This article was published in the daily newspaper The New York Times, May 7, 1897.
Warning: the airship stories must not be taken at face value as "UFO sightings." Evaluation of such stories is under way here.
Nashville, Tennessee, May 6. -- Today at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition grounds, Prof. Arthur Barnard, physical instructor of the Young Men's Christian Association of Nashville, began a journey in an airship constructed by himself.
The officials of the exposition and the people attending the exposition witnessed the ascent of the aerial voyager. The ship moved off in perfect order, and passed out of sight in a few minutes.
Prof. Barnard promised to sail against the wind, rising into the air and he did so. The airship will be continued in use at the exposition. Prof. Barnard said he would land at the starting point. The airship is 46 feet long and 20 feet in diameter.
