A Dangerous Balloon Trip.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 196, 17 August 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Dangerous Balloon Trip.

The inhabitants of Bexhill-on Sea were greatly concerned on Sunday afternoon, Jurwe 23rd, by the appewrunco of », Wge balloon rapidly approaching towards tho town in a seaward direofion. The occupants they could gee were doing their utniost to alight, for the drags and anchors were cacti loose. The balloon was within a fey hundred yards of the English channel when fortunately the anchor sbruck a hedge, which caused the balloon bo oscillale and eventually brought it to the Bf'ounri. The occupants proved; to be lieutenant A. W. Wabkins Gruibb and Lieutenant R. B. Barkeney, of the Royal UJngineern , Balloon School ab Aiders hot. I'heee officers were deepatchod for military purposes from the Aldershoti camp on /Saturday evening, and they first descended at Epsom, whore they stayed fcjho night, and continued their journey on Sunday morning. For Rome time they were in an altitude of 5,000fb., but, owing to the intense heat of Sunday, the gas expanded to such an extent that they were compelled to use the escape valve. The balloon eventually got irito a current nt a lower altitude, and the occupants were carried over ITunbridge Welle; then they were driven towards the South coast, where they were compelled to make an immediate descent for safety, or they would have been carried out to sea. On alighting it wae found, that the officers bad been much bruised and shaken, but thoy lefb Bexhill on Sunday nighb for Aldershob. The balloon wae sent away by train.