disap.
peared beneath the surface of the river
Suddenly the soldier the houseboat came to
life and shouted command boat was tied at
the stern, and into this a squad of workmen
threw themselves and pulled off for the scene of
the disaster Then the airship foated to the
surface, and Mr. Manlys head bobbed up.
There was half a smile his face, but no
sign of fear, although he was not yet saved
Entangled in the wreckage, his 1ifebelt did him
but little service. However, he managed to hold
himself up until the first boat to reach the spot
came up when he was hauled aboard none the
for his ducking
The official explanation Of the failure was that
the front outpost caught in its support on the
launching apparatus and was not released in time
to give free fight, intended but caused the
front of the machine to be dragged downward,
bending the outpost and causing the aeroplane to
plunge into the water.
Discouraged but not disheartened Mr. Manly
took the wrecked machine back to Washington.
It was growing late in the year The available
fund of money was about exhausted, and it was
realized that unless a better showing could be
made there would be funds forthcoming
from congress. Workmen were set to the task
of getting the aeroplane ready for another flight
before winter set in.
Although the main frame and the engine were
not damaged, other delicate portions were so bad
ly Injured that two months were required for the
repairs to be made, and it was not until Deem
Der that everything was in readiness for an
other flight. Despite the lateness of the season,
Mr. Manly determined to make one more effort to
prove that the Langley aeroplane would fly.
It was bitterly cold; and there was ice on the
river when, on the afternoon Of December s, be-
tween four and five o'clock, the houseboat was
towed from her berth at of the wharves at
Washington to Arsenal point where the eastern
branch enters the Potomac. Here was a space
barely sufficient for the requirements of the avia-
tor in his extremity
The engine worked perfectly as the propelers
were set in motion. But again the launching
apparatus was at fault. This time the rear guy
post seemed to catch, bringing the rudder or tail,
down on the superstructure. AS the aeroplane,
looking ghostly in the deepening night, shot over
the edge of the houseboat, her nose pointed to-
ward the arsenal, there was a grinding noise.
The rear wings collapsed, the whole machine
plunged downward, and Mr.. Manly for the Sec
ond time carried beneath the waves
This time his escape was narrower than 1t had
been at Whitewater in October. In the darkness
and confusion his location was lost sight of, and
while men looked for him in small boats he re-
manned beneath the water tangled in the wreck
age, stunned and with his head cut open. He
found just in the nick of time taken aboard
the houseboat and resuscitated
The workmen toiled until midnight in the icy
waters recovering the wrecked airship, twice
saved from the waters of the Potomac. The aero
drome was finally taken to the Smithsonian shops,
where it was partially repaired 1t has been
stored there until its recent removal to Ham
mondsport for its third attempt at flying.