54 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 92 



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

 formed in the river. However, on the 8th of December, 1903, the 

 atmosphere became very quiet shortly before noon and an immediate 

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

 the site was unfavorable. Shortly after arriving at the selected point 

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

 had arisen and darkness was fast approaching, but as the funds for 

 continuing the work were exhausted, rendering it impossible to wait 

 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 writer, 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 v/harves and shores. It was 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 was running very strong, and the wind, which 

 was blowing 10 miles an hour, were together causing much difificulty. 

 The engine being started and working most satisfactorily, the order 

 was given by the engineer to release the machine, but just as it was 

 leaving the track another disaster, again due to the launching ways, 

 occurred.'" This time the rear of the machine, in some way still unex- 

 plained, was caught by a portion of the launching car, which caused the 

 rear sustaining surfaces to break, leaving the rear entirely without sup- 

 port, and it came down almost vertically into the water. Dark- 

 ness had come before the engineer, who had been in extreme danger, 

 could aid in the recovery of the aerodrome, the boat and machine 

 had drifted apart, and one of the tugs, in its zeal to render assis- 

 tance, had fastened a rope to the frame of the machine in the reverse 

 position from what it should have been attached and had broken the 

 frame entirely in two. While the injury which had thus been caused 

 seemed almost irreparable to one not acquainted with the work, yet 

 it was found upon close examination that only a small amount of 

 labor would be necessary in order to repair the frame, the engine 



'"Major Macomb again states in his official report to the Board: "The 



launching car was released at 4.45 p. m The car was set in motion and 



the propellers revolved rapidly, the engine working perfectly, but there was 

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

 ing the rudder down on the launching ways, and a crashing, rending sound, fol- 

 lowed by the collapse of the rear wings, showed that the machine had been 

 wrecked in the launching; just how it was impossible to see." 



