The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-29 00:00:00

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t, and coneeivdit to be weakly constructed, and donee- , ,
quently inefficient.
Reference was here made to Mr. Green, who stated•that nog, ;s4.
the weight of the parachute excecdei 400 lbs. witieut the,
. , :
wicker basket. et •• ssasn
W. Carpenter, the tackle man of Vauxhall, helped to
make the parachute by the crrectioe of Mr. Cocking-
He did not know at whose expense the easachute was
made. The value of the cordage was considerable, but
he could not say exactly. The kind of cordage was pe-
culiar, and varied according to quality. The lines, might
have cost 101. or 1.51. He had orders from the proprie-
tors_ of Vauxhall that they should be of the best manu-
facture—that no expense should be spared. He had cut
the line in question, and attached it to the trigger and
the parachute. He thought it capable of sustaining a
much greater weight than it had to hear. Mr. Cocking
himself gave all the orders, and professel his, sat'sfactain to .
eim (witness) for his having done all that wae nee-ea:ore.
At the bottom of the basket was an air cushion, to keep
him from sustaining too great a shock ; it was about lao
inches in diameter, and ten deep ; this cushion toms made
of bladder partially inflated, and placed in a linen bag. 'flie
object of only partially inflating the bladders was, that they
might be the more elastic, they would have Lurst had they
been filled. A bag of ballast, about eight or nine-hundred
weight had been prepared, but from the calmness of the
day it was dispensed with, not being deemed necessary.
-Mr. Cocking had nothing with him to eat to his know-
ledge. He saw the parachute on its descant, and found
that the three parts which had given way in the garden,
and been mended previously to the ascent, had not giyen
eay in the descent. The ballast tube of the balloon had
given way at the tim of ascent, and part of it had lodged
on the parachute. This he supposed was what had been
seen flying out of the parachute at Kennington Comaioe.
Professor G. B. Airey, the Astronomer Royal of Grcea-
wicla saw the balloon shortly after its starting ; it was
then travelling with the wind from the west. It next was
caught by a northerly current,. and then by a north-west
one. It shortly afterwards altered its course. The para-
chute he saw, and was struck with its appearance. Ile
saw it through a common telescope of a twelve times
magnifying power. He was sitting with some ladies of his
family at the drawing-room window, looking at the balloon.
Suddenly he heard a loud shout of persons in the Park,
and he knew that the parachute had got away. It ,had
been stated that the parachute kept its shape for forty
or fifty seconds, but he was quite sure that it did not retain
its shape for more than tour or five seconds, for he put his
eye instantly to the glass and found it in a collapsed shape.
He was convinced there had been no turning over. Had
it been turned over the basket would have been displaced.
He observed the sides of the parachute flapping •and
flickering backwards and forwards.—(Here Mr. Airey
illustrated very clearly the flapping and appearance of
the collapsed parachute by his umbrella swinging three-
fourths closed.) He at last lost sight of it behind some- trees,
when it bad apparently completed three-fourths of its de-
scent, and exclaimed at once, " The man must be dead !"
His opinion as to the principle of the construction was that
it was very imperfect in one respect, being liable not only to
suffer from accidental disturbances, and nut containing in
itself any restorative power to counteract the evil. One of
these unavoidable disturbances was the tendiescy of the air
to force it in at the sides, which pressure would, in case of •
its getting out of shape, only aggravate the evil, and so the
instrument must fail. This must, therefore, be considered
as at. construction totally erroneous, and he should have
thought that a person with common sagacity might have
been aware of this. With regard also to the tin tube of
which the circular ring was formed, it was hollow through-
out and without stops, which would have strengthened it ;
and, consequently, as bad a thing as could have been used
to distend the parachute. Had stops been introduced it
would have saved it from a great deal of the tremor to which
the pressure of the atmosphere exposed it. Stops were very
judiciously used in the improved tubing for astronomical
instruments ; to prevent the tremor which would otherwise
occur in such slight work, but though such a construction
served very well for astronomical purposes (where lightness
rather than strength was wanted), and which, in feet, suf-
fered less from vibrations than if executed of solid mate-
rials—it was quite inapplicable to the purposes of a para-
chute, to which the tremour signified nothing, while strength
was of the greatest consequence. That •essential quality
appeared to have been altogether overlooked in the con-
struction of Mr. Cocking's parachute. Had the outer rim
been made of whalebone, for instance, the impressions or
dents which it might have received in its rush through the
air would have been of no consequence. He considered
the old (umbrella) shape far superior in this respect, as it .
possessed the power of recovering front external shocks,
and reforming itself by the inevitable and constant pres-
sure of the air on its interior and concave surface. Had
the weight of Mr. Cocking's parachute been a little greater
in the top it would probably have come down sideways, and
turned upside down. It was very inferior in many respects
to parachutes of the old construction.
A juror said it had been considered that if it resisted the
force of the atmosphere in ascending, it would be perfectly
safe to come down with it. He wished to know what was
the Professor's opinion on this point ?
Professor Airey said his opinion was quite the reverse.
During the ascent, the air, by pressing upon the canvass
above, would keep the ring of. tin-tubing, to which lie had
alluded, expanded ; but the force of the air during the
descent outside, would have the effect of bending it, and
thus cause the parachute to collapse.
Mr. Green agreed in Professor Air-y's views of its de-
fects, and stateSthat, if he were obliged to descend in a
parachute, he would prefer the old form, Garnerin's. He
had told Mr. Cocking that the tin ring had been broken ;
but Mr. Cocking replied, " Yes, but now it is mended, and
stronger there than any where else."
Mr. The nag Steele, of the county Clare, civil engineer,
and a member of the London Institution, was present in
the Vauxhall Gardens when a conversation arose about the
detaching of the parachute. Mr. Green was asked whe-
ther he should detach the cord ? and he said no, he
would not take the responsibility, Mr. Cocking must de-
tach it himself. He (Mr. Steele) said he should have been
delighted to go up, but he should be sorry to come
down in it. He expiessed his apprehensions to Mr.
Gye, Mr. Green, and other gentlemen. Nothing could
exceed the anxiety and solicitude shown by Mr. Gye,
which was greatly to his honour. Some persons were
speaking of disaster and danger, and lie (Mr. Steele) said
that lie thought it was savage cruelty, or desperate im-
prudence, to talk in that manner now, as he (witness)
thought it would be almost better for a person so circum-
stanced to die than to recede at that moment. He spoke
to Mr. Cocking about his intended excursion merely to
cheer him under the inevitable and serious venture which
he was about to undergo, and that gentleman responded
with firmness, even gaiety, yet it was evident that lie was
not altogether free of anxiety, and there was an involun-
tary approach to solemnity in his manner as he replied to
his inquiries. He (witness) asked him if he would take a
sandwich and a gless of wine, hut he said he had taken a
sandwich already, and he would rather not take any wine,
as be wished to keep himself particularly cool. If he came,
down safe, lie added, laughing, he would take a bottle.
Mr. F. Gve resided at Vauxhall Gardens, of which he
was the manager. He acted on all occasions for the pro-
prietors, Messrs. Gyc and Hughes. So far back as Sep-
tember, 1835, he had received a letter front Mr. Cocking
on the subject, and offering his parachute. Mr. Cocking,
who lived near the gardens, had several times called und
applied, but lie (witness) told hint that, not understanding
the merits of his invention, they did not like to undertake
Yesterday, at nine O'clock, n.m., the Coroner's inquest bringing forward theexperiment. When Mr. Cocking, in
sat in continuation at the Tiger's Head public-house, Lee, 1835, heard of the construction of the great balloon lie again
Kent, and was brought to a conclusion.
At the request of the Coroner, since the last meetin a angled, and said, " Now you have an opportunity of letting
post mortem examination of the body of the deceased had me go 'up with. nyparachute." He was so pressing, and
taken place, the result of which was as follows : represented himself to have delivered lectures on the sub-
"On the right side the second, third, fourth, and fifth jet with so much applause to two learned Societies, that
ribs were broken near their junction with their cartilages ; they began to think there must. be something in his inven.
tion. 'The matter was represented to Mr. Green, who was
the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth broken also near their decidedly
opposed to the undertaking. In consequence,
junction with the vertebrae ; the second, fourth, fifth, and however, of his perseverance, the day was at length fixed
sixth ribs broken at their greatest conveeity. On the left for the descent. The following agreement between the de-
side the second, third, fourth, and sixth ribs broken near
their cartilage, and also near their angles. The clavicle ceased and Messrs. Gye und Hughes was then rut in and
read'
on the right side fractured at the juncture of the external
with the middle third ; the second lumbar vertebrae frac- .. Agreement made between Frederick Gye and Richard
tured through its body, the transverse prOcesses of several Honhes qr- , Proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens, of the
o Part, and sliobert Cocking, of No. 1, South Audley-
of the lumbar vertebrae broken, comminuted fracture and
;IC North" Brixton, of the other part.. The said Robert
separation of the bones of the pelvis, the right angle dislo-
pt.-lkicking undertakesofa to _superintend and assist at the ccm-
cated inwards, the astragalus and os calcis fractored, the
,ruction parachute
the
his own invention, on an en-
viscera of the held, chest, and abdomen free from any mor- timely new principle, expense of which parachute
to be defrayed. _bytlee above Frederick Gye' and
bid appearance.
(Signed) " F. C. FINCH."
Richard Hughes, and to be their exclusive property,
subject• to the following
The parachute had suffered considerably, not only in
conditions—n:tincly, the afore-
Head Frederick Gye end. RiAard HuZnes bind them-
the descent, and subsequently, in its transit to the Tiger's
Head stable: but also from the curiosity of the crowds ad.
• selves to the said Robert Cocking en no eccount whatever
misted to examine it by the landlord, and, finally, from its
to employ
soy otherperson or 'gems to make descent
transfer up stairs to the show-room. As the jury were,
oa
aforesaid
rdee_sr ts
Robert.
with
therefore, quite unable to fornm any correct idea of its ori-
ginal shape from the mutilated fragments, or how the ca- esid , and the sat, Robert Cockingi
!rindshimself to make his first descent free of all dement •
limits, occurred, a model made by Mr. Cocking was brought
or remuneration front Messrs. Gyc and Hughes, except
from Vauxhall Gardens for their inspection.
what may be occasioned by conveying hack the parachute
Mr. Green was then re-examined, and he fully explained
the nature of the parachute, and the management necessary then and at all times to Vauxhall Gardens ; and the -aleive-
to separate it from the balloon. . named Frederick Gye and Richard 'Hughes bind themselves
John Drysdale, Mr. Norman's servant, said, I took de- to pay to• the sat.''
de-
ceased from the basket. He his l o• scents
nothing round his left • R• Cocking, for the, two folloiirog e:ichts after the first, the sum of twenty guineas for
wrist or arm. I did not take notice of thet right. There descent ; and that afterwards, in all future descents_. with
the parachute, the proprietors agree to.pay to B Cocking.
was a rope lying loose over his shoulder—not continine
but I cannot recollect its him—it was like the trigger-line ;
length, or if it was made fast to anything. I threw it the sum of thirty pounds ; end the said Robert Cocking
binds himself to make descents with the. perachute often
aside, and attended only to Mr. Cocking.
William Campbell Otway, of Coleshll-street, Pimlico as Messrs. Gye and Hughes shall think proper, fair wind
and weather always considered ; and the said Robert Cock-
ing binds himself not to construct a parachute or make de-
made calculations on the power of this parachute (the core:
scents for any other person,or persons whatsoever, but for
vex), with that of Garnerin's shape (the concave), and was.
of opinion that a parachute of the shape used by Mr. Cock. the said Fred. Gye and dich. Hughes ; and the above
ing would descend much more rapidly. He had examined Robert Cocking further agrees to make descents in any

Mr. JACOB now argued that it was in the power of the
Attorney-General at any period to withhold his consent to
an information, or to withdraw from it if he saw good rea-
son for doing so.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, without hearing the other side,
was of opinion that the Viec-Chancellor, had taken the
right view of the case. His Lordship had heard no reason
why the withdrawal of one plaintiff was to put an end to
the prosecution of the suit of another plaintiff.