Sharp County record., 1877-07-06
A Great Crowd OF People Wrapped in
a Flame OF Burning Gas.

The Liverpool Eng) Courier Of May
q says: The balloon accident in Hull
on Monday night last turned out more
serious than was at first anticipated.
The accident was caused by the gas OF
monster balloon being accidentally
liberated over a crowd of persons and
taking fire A two-days' gala, fancy
fair, balloon ascent and fireworks dis
play commenced on Monday afternoon,
in field on the Brunswick estate, Bey-
erley Road. There was large influx
of people in the town, trips having az
rived in Hull from all parts of the cOun-
try. The preparations for the balloon
ascent were completed about O'Clock,
and at that time the balloon was about
three parts full of Gas. The Queen" "
the name of the balloon, is stated to
have been capable of holding 30, 900 feet
of gas, and it is roughly estimated that
from 100000 to 0,0OO were in it just be-
fore the accident. Two men were in the
car, one being Mr.. j. Metcalf, the pro-
prietor, and the other a Mr.. j. Whit
taker, of Hull, who had volunteered to
Join in the ascent. A large crowd sur
rounded the balloon, and numbers Of
lads clung to the ropes attached to it..
About 80 the balloon came violently
in contact with a striking-machine,
which ripped it open, and the gas rapid
! ly escaped. A bogie fire, belonging to
one of the all-keeperS, was burning to
leeward, and the wind driving the gas
over it, there was an instant ignition OF
the escaping gas, which communicated
with that in the balloon, exploded it,
and the bystanders were enveloped
in a sheet of flame. Great con-
sternation followed, and there
were loud screams from the assembled
persons and those who had been injur
ed. A number of adults and children,
yards distant, escaped with a scorching,
their clothes having to be eXtinguished
by those near. The majority Of the
crowd seemed pOwerlesS, and the injur-
ed could not be seen amidst the fire,
some throwing their arms about while
others threw themselves on the ground
in their agony. The ballOOnist and his
companion escaped uninjured, the gas
driving in the opposite direction to them
and the car. The fire, both in height
and breadth, occupied large area, and
the duration of the flames is stated at
from two to four minutes, but the in
jury to human beings in that short space
of time was very great indeed. A large
body of police assembled, and cabs and
carts were quickly called into requisi
ton. About thirty people were taken
to the intirmary and others who had re-
ceived slight injuries went to their
homes. There was great excitement
along the route to the place-people the
great majority of whom were parents
who had had children at the gala being
in terrible suspense as to the where
lbouts of their children. Some Of the
injured had their heads and arms fear
fully burned. Others had little hair left
on their heads, and were dreadfully
scorched about the arms. Twenty-four
were so much injured that they were
kept in the intirmary, but others were
allowed to leave. The proprietor Of the
balloon, which was mostly burned, is
said to reside at Leeds, and to have
previously made ascents in several towns
in the country. The programme OF
the gala was proceeded with after the
accident.