I was doing some genealogical research and found this article about the "Flying Man" from 1874.  The crazy things people did to try and fly back then... 

 

 

Here is the link, and the article starts about half way down-- Death of Flying Man:

 

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85033413/1874-07-29/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1836&index=2&rows=20&words=FLYING+flying+Flying+MAN+man+Man&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1903&proxtext=man+flying&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

 

 

 

 

Just to share some information about flying things...

Ludwig II of Bavaria had a dream to fly over alps. He had all the sketches and other things required, but government killed him before he flew... Also the real Disney Castle, Neuschwanstein was his castle... He built it

 

Go to chapter 10

http://www.koenig-ludwig.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168:lecture-of-erich-adami&catid=49:articles&Itemid=67