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Description: Monument to Man Who Died of Grief. Professor LANGLEY, the Man Who Built First Flying Machine. CURTIS, EIFFEL, JUSSERAND.
Date: March 7 1913Newspaper published in: Columbus, GA
Washington, May 6.
Seventeen years ago today the first heavier than air flying machine took wings from a secluded spot on the Potomac and after a short flight fell to destruction while its inventor, the late Prof. Samuel P. LANGLEY, looked on and the world stood aghast.
Long afterward he died from a broken heart, many of his friends say, from ridicule heaped upon him because he thought he could invent a flying machine.
At the Smithsonian institution, however, a group of scientists whose names are known to the world gathered to unveil a tablet to his memory as "The Father of Advanced Aviation," and to present medals to Glenn CURTIS and Gustave EIFFEL who have carried on the work LANGLEY left off.
CURTIS was present, but Ambassador JUSSERAND received the medal for EIFFEL.
Later at the Army War college an exhibition of flying boats was given. Army and navy officers carrying on the development of aviation were present and many of the notables of Washington life came to pay homage to the memory of LANGLEY.