The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-10 00:00:00

(Stamped, ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE

TI/!;' INJURED AERONAUTS AT BUXTON.

Mr. Coxwell. the diatitTguished aeronaut, and the
Messrs. Pearson, jun., of Lawton-ball, near Congleton, are
now progressing, we are happy to say, towards complete re.
covery. It will be remembered that on August 10th, a
descent took place during a violent wind, on the stone-
walled and rooky locality near Brierlow toll-gate, about
twoend.a.half 'idiot from Buxton. A valley, favourable
for alighting had been missed, owing to the force of the
wind, and the car not being over-stocked with ballad, the
voyageurs (wand themselves skimming over the " back bone
of England," the wild rugged surface of which is in every
way objectionable for a balloon. Mr. Coxwell seeing no
I possible mode of evading a rough landing, prepared for the
wont, and placed his passengers in the safest possible po-
sition, viz, at the bottom of either side of the basket, where
hand ropes are placed by which to hold in emergencies
like this. As the grapnel (a large powerful instrument,
tabs.), trailed along the ground, it glided over the soil and
tore down stone walls, as if there were no holding ground or
material for it to take effect in. The consequence was that
the car was brought down in contact with the walla, and the
only remedy was to exhaust the gas as quickly as passible,
end lessen the number of concussions. It was here mani-
festly that the experienced aeronaut was equal to the occa-
sion, as he peremptorily kept his companions well down in
the basket, and told them that if they attempted to move
or get out they would be killed on the sprit. Fortunately,
the Messrs. Pearson are remarkably endowed with what is
styled pluck, and they stuck to the ship and obeyed Mr. Cox- I
well's orders to the letter. It was sow the critical moment—
two or three severe bumps were inevitable, the wind blow-
ing is angry gusts, and the car dashed through one wall of
about eighteen inches in thickness, making a clear li
breach, and hurling the stones forward as if they had been
pounded by the largest Armstrong missile at present in
Ines Mr. Caswell was full strain on the upper valve,
which is Stf lecher% dhseenter,•behelllebe Imes here on:
ward, and a second clean breach was repeated in the next
wan. Away again with renewed vigour, and down for the
third time, and once again through another wall, and now
the cry was raised by astounded lookers-on that two fields
further lay the deep dale or gorge, which would surely prove
fatal. Happily the fourth wall having been dashed down,
and a considerable quantity of gas lost, the balloon itself
caught some of the stones, and tore from bottom to top.
Several countrymen, especially the sons of the toll-bar
keeper, now rushed to the rescue. Mr. Cox well and Messrs. T.
and A. Pearson were at the bottom of the car covered
with stones. All three voyageurs presented • sorry
aspect, their faces were covered with blood . but the aero-
naut himself retained his senses, and dinette( that they
might be taken out of the basket and placed on the grass,
and furnished with water. 'This done Mr. Coxwell inquired
if there was any house near, and finding that the toll-bar
was close at band, directions were given for them to be car-
ried there. Mr. Coxwell then despatched a messenger for
a conveyance to take them to the Royal Hotel, at Buxton,
where they arrived in due time sod received the best medi-
cal attention that could be procured. The injuries sus-
tabled were—Mr. T. Pearson, fracture of the skull ; Mr. A.
Pearson, injury to the head and broken fore-arm ; and Mr.
Coxwell, bruised and cut from head to foot, with • bad con-
tused wound on the right thigh. The injuries Mr. Coxwell
had niet with were not considered, at tint, dangerous ; but
those sustained by the other gentlemen extremely so. Dr.
Bennett, of Button, in conjunction with Dr. Bullock, au
eminent practitioner, of Congleton, took the cases is hand,
and have succeeded in retaining the arm of Mr. A. Pearson,
and in reducing the skill fracture of the brother. Mr.
Coxwell's case presented symptoms which showed deeper
injuries than were suspected to exist ; the thigh was so
bruised and lacerated by an immense stone, that the medical
gentlemen could scarcely comprehend how the bone escaped
fracture ; erysipelas set in, and the case assumed dangerous
appearances, but Dr. Bennett skilfully made a long deep inci-
sion, which had the desired effect, and the healing process is
now rapidly progressicg, and all the sufferers are doing well
and leave their beds. This, we believe, is the first personal
accident that has ever befallen Mr. Coxwell out
of nearly 400 ascensions ; had it occurred to a novice
some outcry might be raised as to the perils of ballooning,
but since this mishap we have had two terrific railway
smashes, three or four dreadful fires, and an omnibus sod-
dent near Whaley-bridge; all these things considered we
can only fairly and reasonably coins to the conclusion that
ballooas are like ships, coaches, railway trains, and other
vehicles, liable to accident and subject to occasional wreck.
It is only an act of justice, supported by the concurrent
testimony of the iuvalids, to speak of the naremitting atten-
tion of Mr. sad Mrs. Bates, jun., to the balloon parte ever
since they came to the Royal Hotel. It is gratifying also
to observe the iieneral interest taken in behalf of the Messrs.
Pearson and Mr. Uoxwell, and of the widely extended sym.
pathy which has been felt for the unfortunate occurrence.
—Burton Advertiser.

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY Emirs°.
The 'teenier Armenian, with the West Coast of
Africa mail, has arrived here. She brings 34 pas-
sengers, and 3,400 ounces of gold dust.
Her dates are—Benin, August 7 ; Fernando Po
and Cameroon, Ist ; Old Calabar, July 30 ; Brass
River, August 6 ; Nun, July 24 ; Bonny, August
6th ; Agos, August 10 ; Accra, 12th ; Cape Coast
Castle, 14th • Cape Palmas, 16th ; Sierra Leone,
21st ; Bathurst, 26th ; Tenerife, 31st ; and Ma-
deira, Sept 2.
The territory of Lagos was ceded to the British
crown on the 6th of August, the King signing a
treaty to that effect.
_

A Commercial treaty, favourable to British and
French interests, had been negotiated with the King
of Botlaboo.

Fever was prevalent at Bathurst.
Trade on the Gold Coast was rather clulL

The Armenian took tie -17ag;"bas, and the
greater part of the cargo had to be thrown over-
board to get her off. H.M.S. Prometheus also
took the bar, but got off, much strained.