The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-08 00:00:00

VAUXHALL GARDENS.

A grand fete was given on Tuesday upon the occasion
of the anniversary of the Butchers' Charitable institu-
tion. There were upwards of 15,000 persons present.
The gardens were more than usually brilliant, and the
fireworks went off with great splendour. The great
novelty was, however, the night ascent of the balloon, in
which were Mr. Gypsum, the proprietor of the balloon,
Mr. Albert Smith, Mr. Pridmore, and Mr. Coxwell.
After some delay the balloon mounted with great velo-
city, and some rockets were discharged. It was soon,
however, sailing out of sight, and the company in the
gardens believed that the aeronauts had a pleasant
voyage before them, when they were frightened from
their propriety by the report that an accident had oc-
curred, as the balloon had been seen rapidly descending
about a mile from the royal property. The most painful
anxiety reigned for some minutes, which was, however,
agreeably dispelled by the arrival of Mr. Albert Smith
in a cab, to whom we are indebted for the following
account of the occurrence:—As soon as the fireworks
from the car had been discharged, word was given to
Mr. Coxwell, who was on the hoop, to open the valve
and relieve some of the gas, as the balloon was getting
tens- from the elevation it had attained. A report
resembling a rush of air was instantly heard, and the
whole of the lower part of the balloon suddenly col-
lapsed, surging backwards and forwards as in a high
wind, whilst a voice cried, " The valve has burst
—we are all lost I" Immediately it began to descend
with terrific rapidity, the elevation at that moment
attained being, as nearly as could be calculated by the
minuteness of the river boundaries, about 6,000 feet ;
and, to add to the danger, the mass of the balloon was
covered with the last sparks of the fireworks, threaten-
ing every moment to blow up. Fortunately the netting
retained the upper part of the balloon in a parachute
Aape, the neck collapsing into it, and to this may be
attributed the preservation of the lives of the aeronauts.
The first shock was aw►'ul as it struck the earth, throw-
ing the voyagers from the car with great violence, while
the silk of the balloon, entirely voided of its gas, covered
them. A smart concussion was fortunately the only re-
sult of the accident. The only gentleman who received •
any hurt was Mr. Pridmore, whose knee was slightly
lacerated. Perhaps in the annals of aeronautics there is
not to be found an instance of so miraculous an escape.
To the presence of mind of the gentlemen in the car may
be attributed their safety. In tho few awful seconds
which elapsed between the accident and the arrival on
earth, every means, by lightening the balloon and
otherwise, were coolly taken to obviate the shock of
touching the earth ; and had it not been for their calm-
ness every life might have been sacrificed. The primary
cause of the accident seems to have been the state of the
atmosphere, which rarified the gas to such an extent
that the mechanism connected with the valve gave
way. The night was exceedingly sultry—the lightning
playing about the heavens almost continually. But, as
regarded the ascent, a finer one was never made, and
every one of the gentlemen wa., more or less, acquainted
with the principles of aerostation.