An Aeronaut's Death.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7923, 12 September 1905, Page 3

An Aeronaut's Death.

At Santa Clara, California, on July, 18, in the presence of 3000 persons, among whom were many visitors from San Francisco, Daniel Maloney tho young aeronaut who had been associated with Professor Montgomery in his aeroplane experiments, plunged from an altitude ol 3000 ft to his death, A trial trip of Montgomery's aeroplane was being made. Maloney was in the highest spiritsj and protested with splendid self-con-fidence that it would be the most successful flight he had ruado. The balloon ascended to 4000 or 5000 feet,, when Maloney cut the machine; looso. He descended for some distance without disaster, .when one of tho wings seemed to collapse and the aeroplano plunged downward Willi its solitary passenger. Tho horrified spectators ran; to the spot where it struck the ground and the aeronaut was found mangled and unconscious. He died within a few minutes. The balloon that took up Hie aeroplano was of the hot air pattern, and the means employed to get her a\v a y were those which have hitherto been used. When all was in readiness, Maloney cried > out "Let her go'" This was responded to, and then Maloney uttered the last words from his ; Hps—"Hurra-K for Professor Mont-, gomery!" With a rush the great ship, with the slender, birdljkc device upon which Maloney was seated rose high afcjove the college buildings, soared almost ,diiectly towards the sun, and grew smaller and smaller in the heavens, The .rope that is attached at one end to 'a windlass and is expected to steady the balloon on its sudden ascent, caught in the right wing ol the aeroplane as it started up. Only a few spectators noticed the way it coiled vici(ously around the slender wing, crushing the bamboo stav. It is this rope lhat has caused tho trouble on all previous ascensions. Whether the aeronaut noticed tho damage or not will never be known ; but if he did he at least gave no intimation. At a distance estimated at about 3000 ft, and about 200 yards east ol the starting point, Maloney cut loose from the big balloon and remained on the aeroplane, resting seeminjJly motionless., Those below, seeing the danger point passed, as they thought Set up a wild cheer. Mailonvy soared 10 two large circles; with outstretched wings, pivoting and turn- ' ing with the case of any member of the feathered tribe. Then he turned the tail .of the machine up, aud started downward preparatory loanother leap in the sky, The machine rushed downward about 500 ft with frightful rapidity. Maloney was seen, to lower the rudder and raise the w 'ngs. jn an endeavour to send the craft up again. The broken wing then crumpled, and the machine seemingly in the power of an aerial iwhirlwind, turned three somersaults backward, whirling like a top. The aeronaut managed to right It. and 3000 icct up in the air it poised itself for a second. It became certain at this point that the machine had ceased to be operative, and was not subject to control. Perhaps Father Richard A. Ball, the eminent scientist aud scholar, was the first to notice it, and then occurred a pathetic incident, perhaps without parallel. Raising his birctta, the stalwart form of the distinguished priest was seen to make the sign and direct an invocation toward that heaven near which the life of the plucky aeronaut was hanging in the balance. With the crumbled wing handing limp and useless, the aeroplane began to fall, the descent becoming teinbly swift till by acl a al count of 10 seconds man and machine fell an almost helpless mass on the ground Doctors carried the dying man on a stretcher towards the College hospital, but otj Ins way and near the historic old mission cross it was found that life had fled.