FATAL ACCIDENT TO A PARACHUTIST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 242, 12 October 1891, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A PARACHUTIST.

A fatal accident ooourred on Saturday ' evening (August Bth) at Kirfeßtall, a suburb of Leeds, in connection with a parachute descent, vioh resulted in the death of Mr Biggins, the aeronaut, and the narrow escape of Misa De Yoy. lha pair had been associated with many adventures of the kind in various parts of the country previously, and on the previous Monday the lady made a saooees* fal paraohute descent at a gala given for charitable purposes at Boundhay Park. The performance was to have been repeated on '.Tuesday, but owing to a miafaap to the balloon it oould not be carried out. In view of this Mr Higgins announced that Miss De toy would make a deaoeotat Kirketall. on Saturday.- About fire o'olook it was stated that all was in readiness, and it appeared that both Miss De Yoy and Mr Higgins were to make the desoent, the balloon having two paraohutes attaohed to if. There was a high wind blowing, which tossed the balloon about a good deal, oausing some contusion among those restraining it. Miss De Yoy had taken her seat on the cross bar and Mr Higgins had just joined her when there was an unusually heavy gust of wind. Mr Higgins gave the order to "let go," but it was then seen that the balloon had a rent in it extending upwards of 6ft. Some of the Managing Committee at onoe dragged MiBS de Yoy and her paraohute off the balloon, and a scene of great excitement followed, It does not appear certain that Mr Higgins was aware of the mishap to the balloon, for he ' continued to shout " let go" in a very exoited manner. Those holding the ballon, released it, and it shot up and was driven across the field by the wind. The field from which the ascent took place adjoins the Leeds and Bradford road, and running along it are a number of telegraph wires, A cry of hor tor rose from the assembled thousands as it was seen that the balloon drifted towards these, In another moment the balloon and ita passenger were in contact with the wires. Mr Higgius' feet were seen to catch them and the balloon, appeared to bouad slightly toward the field. The aeronaut endeavoured ' to release his hold of the oar, but without success, for he was pitched off and, turning a double somersault, he alighted from a distance of probably thirty»jeet on his back on a wooden barrier which had been ereoted in the field. Miss De Yoy fainted, and as quiokly as possible she and Mr Higgins, who appeared unconscious, were conveyed to the Star and Garter Hotel. Dr Keighley was quickly in attendance, acd hie opinion was that the aeronaut had broken his back. As soon as possible an ambulance from the Leeds Infirmary arrived to convey the aeronaut to that in* stitution ; but before it reached Kirkstall the severe injuries he had received had caused his. death. The arrangements were bad, and the opinion was freely expressed that a more unsuitable place fox the ascent could scarcely have been found.