Lincoln Beachey’s Airship – August, 1907

Lincoln Beachey’s Airship – August, 1907

     The following news snippet appeared in the Falmouth Enterprise in an article about happenings in New Bedford, Massachusetts, during Carnival Week in August, 1907. 

     “Many are the attractions which are offered visitors to this city during the Carnival week, but chief among them will be Lincoln Beachey’s airship which will make flights every day.  Beachey is one of the only demonstrators to have a ship that will really fly, and he will travel in it the full length of the city each time he ascends, making only one short stop in the center to show his ability to steer the unwieldly craft of the air.  During the summer he has ben a big attraction at summer resorts along the entire coast, and in every ascent he has been successful.”

     Lincoln Beachey, born March 3, 1887, was an early aviator and stunt flyer billed as “The Man Who Owns The Sky”.  Much about his life can be found on the internet. He died in a plane crash in San Francisco Bay on March 14, 1915.

     Sources:

     Falmouth Enterprise, “New Bedford Old Home And Textile Carnival”, August 24, 1907  

     Wikipedia – Lincoln Beachey

     Update: September 19, 2016

     The following article about Mr. Beechy’s airship appeared in the Cameron County Press, (Penn.) June 13, 1907, Page 3.  It pre-dates the article above.

Was Blown Out To Sea

A Man In An Airship narrowly Escaped Death In The Ocean

     “Boston, Mass. – The breaking down of his motor which allowed the airship he was navigating to be blown seaward, almost resulted in the death of Lincoln Beechey, off Revere beach, Thursday.

     Beechey had made a seven mile journey from Revere Beach to Boston, sailing high over the city and passing over the steeple of the Park Street church and the state house dome, finally landed on Boston Common, where thousands of persons were attracted by his airship.

     On the return journey to Revere Beach the motor became disabled when the aeronaut was a mile off shore, over Boston Harbor, and the airship was carried some distance seaward.  Beechey finally managed to partially repair his engine so as to get back to the vicinity of Revere Beach.  When several hundred feet off shore the airship settled rapidly and it looked as if Beechey would be thrown into the water and entangled beneath his airship.  Men in rowboats and launches who hastened to his assistance seized the drag rope and were able to tow him and his apparatus ashore before he struck the water.”       

     Source:

     Cameron County Press, “Was Blown Out To Sea”, June 13, 1907, Page 3

 

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