The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-25 00:00:00

narrow passage4o.lr-
The car knocked a coping-stone
down, which fell on a man and caused his death.

In 1845 Signor Comaschi, an Italian aeronaut, Its-
scended from Constantinople with a balloon, and dis•
appeared rather mysteriously. The general supposi-
tion is that he was drowned. This is, however, rather
doubtful ; for previous to his ascent Signor Comaschi
had got into debt as much as possible, and took par-
ticular care to provide himself with passports to assist
him after his descent, so that most likely he came
down safely, and instead of returning to Constanti-
nople he hurried away in another direction. Comaschi
had been in France, and had ascended there with his
balloon.

In 1847 an aeronaut ascended from Bagdad with a
balloon ; his name is stated to have been Rosset, and
it was also stated that he was a Frenchman. Now
this M. Rosset was probably no other than the Signor
Comaschi who ascended from Constantinople, for the
latter gentleman having been in France much of his
time might, if he understood the language, easily
disguise himself and pass for a Frenchman. How-
ever, even supposing him to have been drowned, he
should have taken the precaution to have provided
himself with a water car.

In 1847 the newspapers stated that M. Ledet, a
French aeronaut, had ascended with a balloon from
Petersburgh, and that the following morning his
balloon was found, with its car empty, on the Lake
Ladoga. It was for some time supposed that M
Ledet was drowned, but at length his true fate was
made known. It appears that M. Ledet having a
quantity of jewellery on his person and also a large
amount of gold, on descending a short distance from
Petersburgh was assisted by three men, who after-
wards murdered him for the sake of his money and
jewellery, and let the balloon go. The three men
quarrelled about the spoil, and one of them being
much dissatisfied with his share informed the autho-
rities of what had taken place, and his two companions
being brought to justice were ordered to be put to
death.

Lately a man was killed in Essex by being struck
with the grapnel of Mr. Bell's aerial machine. The
man intending to stop the balloon threw himself on
the grapnel, which with the balloon was proceeding
at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and he was so
injured that he died next day.
These are all the fatal balloon accidents on record,
and, as we have before said, are all owing to a want
of caution or presence of mind, to imprudence or
carelessness and ignorance. The accidents that have
happened with fire-balloons have been through their
taking fire, and this might easily have been prevented
by making the linen or cloth fire-proof, which is very
easily accomplished. I have heard Lieutenant Gale
state that a balloon was as safe a conveyance as a'
stage•coach, and I shall not be stating too much by
saying that not one fatal accident would have hap-
pened had the aeronauts been cautious. An aeronaut
should 'always have a plentiful supply of gas and
ballast. The bursting of a balloon has never been at-
tended with fatal effects. After bursting a balloon
forms into a parachute shape, but here the aeronaut
must be cautious, and must fix himself in a stooping
position previous to striking the earth.—Yours, &c.,
September 23, 1850. AERO.

REPRESENTATION OF POOLE.
The polling took place yesterday. It commenced
at nine o'clock and terminated at four. The following
is the result :
For Seymour (Free-trader)
For Savage (Protectionist) 167
Majority for Seymour —2l
Mr. Seymour was consequently declared duly
elected.