The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-18 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE "FLYING MAN."

The inquest touching the death of M. Vincent de
Groof. the "Flying Alan," who, it will be remem-
bered, was announced to repeat "hie astounding per-
formance of flying through the air a distance of 5,000
feet," at the Cretuorne Gardens, in le midon, on Thurs-
day evening in last week, was held on Saturday,
before Mr. Diplock, coroner for West Middlesex. The
inquiry was to have taken place at the "Wellesley
Arms," in Robert-street, close to the scene of the acci-
dent, but owing to the large number of persons in at-
tendance it was removed to the Board-room of the
Chelsea workhouse.

Mr. Joseph Simmons, the aeronaut; Mr. John
Baum, proprietor of Creminme Gardens • and Mr.
M Adams, manager, were in attendance. r. Superin-
tendent Fisher and Inspector Whiting were present on
the part of the pollee.
A large quantity of the material of which the flying
machine was composed was laid upon a table in an ad-
joining room. The wings were made of a kind of
thick silk, which tore easily blith ways, stretched upon
bamboo frames. In its fragmentary condition it was
not possible to make out the shape of the machine,
but a rough advertisement sketch was exhibited which
gave a general idea of its appearance in the air. The
woodwork upon which De (=roof stood appeared
cumbrous as well as intricate.

A jury of fourteen having been sworn, they pro-
ceeded to view the body, which lay in the world' .use
mortuary. Dereased was a strongly-built man, about
six feet in height. There woe great muscular develop-
ment in the arms, and the chest was broad and deep.
The face was shaven, with the exception of a heavy
black moustache. The head and arms bore marks of
the injuries received in the accident.

Before the commencement of the proceedings Dr. Daniel,
of 'South Kensington, addressing the coroner, said I wish to
ask whether there is my gentleman on the Jury who is in the
employment of the management of Cremome ?

_
The Coroner: I have given directions that no me shall be
summoned on the jury who has a prejudice either for or
against Cremona.

Dr. Daniel repeated the former question, and said that he
asked it in the Interest, of justice.

Mr. Berringer, one of the jury, said that he was to the
employ of the management of Cremorne, and was willing to
retire.

The Coroner said he had taken cognizance of Dr. Daniel's
question, but that Mr. Derringer, having been sworn, could
not be withdrawn.

isr. Daniel S Then I protest against this inquiry. (Several
voices: " Silence " and "Order."

Dr. Daniel said that if Ile had said anything diarespecthil
he would retract it.

The Foreman of the Jury said that If Dr. Daniel had any
objection to make, he should have done so before the jury
Wall &MOM

An inquest of minor importance haring been first held,
the inquiry into the death of Vincent de Grout was about to
be proceeded with, when
- -

•
Mr. J. Simmons, the aeronaut, was then called and cau-
tioned by the coroner that, in the event of the jury finding
that he was impihwted in the death of De Groot, anything
he might say would he used against him hereafter.
Mr Simmons said he had nothing to reserve, and deposed
as follows : I live at 38, Regent-street, Marylebone. lam a
civil engineer. I knew the deceased ; not more than about
twelve days. Ills name was Vincent de Groot Ills age was
thirty-live, Ile was a surveyor and architect, Ile was en-
gaged with me on three occasions in aeronautic experiments.
They took place at Cremorne (lindens. The principle of the
experiments was that he w-as to descend front the balloon by
means of apparatus. I conveyed him in the balloon. I only
made one ascent with M. de Groot previous to the last. I
refused to take him on the second occasion.

The Coroner : Was anything done In the way of testing the
apparatus previously ?—1 had examined it on several days
when he wan putting it together. Did not see the weight of
a man attached to it. When the first ascent took place the
action of the machine slackened the rope by which it was
suspended, and convinced me of its safety. Prior to the
first I had not satisfied myself that there was sustaining
power in the machine, except from what De Groot told me.
Had he used the machine before I—He did not say whether
he had used that machine. I understood he had used a
simile. machine.

Witness produced the sketch of the machine before re-
referred to.

Describe the first ascent. —The capacity of the balloon
was 27,000 cubic feet. The lifting power at Cremorne was
about 65011,5, independent of the balloon itself —9oollw.
altogether. I should think the deceased weighed 12 stone. I
weigh 150Ibw rue margin left for ballast was about 14elbs.
On the first occasion we ascended at five minutes to eight
The greatest altitude of the balloon with the machine was
1,000 feet The wind was not so strong on the fir 4 occasion
as the second. 'the machine was detached at an altitude of
about 1,000 feet in Epping Forest There was a signal given
on the first occasion when he detached It. lie detached the
rope himself. Ile called out, " Loose" He came to the
ground before me, and I found hini pulling at the ropes of
the balloon with some other men. The tail of his machine
was slightly damaged.

The rope (a half-Inch with seven strands), which attached
the machine to the balloon, was here produced,. and the
witness explained the method of detaching, which was done
by the deceased himself.
Witness The knot was of a very delicate description, and
on the second occasion came untied accidentally, and I re-
fused to take him up. I an afraid that occurred on the
third occasion. On the third day I milted him to show me the
knot, and he said it was perfectly safe if properly tied, and
he could not understand why it slipped before,

Why did you not refuse to take him on the third occasion?
—Because I found that the machine had sustaining pow or
On Thursday last we ascended at half-past seven. We
ascended to 4,000 feet, and descended immediately after that
height was registered, and ascended again. We were over
the Thames then, and deceased it quested me to keep within
1.00 feet of the earth. We kept over this neighbourhood for
about a quarter of an hour Every few seconds he was
culling out the height, and I responded to Compare the
barometers. I recognised the voices of several people, who
shouted "Oo on,- but It was not De Oroof. About the IMMO
moment I heard him say, "Peel hundert hose " (0110 feet).
These were the last wonls he spoke. At the some instant
felt a jerk as though he had fallen on one side, and before
the lapse of another aecoed I taw him falling head nest
through the air. I was insensible f that moment till I
found myself over Victoria-park. There WU no signal at all.
I was insensible from inhalleg the gas that escaped from the
billions I could not manage the valve at all.
By the Jury : I have made ila ascents with balloons. I
have had some accidents, but not serious ones. I did not
call out to hint

Thomas Clark, porter at the New Infirmary, deposed to
wing the balimm and apparatus In the air lie said : I
watched it all the time it was in sight. I saw it leecend,
when a new current of air seemed to bring it towards the
infirmary, where I was abiding. Before it reached the in-
firmary I could see the man in the fining apparatus. Just
before it went over the infirmary I heard a voice cry out,
" Drop in the churchyard."

Was that from the air '—lt was a voice distinctly from the
air. I ran up to one of the windows, and saw the balloon
come over the infirmary. It was much lower then. I heard
the voice again, and at the same time I saw the man in the
air looking over and waving his hand lie called out very
clearly in plain English, Look out, look out !" Imme-
diately on the second cry the apparatus clashed together,
and fell just over the side of the houses. The balloon went
up with great rapidity. I went downstairs and found they
were bringing the body in. I saw the man brought in. The
doctor was standing at the gate. The doctor, on examining
him, said the man was dead.
Mary Ann Moms, living in 56, Robert-street, said she was
outside her door on Thursday evening, and saw the balloon
coming over et, Luke's churchyard. Deceased tell as she
came to the door about two or three yards from her. This
apparatus fell with him. Ile was in it, and, as far as she
could see, never moved.

The Coroner then stated the cause of death, which he said
elito trod clear enough, and said he should take nu further
evidence then.
The Foreman said that there had been no medical evidence
Uto the cause of deaSti A post-mortem examination should
be made and submitted to the jory.
The Coroner : I have not asked for any medical evidence
because I an, told that the back of the skull is so broken
that you can put your anger in it, but it the jury theist upon
• pat-mortem I have not the power to refuse it.
Several of the jury exclaimed against this, as the man's
neck was broken.

Eventually the Foreman put it to the jury whether a post-
mortem examination should be held, but received an
unanimous negative

The inquest- was then adjourned.

The following letter, in connection with thia melan-
choly event, hoe been sent to The Tuna for publica-
tion
•hr—So many inaccuracies hove appeared in the morning

papers in reference to the sed accident to IL to (Iron( that
I feel it i duty I owe him and myeelf to contradict them, and
glees short account of what did happen.
First for the nir-statemeuts. hi De Groot never said,
"Ott this occasion I will do or die " Be never cried out
" All right; ready ; make for the churchyard.
There were no gentlemen in the ear with me. I was alone
My balloon was reedy, and at the advertised hour IL De
°roof attached his machine, tying the rope himself The
ascent then commenced, very slowly at first, tut, gathering
power as we lea the earth, our pace was quickened till we
reached an altitude of 4,000 ft
- • • A A.

For some period we were motionless, having promised If.
De Groot to make the Thames available for his desoent (he
being a good swimmer); but a fresh current suddenly spring-
ing up rendered the attempt abortive.
After some little time bad passed I found we were going in
the direction of Hyde Park, and I commenced lowering the
balloon to enable be Grout to take advantage of the first good
open space, and of which be was to give me notice by • pre-
viously concerted signal.
That signal he neglected to give. I only became aware of
his being severed by the shock I received in the balloon's
auddenly-altered course ; and on looking down saw his
certain destruction by the reversed tail and altered poilition of
the wings of his machine. The only words that passed between
on were the reading of the various altitudes, widen the in-
strument he had with him supplied. The last aunouticemewt
ma le was Sot), immediately lieMre he sepanited himself, and
It is my opinion that on reaching forward to pull the tying
rope he threw himself out of his balance, and thus caused
the dreadful catastrophe.
-

My position woe fraught with great danger. I became
Insenaible, and must have remained so some time ; for when
I recovered I was sailing over Victoria-park, having Just
sufficient power left to apply my brandy flask to my lips,
which enabled are to make a desiant at Springford, where,
my grapnell not holding, I was drifting on the railway
let-
snediutely in front of a eoming train and within five yards of
It, when an intersecting piont savvd the life of a " second
martyr to aeronautic fame."
Gratitude for the preservation of my life is equally due to
the promptitude of the engine-driver and the bravery of two
workmen, who fastened upon my car and drew it to the rail-
way aide till my grapnell held.
I would offer an apology for the length of this communlca.
ties did I not conceive the matter of it would be considered
Interesting by your many readers.-1 ant, your obedient
servant, J. Simmons.
38, Regent-street, June 10.

Mr. Pollalry writes tons (The Times)to state that Mr.
Baum did all in his power to dissuade the "flying
man "from again risking his life, but to no avail.

The remains of M. Vincent de Groof were interred,
on Tuesday, in Brompton Cemetery, and although the
matter had been kept strictly private the time and
place oozed out, and vast crowds assembled along the
line of route to see the funeral cortege pass. Mistime
de Groot was the chief mourner, and M. Bohiset. the
acrobat, and his family, a'so followed the deceased to
the grave. The procession started at one o'clock, and
although many hundreds lined the route from Seaton-
street to t e cemetery, order universally prevailed,
and the funeral was altogether of a very unosten-
tatious nature, strictly in accordance with the wishes
of die widow.