Year: 1876

The desire of W. J. Lewis of No. 27 West Thirty first street, to have his newly invented flying machine" thoroughly in- Vestigated by scientific men has been in a measure grstified, and not without profit to the inventor. Saturday afternoon several scientific men assembled in his apartment, and were convinced that man is not so lm- measura5ly behind the cat bird as has all along been supposed. For lack of funds the construction is at present very crude. Hr. Lewis, in fact, has as yet created but the germ of the winged locomotive, upon which. if pecuniarlly assisted, he expects ct no very distant date to 20 to Philadelphia in the space of ten minutes clock time. The flying machine exhibited may be de- Scri6ed as follows: . huge watch spring weighing several pounds is connected with nm upright shaft. upon which are ar- ranged-one at the top and one half way up-two propeller wheels, the fanges of which are made of stiff paper. and are of peculiar shape, ID which shape, by the way, is said to lie the secret of the aerial locomotion. Upon the springs being wound up the propellers are set in rapid motion. and instantly the apparatus leaves terra firma and scars in the twinkling of an eye to the ceiling. To raise 100 pounds MT. Lewis estimates that it will be necessary for his ''aerial planes" Gin other words the flanges of the propeller wheels) to cover twenty square feet of air, which, as the pfopellers can be arranged one below the other on the same mast. he claims is en- drelY 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 en- enthusiastically about the ship he hopes soon to construct. The keel will be in the shape of 6 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 ex- tremity of the shorter side will be propel- Ter at right angles to the keel, whose work will be to push. All these propellers will be attached to a universal joint, and work ed by powerful steam engine, which will be in a car suspended from the long DOT ton of the keel. The engine started, at once double motion will be given to the boat, and it will be lifted and pushed for ward simultaneously. 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 all an gle, which will enable their several propel- Ter wheels to push or pull like the large one at the stern. The rudder will be at the bow, and MT. Lewis claims she will be as easily managed as aD ocean steamer. In making journey of 100 miles It will be necessary to rise to height of about one mile, and then by gradually shutting off steam the ship will descend upon an in- clined plane at any speed dssired. MT. Lewis is of the opinion that by wearing a certain covering for the back portion of the head, 8 man need experience no inconven- fence from travelling at the rate of 200 or 300 miles an hour.

 To exhibit the possibility of giving his boat any desired direction MT. Lewis yes terday directed his machine at various an gles, and in all instances it flew straight in the direction pointed. Before the lntroduc- tion of steam as power in ae.ial naviga- ton, c proposes to construct boat with pedals. and by the use of his own strength will attempt journey to Philadelphia, be- ing quite ready to take any moderate wager that he will reach that city within half an hour from the time of starting. ng.-Neso York World, Oct. 15th.