Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-05-05
AMERICAN RIVAL
OF SANTOS DUM0NT
DR.. Greth, of San Francisco, Makes
Successful Test of Airship.
SATISFIED WITH EXPERIMENT
Engineer Belcher Said They Gould
Direct the Machine at Will, and
Made Several Complete Turns
Before Descending.

San Francisco, May 3.-Dr. Greth
tried to make a trip to San Jose in his
airship, but before travelling five miles
some slight disarrangement of the ma
chinery was discovered, and the aerial
voyagers were forced to make a land
Engineer Frederick Bell. DR.. Greth
was satisfied with the results of this
experimental flight, because he accom-
plished a good deal more than on for
mel occasions, and from it concluded
that he is working in the right direc-
ton. We went up at $40 d. M, and
with the car attached a rope which
held the monster balloon from doing
any damage to the neighboring houses
as it started toward the skies.
Machine Was UNDER Control.
When the rope was cast off, DR..
Greth let his machine rise still higher,
and then made a circular figure OF
about a quarter of a mile in circuln-
ference. 1t was evident to those be-
low that he had the machine under
control at that time, for he encircled
about, stopped the engines and started
them again, and then started off to the
south at a high speed. Everything
went we'll until the airship arrived
over BIanken's six mile house on the
San Bruno road. 1t was then going
rapidly towards San Jose, but some
thing went wrong with the machinery
which caused the airship to stop. The
inventor and the engineer tried to adj
Just the break, and then, after a pause
the fans were started going, and the
ship began to descend.
To all appearances the fans were
controlling the ship, though it was
conceded they were not quite large and
powerful enough to meet the resistance
Of strong wind.
Came Down Gradually.
Eve witnesses of the descent said
that the airship came down gradually
and tounched the ground gently, al
lowing the men in the car to step out.
Nothing was injured, either in the car
Or about the gas bag. DR.. Greth stated
that what happened could not be set
without certain tools, and he deemed
it e~xpedient to descend under the cir
cumstances.
The engine is IN automobile machine
Of so horse power, and it is set up IN a
new frame much larger and stronger
Ill.,. A. Eyc+ q rInn fr0 me WhiP0,
carried DR.. Greth up with the former
engine. 1t was demonstrated that
while the fans which raise and lower
the airship, and also have considerable
bearing on the steering, are not large
enough, yet they did very well under
the circumstances. They are to be EN-
larged, and also the rudder, in order
that the ship may be more dirigible.
This was the first time that the en-.
gines were started when stopped
Alright. The test was made for the
reason that should it become necessary
to let the gas out of the balloon, the
engines could be stopped, let the gas.
oline spark explode under the receiver
Engineer Belcher said of his trip:
| "It was highly successful. Everything
went we'll, and all parts of the ma
chinery were in good working order. ]
am thoroughly satisfied with the tests
We could direct the machine at will
and made several complete turns be,
fore descending. The sudden giving
way of a small valve led us to descend
| at the six mile house"