Sunday 30 August 2020

Fatal accident to an aeronaut.

As part of an evening's amusement a professional aéronaut, a Mr. Hall, ascended in a balloon from the Cricket-ground, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The ascent took place at 10 minutes to 7, and a quarter past that hour the balloon was seen to descend rapidly in the neighbourhood of Boldon, about 7 miles from Newcastle, and fell in a clover-field. It appears, that as the balloon ascended it passed into a transverse current of air, which rapidly whirled the machine towards the German Ocean. With the purpose of descending somewhat, the aéronaut opened the valve, and discharged a quantity of gas. It seems, however, from his incoherent expressions during his subsequent delirium, that his terror of being carried to sea deprived him of presence of mind. He discharged so much gas that the car struck the earth several times, canting out a large part of the ballast, and throwing the unhappy man into the nettings. Being thus released from part of its weight the balloon rose, and Mr. Hall attempted to regain the car. In this he failed, and fell a considerable distance to the earth; where he was found so greatly injured that he died in the infirmary.

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