Year: 1876

| The desire of Mr.. W. J. Lewis, of No.
27 West Thirtyffth street, to have his


newly-invented ttnying machine thor


oughly investigated by scientific men,


as stated in the World of yesterday, has
been in measure gratifed, and not


withou5 profit to the inventor. Yester-
| day afternoon several scientific men as
| sembled in his apartment, and were con-
Yinced that man is not so immeasurably
| behind the cat bird as has been all along
supposed. A scientific prestige having


now been given to the machine, readers
| of the World will doubtless take an in
| terest in its construction. For lack of
| funds the construction is at present very
| crude. MI. Lewis in fact has as yet


created but the germ of the winged loco


motive, upon which, if peruniarly assist
| ed, he expects at no very distant date to
go to Philadelphia in the space of ten


minutes clock time. The flying engine


yesterday exhibited may be described as
| follows A huge watch-spring weighing


several pounds is connected with an up
| right shaft, upon which are arranged


one at the top and one half way up


two propeller wheels, the hanges of


which are made of stiff paper, and are


made of peculiar shape, in which shape


is said to be the secret of the aerial loco


motion. Upon the springs being wound


up the propellers are set in rapid motion,


and instantly the apparatus leaves terra


frma and scars in the twinklng of an


eye to the ceiling. To raise 100 pounds


Mr.. Lewis estimates that it will be ne


cessary for his ''aerial plances" Gin other


words, the fingers of the propeller


wheels) to cover twenty square feet of


air, which, as the propellers can be ar


ranged one below another on the same


mast, he claims is entirely practicable.
Claiming that the same law by which


he raises four pounds, by steel watch


springs will navigate an aerial steamer


as big as any of the White Star ships,
| he talks enthusiastically about the ship
he hopes sooE to construct. The keel


will be in the shape Of very obtuse
| angle, the longer side of which will have
several masts, each mast containing
| number of propellers whose work will
| be simply to lift. At the extremely of
| the shorter side will be large propeller
at right angles to the keel, whose work


will be to push. All these propeller RS
will be attached to universal Joint and


worked by a powerful steam engine,


which will be in a car suspended from


the long portion of the keel. The en-
gine started, at once a double motion
| will be given to the boat, and it will be
lifted and pushed forward Simultaneous
ly. The desired altitude being reached


(Which will be regulated by the distance


to be travelled all the masts will be by


lever canted forward to an angle, which
will enable their several propeller wheels
to push OF pull like the one at the stern.
The rudder of the croft Will be at the
bow, and Mr.. Lewis claims she will be


as easily managed as any ocean steamer.
In making a journey of 100 miles it will


be necessary to rise to height of about


one mile, and then by partially shutting
off steam the ship will descend upon an


inclined plane at any speed desired
Mr.. Lewis is of the opinion that by
wearing certain covering for the back
portion of the head man need expert
ence no inconvenience from travelling at
the rate of 200 or 800 miles an hour.


To exhibit the possibility of giving
his boat any desired direction, Mr.. Lew
is yesterday directed his machine at
various angles, and in all instances it
flew straight in the direction pointed.
Before the introduction of steam as a
power i'll aerial navigation he proposes
to construct boat with pedals, and by
the use of his own strength will attempt
journey to Philadelphia, being quite
ready to take any moderate wager that
he will reach that city within half
an hour from the time of starting
NeW York World.