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PROGRESS WITH THE FLYING Working Out the Man-Flight Problem Along Scien- tific Lines Near Chicago. Tke tiny is almost at hand ivhen man •will dispute with the bird for suprem¬ acy in the air. For hundreds of years his ambition has been at work with such persistency of effort that he now begins to see the end. He has grap¬ pled with the invisible forces of the atmosphere, sometimes blindly, but always courageously; generally to meet with disappointment, but happily with enough success to keep alive his determination to master the most dif¬ ficult of all problems in physics. Lives have been lost and fortunes bave been expended in the pursuit of this baffling question of lnau-llight. Ridicule has been heaped upon the heads of those who sought to cope with the feathered messengers of the air, and their sanity questioned by the world at large. The advancement made toward the full solution of the problem of man- flight- during the year 1896 was greater than that of any previous year, and attracted the widest attention among scientists. Probably more interest centered in the experiments conducted thirty miles southeast of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan by Octave Chanute, of Chicago, than anywhere else. The prominent position occu¬ pied by Mr. Chanute in the scientific world was accepted as a guarantee that he had faith in his experiments, and that ,he had.no other purpose in view but to demonstrate certain principles involved in the problem. At the time he was thus engaged Mr. Chanute observed much caution in his utterances concerning the results ob¬ tained. Fearful lest his conclusions might not be properly formed, or that he might be misunderstood, he re¬ frained as far as possible from commit- ing himself on the subject further than to say his experiments were very satis¬ factory. Since then he has gained courage, so to speak, and has become enthusiastic over what has been ac¬ complished. He is now confident that the way is clear for the solution of the problem, and modestly takes to him¬ self a goodly share of the credit for pointing the way. He claims that his experiments have marked out the best lines for investigators to follow, and numbers them a3 follows in the order of their importance: 1. The development of the self-pro¬ pelled aerodrome. 2. The development of the motor¬ less air sailer. 3. The development of the motor. During the past week the experi¬ ments of last year have been renewed near Dune Park, Ind., and Mr. Chanute hais been almost a daily visitor to the scene of action. His in¬ terest in the result will not let him stay away longer than one day for sev¬ eral reasons. One reason is that the machine being used is one of his own invention in its most important details, and another is that the experiments are following the second line of in¬ vestigation, which he laid down as necessary for the solution of the problem of ma-n-flight. It is said that Mr. Chanute is the real one who is conducting the exjieriments, but this he denies in favor of A. M. Herring, a young man of considerable scientific knowledge, who was associated with Mr. Chanute last year in his extensive experiments at the same place. The machine with which Mr. Her¬ ring is now experimenting daily repre¬ sents the ideas of both himself and Mr. Chanute. It belongs to the same class as the machine which the late Otto Lilienthal, of Berlin, brought out in 1894 and in the use of which he met his death last year. It might well be termed a flying machine, and yet this description does not fit accurately. It gU ■S: IP ^=31 Yml A '• -V % % WSm : "i. — 7/ u WMm a VlM] PROFESSOR CHANUTE’S LATEST FLYING MACHINE. is technically known as an aero-curve, or a gliding machine. Better still, it might be called an air coaster, for in its action it approached very closely to the motion of those machines known as roller coasters. The fiesemblanee is carried still further in the applica¬ tion of the principles sailing of operation. machines It is one of three invented by Mr. Chanute, including a steering apparatus designed by Mr. Herring. The first machine was based upon a reverse of the principles evolved in the Lilienthal apparatus. Instead of the man moving about under tho machine to bring the center of gravity under the center of air pressure, it was constructed with a view to bring¬ ing the center of pressure over the center of gravity by the aid of wings moved automatically. This machine had twelve wings, each six feet long and three feet wide, and each pivoted to a central frame. It had a total wing surface of 177 square feet, and weighed thirty-seven pounds. By a process of evolution this ap¬ paratus became the machine in use at the present time with which such re- markable results have been obtained, Experiments showed many defects in the machine, and it was rebuilt on a different principle. The twelve wings were discarded, and in their stead were substituted three superimposed /( V m |fi|| s. A GOOD START. concave surfaces, each sixteen feet long and four feet three inches wide, with an aggregate surface of nineteen square feet. Attached to the rear of this machine was a combined horizon¬ tal and vertical rudder, designed by Mr. Herring as a result of his frequent trials of the machine. In the course of the experiments it was found neces¬ sary to remove the lower surface, and this left the present machine. The several changes therefore re¬ duced the sustaining surface of the machine from 177 square fe’et to 135 square feet. Tho weight was lowered at the same time from thirty-seven pounds to twenty-three pounds. This general reduction did not impair the strength of the machine, while at the same time it improved its efficiency to a remarkable degree. Repeated trials showed the machine capable of sus¬ taining an aggregate weight of 178 pounds, this figure representing the combined weight of the operator aud the machine. The frame is con¬ structed of spruce wood, braced with fine piano wire, and the concave sur¬ faces are formed by varnished silk stretched over the frame to the highest tension. Will this machine fly? Mr. Chanute will answer this question by replying that was never intended to fly. He will inform those asking the question that the machine is made for experi¬ mental purposes solely, with the end in view of developing the motorless air sailer. At the same time, Mr. Chanute might say, the experiments may lead to a solution of tho most im¬ portant part of the problem of man- flight—-the maintenance of the equilib¬ rium of the machine under all cir¬ cumstances. He holds that this prob¬ lem must be solved first. It has been demonstrated to his satisfaction that until automatic stability at all angles of flight and conditions of wind is evolved aud safety thereby secured it would be premature to seek to apply a motor or a propelling instrument to a full-sized machine. The ordinary observer would an¬ swer that the machine does fly, never- *heless, after witnessing a day’s ex¬ periments among the sand dunes. The distinction between sailing and glid¬ ing and flying would not appeal to any but the scientific mind while watching the “double-decker” travel through the air a distance of 200 yards with Mr. Herring hanging by his arms be¬ neath. If the spectator was daring enough to tackle the machine himself and succeeded in getting the right kind of a start he would be willing to take oath that the machine flew. He would also be willing to testify that his sensations while the flight lasted were indescribably thrilling and de¬ lightful. All the flights begin from an emi¬ nence, the numerous sand hills near Dune Park offering all the opportuni- ties desired for starting. Another re¬ quisite is that the operator must start facing the wind, although with pro- fioiency good results may be obtained with the machine traveling at an angle with the wind. Those who have seen a buzzard or most any other large bird begin a flight from the surface of the earth will have noticed that the bird invariably faces the wind and runs a few steps before rising. For the same reasons the operator of the Chanute flying machine must face the wind, holding the machine over his head, then run a few steps down the side of the hill on which he stands and finally give a jump outward into space as though he never expected to come down. He will be doing nothing more, in effect, than lie did when he jumped from the top of a fence in boyhood days with an umbrella over his head. The wind rushing against the lower sides of the two surfaces of varuished silk holds the operator suspended, while the angle at which he holds the surfaces either impels it forward or retards its motion. Sometimes a strong gust of wind comes along when least expected and suddenly raises the machine higher than the starting point, But for the automatic rudder thi3 might prove disastrous to the operator He would, in all likelihood, turn a back somersault with the machine and get badly hurt. Again, a blast of air from above might strike on the top of the machine and cause it to shoot down¬ ward at a terrific rate of speed. This is what happened to Lilienthal last year, and was the cause of the accident" which resulted in his death. The line of flight of the machine in the hands of such a skillful oiierator as Mr. Herring may be controlled very largely. He has demonstrated time and again his ability to steer the ma¬ chine in broad curves by simply shift¬ ing the weight of his body from one side to another. Last Monday he suc¬ ceeded in describing a compound curve during a flight of about 300 feet, and landed with his back almost com¬ pletely turned to the wind, It has also been demonstrated that the ma¬ chine can be made to travel almost at right angles with the wind at a high rate of speed. Flights have been made in all sorts of winds, the speed of which varied from ten to twenty-one miles an hour. The latter wind is higher in its speed than any gliding machine was ever tried in before and tested the steadi- * SC,—■ __.—as —~ ALBATKOSS WHICH FAILED. ness of the machine most thoroughly. The speed at which the machine travels rests very largely with the operator and depends upon the angle of descent from the starting point. When he finds that he is approaching the ground too swiftly it is only necessary for him to tilt the front of the machine upward, when its speed will be immediately checked, and a landing can be made in safety. The range of flight is also very largely within the control of the operator, one who is skillful being aide to alight within ten feet of any fj'ot indicated while the wind main¬ tains an even rate of speed. The longest flight recorded is the one made this year by Mr. Herring, which was almost 900 feet. Another flight of GOO feet was made last week. Long flights are not the aim of the men who are conducting the experi¬ ments with the gliding machine. They are seeking to arrive at intelligent conclusions concerning the problem of automatic stability more than anything else, and it is claimed by Mr. Chanute that many new facts have been discov¬ ered bearing upon this question. In anticipation of an early solution of the question Mr. Herring is hard at work on a motor which he hopes to be able to apply to the gliding machine. An evidence of the faithtbatis within him is shown by the fact that he predicts that an air ship will bo constructed within another year which will fly to New York with but four stops on the way to replenish the stock of fuel.— Chicago Time3-Herald. Rewarded For Finding a Feather. The Gazette of Moscow says that while the King of Siam was passing through the streets of that city a white feather fell from the plume of his hel¬ met, and was picked up by the peasant Toukianow, who is in the service of M. Koch. Toukianow hastened to re¬ store the feather to the chief of police. He was greatly surprised several days later upon receiving from this official, in the name of His Siamese Majesty, a casket containing a portrait of the King and a massive gold chain deco¬ rated with a token of the same metal bearing the arms of Siam in enamel. Toukianow has not yet recovered from this unexpected piece of giod fortune. ) RESIGEATIONS OF MINISTRY IS ACCEPTED BY THE QUEEN. NO SURPRISE IS MANIFESTED. Affair* Brought to a Criain Through Dla- aentlons Among Supportors of the Government, A Madrid special states that the Spanish cabinet has resigned and that the has accepted the resignation, . queen but has asked General Azcarraga to continue in office until a solution of the crisis is found. Her majesty will summon the lead¬ ers of the various parties and tho pres¬ idents of the chambers to consult as to the situation. United Sta’es Minister Woodford, the duke of Tetuan and the president of the senate, tho Marquis Pazo do la Mertzed, held a long conference Wed¬ nesday, and General Woodford pre¬ sented to General Azcarraga the mem¬ bers of the United States legation. Owing to the cabinet crisis the Cuban pour parlers have been postponed. It is said that Senor Sagasta is in favor of superceding Captain General Weyler, and of granting autonomy Gainazo to Cuba immediately. Sonor will probably be minister for foreign affairs in the new cabinet. Washington Officials Not Surprised. The news of the Spanish cabinet crisis was first brought to the attention of the officials of the state department aud diplomatic officials at Washington through the Associated Press bulletin from Madrid. It is surmised that Minister Woodford’s failure to cable the department was attributable to the fact that it was after nightfall in Madrid before the news became known. It cannot be said that the event caused surprise among the officials of the state department or among the members of the diplomatic corps in Washington. The ministry, it was explained by diplomatic officials entirely familiar with the facts, is conservative through¬ out. It was chosen after the assassi¬ nation of Canovas and was regarded as a continuance of the Canovas regime. As to what is to follow the resigna¬ tion of the cabinet, officials at the capital are completely in tho dark. Secretary Sherman does not believe it will materially affect the relations of Spain either to the United States or to Cuba, which seems to in¬ dicate an expectation on his part that when the cabinet is reorganized it will be found to be still of a conservative tendency. On the other hand, high officials in the administration expect a liberal cabinet under the leadership of the veteran Sagasta will be erected on the ruins of the Azcarraga cabinet. If this should be the case the future is held to be full of promise for Cuba, for it is recalled the liberals have not hesitated to express their opposition the , great , expenditure ... of .. human ... life to and vast treasure m the effort to carry out the repressive conservative gramme for the conduct of the war. In the event of the formation of a liberal ministry, Minister Dupuy De- Lome would undoubtedly submit his resignation as the Spanish representa¬ tive at. Washington, as is usual on a change of political control of the cabi¬ net, and the minister is, moreover, a conservative in politics. LOSSES LED TO SUICIDE. Ex-State Secretary of West Virginia Gets OIT the Earth. A Wheeling W. Va., special says: Ex-State Secretary Alexander Dorsey, Wednesday morning at Moundsville, shot himself through the head with a revolver. He was one of the most daring oil operators in the state, and his act was due to despondency, brought on by some recent financial reverses. COSTLY BLAZE AT MOBILE. Warehouse and Four Hundred and Fifty Bales of Cotton Damaged. A fire early Wednesday morning in Magnolia warehouse, on Lipscomb street, Mobile, Ala., destroyed one shed and damaged 450 bales of cotton. The loss on the building was $1,000; on the cotton $5,500. COMER SAYS “NIT.” Declare* He Knows Naught of His Ru¬ mored Deposition. President II. M. Comer, of the Cen¬ tral Railway of Georgia, returned to Savannah Friday morning from a 10,- 000 mile trip through the west. He denies that he is to be deposed from the presidency of the Central at its annua! meeting on October 12th. If such a thiug is contemplated he says he knows nothing about it. He got borne in time to draw his dividend, declared in August and payable Friday. STUDENTS MOBBED BRANN. Article In His Publication Kciiected on Their University. At Waco, Texas, W. C. Brann, edi¬ tor of Brann’s Iconoclast, was the vic¬ tim of a mob of 200 students of Baylor University, a Baptist university of that city Saturday afternoon. Brann was seated in the office of his publishing house when four young men, students of the university called him to the door, where they seized him and thrust him into a hack, which which was lapidly driven to the col¬ lege campus, where Brann was rough¬ ly handled. FEVER SUMMARY. Saturday and Sunday E«cord of Now Case* and Fatalities. Numerous eases of fever appeared at New Orleans Saturday, as was expect¬ ed. The weather was warm and tho foci of infection had increased. The malignity of the disease, however, was not emphasized. There were four deaths, but the majority of cases are of the innocuous type aud there were many discharges of patients who have for some days been under tlie care of the doctors. Thir ty-one new cases and two deaths were reported Sunday. Of these cases eleven are in houses where fever has heretofore been reported. The other cases are pretty well scattered and none were reported at the detention camp, in any of the hospitals or in the asylums. Dr. Dunn, of the state board of health, Saturday night reported nine¬ teen new cases at Edwards and one death. Sunday’s record was fourteen new cases and two deaths. The fovorable record was maintained at Mobile, Ala., by a report of but four new cases and no deaths. An appeal will be addressed to the homefolks aud people abroad, the re¬ sulting money to be distributed by the Can’t-Get-Away Club for the assist¬ ance of the needy. Camp Detention, at Mount Vernon, is ready for those who wish to spend ten days there aud receive from the hospital surgeons in charge a clean bill of health that will bo recognized by state quarantine officers. TO DISINFECT THE MAILS. Tho President and Postmaster General Discuss the Matter. A Washington dispatch says: Satur¬ day afternoon just after the cabinet session, Postmaster General Gary and Assistant Postmaster General Shallen- berger had a long conference with the president concerning mails of the in¬ fected districts. The president is taking a keen in¬ terest in the developments in the in¬ fected districts and inquired carefully about the plans already in operation and means for relieving the distiess in the commercial circles compatible with public safety. General Superintendent White, of the railway mail service, had a oonfer- ence with Surgeon General Wyman, of the marine hospital service, during the day. Dr. Wyman decided that if nec¬ essary he would establish camps on the borders of the state of Louisiana so that not only the mails from New Orleans, but also all mails from the state going into Texas, will be proper¬ ly disinfected. This will give Texas a quarantine against the whole state and so far as New Orleans mails are concerned give them a double disinfecting process. Advices indicate that the situation in Texas is greatly relieved through prompt and efficient disinfecting serv¬ ice. Postal authorities believe that no further apprehension should be felt as to disease germs finding their way out of Louisiana through the mails, LUETGERT TRIAL DRAGS. Six Weeks Consumed and the End Not Yet in Sight, A Chicago Special says: The close c f the sixth week of the celebrated trial of Adolpli Luetgert for the al- leged murder of his wife showed the case far from completed. Luetgert’s story has not yet been beard. The big samagemaker may be on the stand a week. It is predicted that the anxiety of the accused man to talk will be fully satisfied before his cross-examination is closed if he goes on the witness stand, and ex-Judge Vincent, chief counsel for the defense, has promised that Luetgert will be heard. The concensus of opinion at the close of the week, Saturday afternoon, by close observers of the trial since the opinion was that the prosecution had the better of the argument. Experts of the defense have contradicted each other on cross-examination. They have also made blunders in the identi¬ fication of bones, which amused the jurors and apparently weakened their testimony. MORE WAGES DEMANDED. Miners In Foreign Land Have Troubles of Their Own. The national congress of miners, which has been in session at Liege, Belgium, decided to make a demand for an advance of 16 per cent in wages. If this demand is not granted by the middle of November the executive com¬ mittee will probably call a strike. HIGHWAYMEN AT WORK. Masked Men Hold Up a Bock Island Passenger Train. A Rock Island passenger train was hold up Friday ten miles north of Chickasaw, I. T., by five masked rob¬ bers. The highwaymen made two attempts to blow up the express safe, but were unsuccessful. The robbers made the passengers get off and line up and secured $200 or $300, besides the reg¬ istered mail. Ten deputy United States marshals started immediately in pursuit. A WOMAN LYNCHED. Ghastly Find of a Party of Hunters In Virginia Mountains. A special from Cowan’s Depot, Rockingham county, Ya., in the Shen¬ andoah valley, says that news of a most ghastly discovery in the Mas- sanutan mountains, six miles east of there, has just been received. Several hunters found the body of Peb Falls, a notorious white woman, dangling at the end of a rope fastened to the limb of a tree. When discovered the body was in the first stages of de¬ composition. It is supposed that tha woman wa3 liaugod by negroes. THROUGH GEORGIA. Mrs. .Tames Longstrect, formerly Miss Ellen Dortch, lias returned to At¬ lanta to assume her duties as assistant state librarian. It is understood by her friends that she is still in the race for librarian for the next term. The Montgomery, Ala., health au¬ thorities have recommended to the state health committee that freight from and through Atlanta, Ga., be allowed to come into tlio state. This municipality has no embargo on At¬ lanta freights, but they are kept out by the state quarantine. * * * A Washington dispatch states that suggestions have been made to the postoffiee department that Postmaster Loftiu, of Hogansville, Ga., be given another position. His transfer to an¬ other government place in a small ca¬ pacity in Washington or elsewhere is a suggestion coming from his friends. * * * Before tilts month is ended the At¬ lanta postoffiee fight will be decided. Alert, watchful and full of energy, both sides are awaiting the end. Any day the president may announce tho appointment, and friends of the two candidates are exerting themselves to hard efforts in this final heat. The school book commission ap¬ pointed to devise some plan whereby the school books of the state may be purchased at less cost is to meethn a few days to give filial consideration to its report. It is given out that the commission will not recommend the adoption of the state uniformity sys¬ tem, which is the plan now most large¬ ly considered with reference to the purchase of school books. * * * Charleston has quarantined against the mails of Atlanta. Superintendent Terrell, of the railway mail service, received notice to the effect that the Charleston hoard of health demanded that all mails sent out from Atlanta be fumigated. The board mail positively re¬ fuses to receive any from the Gate City unless it has been thorough¬ ly soaked in the fumes of formaldehyde gas. This notice was sudden and sur¬ prising to the postal authorities. * * * The sub-penitentiary committee ap¬ pointed to draft a hill for the disposi¬ tion of convicts at the end of the pres¬ ent lease has perfected a bill aud will mail it to members of the general joint committee as soon as the document can he printed. The basis of the measure is the Hall bill on tlie line of the sug¬ gestions made by Principal Keeper Turner and approved by the governor. * * The report of the Blalock cominit- mittee is another legislative document that will furnish much entertainment for the citizens of Georgia. From what has already appeared in print with reference to the investigations of this committee, it is but natural to expect that some parts of their report will make “mighty interesting reading.” The question has been raised, and though its discussion was dropped, it has not been settled—will the legis¬ lature appropriate money with which to pay for the services and to pay the expenses of the Blalock committee? $ * * Stone Mountain has just commenced to push the fight for the county seat and the new courthouse that is to be where the site is located. The people of Decatur are going on with their part of movement, and what the result will be cannot be guessed with any degree of accuracy. The feeling on the part of the active workers on the two sides is increasing and they are backed by the citizens in the western and eastern parts of the county. The representatives of the county are divided on the question. * * * , The most interesting thing that has occurred in Atlanta in a long time,has been the open-arms reception that was accorded to the yellow fever refugees. People who fled from the scourge-in¬ fected districts were kept in close, stuffy cars enroute, and in many places encountered shotgun quaran¬ tines. At Atlanta they were received without hindrance, and so far the city has suffered no ill effects from it. The people of Atlanta have paid very little attention to the one mild case that a refugee from Mobile developed, aud now, that this case is convalescent, there is no apprehension of a spread of the dread disease. There can be no doubt uow that President H. M. Comer, of the Central of Georgia Railway Company, will remain in that position for some time to come, The proxy of the Southern Railway Company, or at least whoever owns the stock of tho Central, has been sent to Mr. Comer and is now in bis hands for the purpose of beiug voted at the coming meeting of tho directors of the system, to be held in Savannah October 12th. When Mr, Comer was last in New York he asked that the proxy empowering him to vote the 50,000 shares of stock be sent him. To this the holders of the stock readily assented and on his return from his western trip he found that proxy on hand. Every vote on every proposition and for every director will, therefore, be cast by President Comer. RESIGNATION WITHHELD. Weyler May Still Be At the Hoad of the Cuban Army. The correspondent of the Associated Press at Havana has investigated the report printed in New York saying that Captain General Weyler had sent his resignation to Madrid, to take effect so soon as practicable, and has been informed from the best source available that up to the time the inves¬ tigation was closed the captain general of Cuba had not resigned.