The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
Test Held at Santa
Clara College Is
Successful.
CRAFT IS STEERED
With Priests S Bless
ing 1t Mounts
Into Sky.
DESCENDS GENTLY
Two Problems Left
for the Men of
Science

The aeroplane invented by Professor
J. J. Montgomery, which. it was said.
solved one Of the most difficult prob
lens Of AERIAL navigation. and about
which there has been so much talk.
was given q public test at Santa Clara
College yesterday in accordance with
promise made. Though to the unscier1-
tific mind there did not seem to be
much that was sensati tionaI in the fight
of the machine save the daring skill
of he man who sat in the saddle"
the inventor and the learned priests
at the college were full Of enthusiasm
over Che result and said something Of
great impohtance in the science Of navi-
eating the air had been accomplished.
The demonstration to-day was a
perfect success" said the Rev. Father
r. II. Bell, S. J., who. fills the chair of
physics at the college and has lent his
knowledge and skill toward the con-
Struction Of the machine that is des-
tined TO create such a furor in the
world Of 50 -ence. "As the machine was
being blest as the Santa Clara before
tts ascent we felt that one more glory
had been cast about that name. That
same dear college has given to the
world another proof OF her greatness
and love Of science"
The wordse Of Father Bell. whose
standing as a scientist is the best. car
~ much weight and his estimation
of the Importance Of the result gives it
great Importance. Professor MOntgom-
cry is equally delighted, and says that
everything came out as desired-that
there was nothing more that could be
asked ia this first step toward the ac-
complishment Of greater things and the
ultimate. conouering Of the air.
BEESsI1S STRANGE CRAFT.
The day on which was being cele-
brated the birthday Of the Rev. Father
Kenna. president of the college, was
chosen for the test Of the Montgomery
machine. There was quite crowd
present, including Archbishop Mont
conefy. A cousin u the inventor.
on the ground. besidesa fifty-fOOt hot
air balloon. lay the aerOplane, looking
like a captured wing creature of unu-
sual shane. waiting for the hour when
q was TO show what it could do when
set adrift in the sky. Shortly after II
o'clock in the forenoon the great bag
chat was 70 elevate the aeroplane was
,eaSv 10 shar. More than a score OF
n,sn held ii in leash until thesfinal mo-
roent should arrive. The man who was
"a navigate the lesser craft, Dan Ma
lonev. 142 pounds weight, a professional
parachute Jumper. came, attired in
red tights. jauntily 10 the scene and,
with a look that showed him to be light
~ heart and entirely thoughtless of
any danger that might lie ahead.
straddled the pole beneath the wings at
. Mace where a small roll of carpet
material formed a very meager saddle.
He inserted his feet in stirrups at
tached TO the aeroplane, grasped some
tfIler wires. that looked very much
IKE reins and sat as If mounted on
Grange. winged monster waiting 10
rise into the sky.
In presence Of the assembled throng
the Rev. Father Kenna blessed the odd
machines It was pretty and novel
ceremony and will be carried in the
,,,emories 81 those present Ships Of
the sea have been sent forth time with
ont count with the blessings OF pre-
late but perhaps never before a craft
Of the air.
II uas intended to let the great gas
bag rise slowly with its burden for
es,orf distance that the aeroplane
might be properly adjusted as it rose
and that photographs might be taken.
An accident occurred, however.
that prevented this and showed
fh n ore clearly the remark
able points Of the aeroplane San
IA Clara. The rope with which the
balloon was to be handled as it rose
from the ground broke and like fash
Of gunpowder almost the great bag
shot into the air, jerking Maloney and
Bis frail support with it. There was a
snap, a swirl OF ropes and the Santa
Clara turned half over. The rider