The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-19
AEROPLANE DROPS HALF MILE
ITS RIDER, MALONEY, KILLED
BY THE TERRIFIC FAIL.
Appeared to Have the Machine Under Per.
feet Control Just After II Left tho
ailoOn-The Inventor, Montgomery,
aWitness OF the Tragedy at Santa Clara.

aWltness OF the Tragedy NJ santa CARA
SANTA CLARA, Cal, July ls.--In the pres
ence OF 1900 persons who had gathered
this morning at the Santa Clara College
grounds to see the flight OF Prof John j..
Montgomery's aeroplane, the Santa Clara,
the machine collapsed when at the height
OF nearly half mile and Aeronaut Daniel
Maloney was hurled to the ground. The
wings Of the flying machine were splintered
into match wood, and Maloney, who was
picked UP with q fractured skull, lived
only an hour,
The weather conditions were perfect
for the fight Of the aeroplane. and the bal
loon was released without mishap. While
the crowd gazed at the diminishing outline
OF the balloon Maloney could be seen seated
upon the little saddle Of the aeroplane,
ready to cut loose when the highest point
in his ascent had been reached. When the
fabric was but speck in the sky balloon and
aeroplane slowly parted company and a cry
OF delight burst from the watchers as the
butterfly settled gently in the air, buoyed
only by it's own wings. To the left the
aeroplane slowly circled. cutting pretty
figures. Maloney seemed to have perfect
control Of the machine.
Then, suddenly, the device refused to
obey the guiding hand OF the aeronaut,
and with an abrupt circle it plunged quickly
to the left and nearly overturned. Maloney
could be seen struggling with the guild
wires, but in an instant 1t was appare mt
that his efforts were futile. The machine
trembed for moment like bird with
broken wing, and then fell swiftly earth
81 , 10
aeroplane gained added impetus and the
mate snapped from its support and fiut-
tered limp in the air. The front wings still
remained outspread and checked to a
slight decree the swiftness of the descent,
but down with fatal impetus the aeroplane
came through 1000 feet of space.
At the first sign Of disaster the crowd
made scramble for the spot where it was
apparent the doomed aeronaut must fall
The balloon had drifted slightly to the east
when Maloney cut loose, and it was apparent
that the broken aeroplane and its rider
would land in vacant lot adjacent to Eber.
hardt's tannery. Scarcely 100 yards away the
Lea CUE Of the Cross cadets, for whose benefit
the ascension was given, were encamped
Several cadets rushed to the spot. They
found Maloney lying limp and apparently
lifeless among the remnants Of the aeroplane
The rear portion OF the machine was splin-
tered into hundreds Of pieces, but the front
wings, which had striven to save the rider
from destruction, were still outspread be-
side him. From the wreck the dying man
was carried, hut he died in short time.
Maloney's neck was broken and his skull!
was crushed The bones Of one leg we're
also broken and he was njured internally.
Prof. Montgomery. the inventor of the
aeroplane, directed the ascent this morning
and saw the accident which came US a
crushing blow to his hopes Maloneyiwas
an expert aeronaut and had made many
balloon ascensions in San Francisco.
The disaster was probably due to the guy
rope catching one Of wings of the aeroplane
as it was liberated.