This article was published in the daily newspaper The Champaign Daily Gazette, Champaign, Illinois, Sunday, May 15, 1897.
Warning: the airship stories must not be taken at face value as "UFO sightings." Evaluation of such stories is under way here.
And Goes When it Gets Afloat Whithersoever the Wind Listeth
Nashville, May 15 – After much difficulty in getting off Professor Barnard attempted another voyage with his airship. It soared aloft rapidly, and as Professor Barnard vigorously worked the bicycle pedals of his steering and propelling attachment, the airship turned around several times, but was drifting with the wind. It passed over the Centennial grounds, floated rapidly across the city at a high altitude in northeasterly direction, and passed out of sight in the gathering twilight.
At about 7:45 o'clock p.m. the machine landed near Madison, about twelve miles east of this city.
Professor Barnard says of this trial trip: "I find that I can manipulate the machine right or left, even in a light wind. This is certain. I can not go directly against a wind of eight miles an hour with muscular power as at present arranged, but by cutting across obliquely, I can make progress in the direction desired."
Further trips with changes in apparatus will be made.
