experimp:nts with the langley aerodrome. 123 



The machine, then, had never l^een free in the air, but had been 

 pulled down as stated. 



The disaster just' briefly described had indefinitely postponed the 

 test, but this was not all. A's has been said before, the weather had 

 become very cold and the so-called equinoctial storms being near it 

 Avas decided to remove the house boat at the earliest time possible, 

 but before it could be done, a storm came up and swept aw^ay all the 

 launches, boats, rafts, etc., and in doing- so completely demolished the 

 greater part of them, so that when the house boat was finally removed 

 to AVashington, on the IHth of (October, these appurtenances had to be 

 replaced. It is necessary to remember that these long series of delays 

 worked other than mere scientific diflficulties, for a more important 

 and more vital one Avas the exhaustion of the financial means foi- the 

 w^ork. 



Immediately upon getting the boat to AVashington the labor of 

 constructing n<'w sustaining surfaces was begun, and they were com- 

 pleted about the close of November. It was proposed to make a 

 second attempt near the city, though in the meantime the ice had 

 formed in the river. However, on the 8th of December, lf)03, the 

 atmosphere became very quiet shortly before noon and an innnediate 

 attempt was made at Arsenal Point, quite near Washington, though 

 the site was unfavorable. Shortly after ari'iving at the selected 

 point everything was in readiness for the test. In the meantime 

 the wind had arisen and darkness was fast api)roaching, but as the 

 funds for continuing the work were exhausted, rendering it impos- 

 sible to w^ait until spring for more suitable weather for making a 

 test, it was decided to go on with it if possible. This time there 

 were on hand to witness the test the ^\■riter, members of the Board 

 of Ordnance, and a few other guests, to say nothing of the hundreds 

 of spectators who were waiting on the various wharves and shores. 

 It Avas found impossible to moor the boat without a delay which 

 would mean that no test could be made on account of darkness, so 

 that it was held as well as possible by a tug, and kept with the 

 aerodrome pointing directly into the wind, though the tide, which 

 Avas running Aery strong, and the wind, which was bloAving 10 miles 

 an hour, Avere togethei- causing nuich difficulty. The engine being 

 started and Avorking most satisfactorily, the order Avas given by 

 the engineer to release the nuichine, but just as it Avas leaving the 

 track another disaster, again due to the launching ways, occurred." 



a Major Maeonib again states in liis official report to the Board : " The 

 launeliiug car \v:is rt'leascd at 4.4.") p. m. * * '* '14ie car was set In motion 

 and tlie propellers revolved ra])idly. tlie engine working iierfectly, hut there 

 Avas something wrong with the launching. The rear guy post seemed to drag, 

 bringing the rudder down on the launching ways, and a crashing, rending 

 sound, followed I)y the collapse of the rear wings, showed that the machine had 

 been wrecked in the launching; Just how it was Impossible to see." 



