The native American., 1837-09-30
THE NATIVE AMERICAN.
From the Liverpool Times, Angus, ist.


Yesterday afternoon week immense number OF
nersons az sembed at Vauxhall Gardens, London, and
The neighborhood, to witness an ascent OF the Messs
Green in their great Nassau balloon, the interest exci
ted by which was greatly hega'eneo y an announces,
deeceud from the balloon, at considerable elesaon
n 4 parachute of his own invention. we regret to
saw that the experiment, which ls the only one Of the
kind that has taken in place IN London ior years.
has been attended with fatal results to the inventor.
AZ twenty minutes to eight o'clock, every thing being
IN readiness and the parachute attached 10 the car OF
the balloon the ascent took place. Nothing could be
more majestic. The weight and great extent OF tina
parachute apparently rendered the motion OF the bal
on more STEADY than on any former descent, and the
almost total absence Of wind assisted in keeping the
balloon in a perfect, perpendicular position. There was
not the slightest oscillations the balloon aud parachute
sailed through tina air with grandeur which exceed,
cd any thing of the kind ever before Witnessed and
continued in sight for about ten minutes It was ex
nected by those in the gardens that Mr. Cooking would
have descended so near Vauxhal as to AFFORD them
view Of his descent. This was not the case He was
lost in the clouds, and the company were for length
Of time left to conjecture but certainly not IN any an
ticipaton Of the result of the experiment gentle
man named Underwood followed on horseback. lie
was in the neighborhood Of Blackheath when he saw
(as ho,supposed) the Messrs. Green sever ne cord
chpta thus left to ITSELF descended with the utmost ra-
pditv: and swayed from side to side in the most lear
full manner. Mr.. Underwood immediately anticipated
the worst. Ina few seconds, the dreadful osc'auons
still continuing the basket which contained the unfor
tnna,e aeronaut broke away from the parachute, and
Mr. Cooking was precipitated to the earth from the
height Of several hundred feet. Mr.. Underwood inn
mediatey spurred his horse, and arrived In held near
Lee where several laboreIs had picked up the para
rhnte. They would not believe that man had fallen
with Il: hui on Mr.. Underwood's explanations and an
offer Of FIVE guineas to who ever should lind the body
Of Mr. Cooking, they commenced diligent search.
After traye, sing four fields, they heard groans pro-
Ill Ask T anI
ceeding from field called burnt ASH, near Lee ana
on gonp in that direction they found the unfortunate
Mr. Cooking literally dashed to pieces! and just as they
were oosenng his cravat he breathed his last in their
arms.
He was speedily conveyed to the Tigers Head Inn.
where four medical gentlemen attended. Their servi-
ces were however, needless. The unfortunate gentle
man was quite dead. Mr.. Green and his companion
effected safe landing Maidstone, and arrived al
the Tiger's Head, Lee Green, on Tuesday morning,
nv the Maidstone coach, and saw the body Of Mr..
Eoek;no. MI. Green appeared to be very much af.,
fected He describes the shock as being very great
when Mr.. Cooking severed the rope which connected
the parachute and the Of the baloon and they as
cended with fghtful rapdity; indeed they had no op
nornnity so great was their difficulty Of breathng Of
looking after 81 watching the descent Of their lated
companions hut Instantly applied for relief to their
breathing apparatus; and it was not till the following
morning. when their way TO LoEdon that they heard
of the death Of the unfortunate gentleman, anu me re-
suit of his rash experiment Mr. Green says that ne
believes there is fault to be found with the shape
Of the parachute but it's failure owing to its being
too fraily constructed.
Mr. Green has detailed the proceedings, from which
detail we take the following extracts:
!. In consequence of the sad and fatal catastrophe
which has besaen the late Mr. Cooking, feel myself
called upon communicate to the public the whole OF
the particulars Of the ascent Of the Vauxhall balloon
taking up with me Mr. Cooking in his parachute. The
imitation was completed by five o'clock. In 'conse-
quence Of the great and unavoidable delay which was
necessarily caused in afxing the two machines, the
pas in the former became very considerably condensed
from reduction Of its temperature. It thereuPon
became matter of compnlsion 10 get rid Of ballast
Mr.. F.. eye, every thing being in readiness, about
twenty-five minutes to eight o'clock. gave the signal
for the whole Of the apparatus to he released from ts
rammels. and instantly rose very steadily, taking
an easterly course.
.Mr. Cooking had always desired that we should
ascend an elevation Of 5000 feet about mile
and quarter at which height he proposed detach
himself from the ballon, and to commence his des.
cent. ..s
.Our inability to do this, as we were then situated
] communicated 10 Mr.. Cooking, adding ttat under
the circumstances, it impossible for US to rise any
higher unless to throw the ballast in bags be-
yond the outer spread Of his machine, of pro-
ceedure which we considered to be attended with
much danger to any person who might chance to be
underneath; but that we would il he wished it, make
the experiment soon we had cleared the houses
sAs soon as we found that we had arrived over the
fields, and presuming that no danger could arise from
ourselves Of that commodity. We continued to dis
charge ballast until we had lessened our quantity by
so pounds in addition to that already over. The
balloon now began to rise, and entered tier Of
clouds, when we lost sight Of the earth.
..Aa soon as we had attained the height Of 5000
feet, told him that it would be impossible for us to
get up high he desired in sufficient time for him
10 descend by the light of day. Upon this Mr.. Cock
ing said, Then shall very leave you but tell me
whereabouts am.'' Mr.. Spenser, who bad a few
minutes before caught glimpse Of the EARTH answer
ed. 1--WE appaer 70 Be level with Greenwich ~
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Cooking said swell, now I
think shall leave yon." answered, 81 wish YOU a
very rood night and safe descent. If you are deter
mined 10 make it and not 10 the tackles
"At this instant, i desired Mr. Spencer to take fast
hold Of the ropes, and, like MYSELF to crouch down in
the car In consequence Of being compelled TO keep
hold Of the valve line, of course had but one hand
which was available for the purpose Of safety With
that hand, fortunately, in the peous situation into
which we speedily thrown, ! was able to main
tain my position.
.sScarcely these words uttered before we felt
slight jerk upon the beratng ron but quickly dscov
cred from not changing elevation, that MI Cock
ing had failed in his attempt to free himself Another
but more powerful jerk ensued, and in an instant the
balloon shot upwards with the velocity of sky rocket