The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-26 00:00:00

Fatal Accident to an Areonaut.

A grand fete was held on Monday last in the park of Mr.
North at Basford,nearNottingham. Among the other amuse-
ments it was announced that Mr. Coxwell would ascend in
his balloon at 6 o'clock in the evening. However, for reasons
which will soon appear, his place was supplied by Mr. 1
Chambers, who had previously made many ascents. The
balloon was almost new, but of not very large dimensions.
After it had been fully inflated Mr. Coxwell tried it, and
found there would be some difficulty in his ascending by it.
Just at this time Mr. Chambers stepped forward and offered
to go up in the balloon. Mr. Coxwell was in a perplexity,
and feared the balloon would not carry his weight. Cham-
bers said he was lighter than Mr. Ccxwell, and wished to
make the ascent. After some conversation it was agreed
that Chambers should go up, but Mr. Coxwell told him not
to attempt an ascent unless he felt quite confident he could
manage the balloon. Chambers replied that he had no fear
about managing it, and accordingly he was allowed to make
the ascent. The balloon rose steadily. and was carried
somewhat rapidly in a north-easterly direction towards
Nottingham. It proceeded as far as Arnold Vale, when it
was seen suddenly to collapse while still at a considerable
altitude, and then to fall quickly in an unshapely mass.
Some young men who were near the spot where the balloon
fell hastened to render assistance. The balloon heaved and
fell as it descended, completely covering the car, and ulti-
mately both dropped in a field near Scout-lane, three miles
from Nottingham. The car struck the ground and re-
bounded several feet, and then fell again, when it was
caught hold of by the young men and stopped. At the
bottom of the car lay stretched the body of the unfortunate
amateur aeronaut. He was lifted out and found to be just
breathing, but quite insensible, having his handkerchief
in his mouth. He was conveyed to the nearest dwelling,
and all means adopted to restore animation, but without
eflect. Drs. Robertson and Maltby afterwards saw him, and
it was discovered that his left thigh was fractured, and some
of his ribs on the left side were broken, but they considered
it very probable that the unfortunate man had died through
suffocation, as the handkerchief which was found in his
mouth had been evidently placed there by himself when he
found himself in danger of being stifled by the gas from the
collapsing balloon. Chambers was a married man, 36 years
old, and leaves a family. His father was an aeronaut. As
soon as the fate of Chambers was known, the music and
amusements at the fete were sotpped, and the visitors
gradually dispersed.
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).
John Mayfield said, about 20 minutes to six o'clock on
Monday night he saw the ballono going over Scout-lane,
Arnold. It was going along very steadily, when suddenly
it was driven into a cloud. Witness and his companions
ran down a hill and saw the balloon again, when it was
descending rapidly. The balloon flapped about as if there
was an escape of gas. It then came down to the ground.
Witness did not see any one in the car. After it had fallen
it rebounded about two yards. He went close to it and found
the balloon nearly empty of gas. He looked in the car and
found the deceased, who gasped three times and then died.
He saw a white pocket-handerchief in his mouth. There
was one sandbag in the car, It did not rain until after the
balloon had fallen.
William Turton said he was with the last witness when
the balloon fell. He saw no one in the car, and thought it
was empty. All the gas appeared to be escaping from the
balloon, and it went in all forms, When the car reached
the ground deceased was found in it, gasping for breath.
He died in a few seconds. There were no grappling-irons
in the car. There had been no rain upon the deceased or
the balloon. His clothes were perfectly dry.
Sergeant Blasdall, of the Notts police-force, s aid he saw
the balloon descending with rapidity. He went up to it
and found the two last witnesses rubbing the hands, chest,
and feet of the deceased. Witness afterwards took posses-
sion of the balloon and car. He examined the balloon, but
could find no rent in it. Two of the springs of the valve
were disattached, arid the rim was broken in three places.
Mr. Coburn, superintendent of the Midland Institution
for the Blind, Nottingham, said the deceased had been
engaged in that establishment as a teacher of weaving and
basket-making. He was about 37 years of age. He was a
married man, and had left a widow and five children. He
was exceedingly temperate in his habits. Deceased was the
son of Chambers, the veteran aeronaut.
Mr. Henry
Coxwell, of Tottenham, Middlesex, said he
was an aeronaut. He had accepted an engagement to go up
in
a balloon at the B asford fete. He brought his own bal
loon and all its appendages. This was a new balloon, and
fillhe htandenboat
tmloaodne
oannysauusedeanyts himself.eivneinting 8 o'clock
about Heb ea,nantd
to
finished at half-past son Monday evening.intended to
go up himself, and got into the car
several Ho
times, but the
balloon would not lift him from the ground without any bal-
last. After he had tried it a third time deceased entered
known the circle and spoke to him. Witness had deceased
"I
and his father for 15 years, Witness said
am in con-
side:able difficulty. The gas is heavy
and unsuited for
balloon purposes, and I find that it will not raise me." He
replied " I am a lighter man than yourself ; perhaps it will
just take me." Witness said "I know you have had some
experience. If it will raise you with one bag of sand, and
can manage the balloon, I will accept your offer." you He
seemed pleased with the opportunity of making the ascent.
He then got into the car of his own accord, and witness
found that it would just raise him. Witness again asked
him if he had full confidence to manage the balloon. lie
replied, " Yes." Witness then cautioned him not to go
either high or far, and to go about a mile. Witness ob-
served that, although the balloon was risingsteadily,deceased
immediately began to empty some ballast out. This was
unnecessary, and contrary to witness s instructions. He
so He looked anxiously
expecting to the deceased not to do .
expecting to see the rising power of the balloon checked. This
a little
way.had then
could easily have been done by opening the valve
It
wards. Deceased got into the car entirely of his own free
will, and without any persuasion on the part of witness.
There was no agreement of money payment between them
whatever. Witness knew that he had ascended many times
before from Cremorne-gardens and other places. He had
never ascended with him. His father had. Witness saw
the balloon descending rapidly into a dark cloud, and he
then sent a man after him in a cart to render assistance.
About an hour afterwards he heard of the accident. As a
scientific man, witness believed he could say how the acci-
dent occurred. After deceased had entered the heavy cloud
the balloon broke into sunshine or a clear atmosphere, and
the gas expanded very rapidly, streaming out of the neck or
safety. valve, which is always left open. By being found
with the handkerchief iu his mouth it is evident that he
inhaled the gas, which might
have been prevented by open-
ing the upper valve a very short distance. Witness sup-
Posed that deceased became
pre-
viously
clutching
th insensible from the gas, e
valve-line round his wrist and vio-
lently opening the valve. In all probability he fell to the
the car, and
as the valve cord was round his
wrist it kept the valve
open
to its full dimensions. As the
balloon naturally elongatedanby losing the gas the strain on
the cord became greater d
not been
until nearly all the
gas escaped. Had the cord
gas could not possibly have escaped een
ffast to his wrist the
tear or fracture having been found iu rtt.
the balloon, no
The proceedings were not over when
our parcel was de-
spatched.

A horrible series of crimes was committed three
nights since at 3loras (Drome). A farmer's widow, named
a
Garden, with her eldest and youngest sons, residin in
farmlone
fire. rheisillut:of' were all murdered and Or! premises se:, on.
the ',Ales left no doubt as to the murders.
The second son, who is Fupposed to b urderer and in.
eendiaty, has been arrested.