The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-12 00:00:00

A DANGEROUS BALLOON
DVENTURE.

The three occupants of the balloon Monarch,
which met with an accident in the English Channel
on Friday afternoon, returned to Folkestone late the
same night, and their statements disclose the follow-
ing particulars: It appears that the balloon had a
capacity of 25,000 ft., and Captain Dale, who is a
professional aeronaut, believed that the direction the
balloon would take would be towards Canterbury. It
was noticed, however, shortly before the ascent that
the wind was variable, and it was then thought that
the balloon might descend at some point to the north
of Ramsgate. The ascent was made a few minutes
before four, being watched with great interest by a
crowd of spectators, and the balloin was seen to sail
down the coast at a very steady rate in the direction
of Dover. As soon, however, as Mr. Dale had
ascended he found the wind was setting too close
to the westward, and was likely to draw him
over the English Channel or to carry him
towards the North Sea, and he decided to descend
as soon as he saw an opportunity. The grapnels were
accordingly got ready with the intention of catching
the last point of land before reaching Dover,
but the attempt proved unsuccessful, and the party
had to ascend again in order to pass over Dover. It
now became evident to the occupants of the car that
they must drift over the sea, and they threw out
ballast and began to look out for shipping, so that
they might descend with a chance of being picked up.
A large amount of gas had, however, been expended
in bringing the balloon down, and the remainder
appeared to be insufficient, while the ballast also had
run very short. About half-past four the balloon
Passed over the cliffs near the convict barracks, a
little to the east of Dover. When it was about two
miles from the shore it suddenly began to descend,
and the ballast having been expended, there was
nothing to be-done but to allow it to go. The descent
was veil rapid until the car struck the sea, sinking
for a moment, but being quickly brought up again by
the buoyancy of the balloon, which soon commenced
to travel at a very rapid pace over the waves, dragging
the car through the water after it. Mr. Dale was at
the bottom of the car, which was 31 t. under water,
but his companions clung to the ropes outside. The
Dover tug and a passenger steamer bound for Rams-
gate could be seen on their way from Dover, but
they made very little Leidway. The grappling irons
had been thrown out, but as there was a chance that
they might catch the bottam and sink the car Mr.
Dale cut the rope. The position of the three men
was now extremely perilous, and Mr. Carew, who is a
good swimmer, resolved to make for the shore. This
he had commenced doing when a boat put off from
St. Margaret's and picked him up. A fishing boat
came up about the same time and took off the two
other men from the car and conveyed them to Deal.
Mr. Dale states that he was .so exliatipted that when
he was taken out of the car he had begun to lose
consciousness, and he was therefore unable to give
any directions about the balloon, which, as soon as
the men had been taken out of the car, ascended and
was lost. When Mr. Carew reached the shore he was
provided with clothing, and, appearing little the
worse for his adventure, walked to Dover, where he
found Mr. Dale and Mr. Crane. A subscription has
been started at Folkestone tu cover Mr. Dale's
loss, the balloon being valued at £lOO. Mr. Dale
had made 90 ascents previous to Friday, and had
twice descended into the sea. The missing balloon
was reported to have been seen on Saturday over
Westgate-on-Sea.