The Louisiana Democrat

A Woman's Flying Machine.

A dispatch from Mohawk, N. Y., June 14, says: Mrs. Carl Myers, of that village, better known as "Carlotta, the lady aeronaut," has lately obtained letters patent on several devices pertaining to aerial navigation. She says she believes that the day is not far distant when the people will navigate the air as readily as they now plow the seas.

A recently patented fixture is attached to a hydrogen gas balloon, and consists of a collapsible car, comprising the rudder platform which has carried her on over 150 voyages in space.

This platform, surrounded by hammock netting and supported by an expansion hoop connected to the balloon by cords, is described as somewhat like a light boat on water, and tips or changes its plane or level with every different position of the aeronaut standing upon it, either through alteration of the centre of gravity of the entire air ship or through the shortening or lengthening of the netting meshes.

Alteration in the level of this platform converts it into a rudder like that in the stern of a boat while the balloon ascends, and when descending the lower or advancing edges of the platform guide the balloon in any direction, just as would a paddle or oar extending from the bow of a boat—thus the balloon descends toward any side of the platform which the aeronaut may depress by stepping upon it.

This simple and exceedingly effective apparatus is covered by one claim of the patent.

Resting upon the expansion hoop of the car is the crank shaft of a screw propeller, composed of a cloth sail, which twists into screw form as soon as the shaft is turned, and creates powerful currents of air flowing rearward, and by alterations of angle or level serves to elevate, depress or deviate the course of any attached aerial body, or give it steerageway for guidance by a rudder. This apparatus spreads five feet across, moves as easily as a lady's fan, and folds up as compactly as a parasol.

At the rear is a kite-shaped rudder, composed of a large square cloth stretched upon four arms, joined by a common pivot in the centre. This is attached to the car by one arm through a universal joint, permitting the rudder to occupy any desirable position in horizontal, vertical or inclined plane, so that a single rudder thus performs the work which has hitherto demanded both a horizontal and vertical rudder, either separately or in combination. This apparatus either acts to guide the balloon during its natural ascent or the aeronaut at will can give any direction to the airship by revolving the propeller to sail towards any point, or by projecting the air flung from it against the surface of the rudder kite.

The apparatus can perform greater variety of evolutions than bird's wings spreads more surface than any bird or other aerial mechanism, weight for weight, and has the ability to create at any time a wind for its own sails, and can yet furl its wings almost as suddenly as a bird.

The apparatus has thus far proved of great practical service, and demonstrates that a common balloon may be readily moved up, down or around in the air by a man's unaided efforts—or rather, by a woman's efforts—and on landing be relieved of the danger of dragging.—[Ex.