FIRST WOMAN FLYER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 212, 8 September 1941, Page 9

FIRST WOMAN FLYER

Ascent by Balloon In 18th Century

In our own time women have flown the Atlantic, made the journey by air to the Cape, and braved the seas from England to Australia and New Zealand. Now, on active service, they are ferrying machines of almost incredible speed and power.

The interest of women in flying did not, however, begin with the heavier-than-air machine. Within two years of man's first journey through the air there was published a "Letter to a Friend" by Mrs. L. A. Sage, who, with justifiable pride, called herself "the first English female aerial traveller."

On June 25, 1785, Mrs. Sage took to the air, says a writer in the Manchester Guardian. She should have been accompanied by Vincent L,unardi (one of the first to ascend by balloon) and George Biggin, but the balloon would not support the three of them. The story can now be told by Mrs. herself:—

"They began the filling of the balloon aboutnine o'clock, and in order to make the process an object of gratification to the whole neighbourhood of St. George's Fields, Mr. Lunardi had raised a stage, upon which the balloon was suspended, so that everything was distinctly seen by each anxious and curious individual. . . .

At this time the company began to assemble, and before one there were more than a hundred thousand persons within the circle of St. George's Fields."

After many minor mishaps, at twenty-five minutes past one, they arose, "in a slow and majestic manner, forming a most beautiful object, amidst the acclamations of thousands."

Mrs. Sage and her companion "had fortitude enough to banish from their minds every idea of fear or doubt," although reflecting on it afterwards, she said:

44 The idea that I was daring enough to push myself. as I may say. before my time, into tho presence of the Deity, inclines me to a species of terror."

At twenty-five minutes past two they were forced down in a field at Harrow, whose owner, "upon feeling a trifling injury done to his property, was abusive and savage to a great degree. Had it not been for some genteel persons who came up to us I make not a doubt but that the balloon would have been sacrificed by these unfeeling people."

Some of the "genteel persons" invited Mrs. Sage to dine with them while Mr. Biggin deflated the balloon. Meanwhile the headmaster of Harrow (the great Drury) and "almost the whole of his charge" had rushed up to help Mr. Biggin.

Mrs. Sage had a very pleasant dinner party and considered that her correspondent would think her vain if she recounted the many flattering attentions which were paid her. After dinner she rode to the school to join Mr. Biggin, who had been invited there by Drury, and finally they set off by road to London amid the "acclamations of applause of these fine young men" of Harrow. On the following day Mrs. Sage knew all the pains of being a celebrity:

The door Is never quite a single instant, and T suppose when I go out I shall be as much looked at as if a native of the aerial regions had come down to pay an earthly visit.

But we think Mrs. Sage rather enjoyed it all. She deserved, as the first Englishwoman ever to travel by air, more than the oblivion which has been her lot.