The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-08-06
81 90 PER YEAR
DEATH OF THE FLYING NAN
A Race Between Rm AerOm nut
aa4; "a FIyer-AnOIher AttemPt
with "a Fatal EndIng-FaIIing
Over "a Churchyard.


with " Fatal EndInE-FaIIInG
Over "a Churchyard.
1t was announced Yesterday that at
1880 P. NJ, de Groof, the Flying Man, 4"
would repeat, at the Cremorne Gardens.
his astounding performance of flying
through the air a distance of 5 900 feet. 7"
True to this announcement, the "Flying
Man" did endeavor to repeat the exploit
which he had accomplished in safety ten
days before, and persisted in the attempt.
Nj. de Groot was q Belgian, who had
expended years in constructing for him
self an apparatus with which he believed
it possible TO initiate tie flight of a bird.
The general outline of this apparatus was
in imitation of bats wing, the frame
work being made of cane, and the inter
vening membrane of stout waterproof
silk. The wings were in all 81 feet
long, with an average breadth of feet,
while the tail was Is feet by 3. These
wings were inserted into two hinged frames
that were attached to a wooden stand
upon which the aeronaut took his place.
Here he had three levers, which he
worked by hand TO give his machine pro-
pulsion or guidance as might be required,
his theory being that having started from
given height he could manage his decent
so as to reach the earth by a sort of in
clined swooping motion, without risk Of
conclusion.
About year ago NJ. de Groof made
an attempt, of which our correspondent
at the time telegraphed the particulars,
to descend from a great hight on the
Grand Place at Brussels. The effort was
n failure, but FHOmme vOidnt, as he was
then called. escaped unhurt, though his
network was atterward torn in pieces by
the crowd. On Monday, the 29th ultimo,
however, NJ. de Groof repeated his ex-
pertinent at Cremorne Gardens with
success. Mr. Baum, the proprietor of
the gardens, had, it seems, after making
an engagement with him, felt some un-
easiness as to the result. and at first
refused to allow the trial to be made.
The Flying Man" protested the absolute
feasibility of his scheme, and insisted on
the contract being carried out, and this
was done. The wings and stand were
attached to a balloon guided by Mr..
Simmons, who, after drifting over London
toward Brandon, in Essex, released his
companion at a considerable height (three
or four hundred feet, it is said) and the
flying apparatus was Immediately set in
motion. "For time" it is said, cit was
a race between the aeronaut and the flyer,
de Groof winning by two fields length,
and attaining ground in perfect safe
ty."
How the accident occurred last night
cannot be clearly asceTtained. The
apparatus, previous to the ascent, seemed
in satisfactory order, and de Groof-
though, according to custom, he took an
afectionate farewell of his wife--appeared
fully confident Of making a successful
ascent. About 7:45 o'clock the balloon
was cut loose, and rose slowly in the air,
bearing with it the Flying Man" and
his gear. There was hardly a breath !
of air, circumstance which might have |
been supposed to be favorable to the |
performance Of an aeronautical feat Of
the kind Be this as it may, however, |
when the balloon had attained height of
three or four hundred feet the unfortu-
nate performer seemed either TO mistrust |
his own powers or the capability of his |
apparatus, for he was heard by the spec |
tators below shouting to the man in the
balloon to bring him near the earth. |
This request was complied with, and the |
balloon descended slowly toward Robert |
street, which lies quarter Of mile or so
to the north Of Cremorne Gardens. On |
St. Luke's Church. Ne |
the balloOnIst, was heard to |
say: "You must cut loose now or you'll |
come on the church roof. The answer
Lot int Z h.. Oh,
yard, and these were, no doubt, the last
words de Groof uttered. He cut the
rope when about eighty feet from the
ground, but, to the horror of the specta-
tors, who must have numbered many
the apparatus, instead Of
initiating with the pressure Of the air,
collapsed, and turning round and round
in its descent, fell with great violence in
Robert street, yard or two from the
curbstOne. Assistance to tho unfortunate
man was instantly forthcoming AL
though still breathing, he was insensible
but the dispatch with which he was extri-
Gated from the wreck Of his apparatus and
to Chelsea Infirmary proved in
vain.
He never recovered consciousness, and
on his arrival at the hospital the surgeon
pronounced him dead. Madame de Groof,
who witnessed her husbands fall tainted |
at the sight, and still more painful scene
took place short time later at the hos
pital, when she learned the whole sad
truth. The apparatus was carried of in
shreds by the crowd before the police /
could secure it. From the hospital the /
body was removed to the dead-house, /
where it now awaits the coroner's inquest.
1t only remains to add that the balloon,
on being freed from the weight of de
Groof and his flying machine, scared
away over the metropolis in northeast
ery direction, and at dark was seen at
great height over Victoria Park, where it |
was watched with much interest by large |
numbers of people, who were, of course,
ignorant Of the shocking tragedy in which
it had played part. London Daily Tel
egraph, July 10.
A railroad conductor in Pennsylvania
received on board fine looking speci-
2. I i -