DEATH OF THE FLYING MAN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 2555, 5 October 1874, Page 2

DEATH OF THE FLYING MAN.

(From the London ' Daily Telegraph,'

July 3.)

It was announced yesterday that, at halfpast 7 p.m.", M. de Groof the " Flying Man," would repeat at the Cremorne gardens " his astounding performance of flying through the air a distance of 500 feet." True to his announcement the flying man did endeavor to repeat the exploit which he had accomplished in safety 10 days before, and perished in the attempt. M. de Groof was* a Belgian, who had expended years in constructing for himself an apparatus with which he thought it possible to imitate the flight of a bird. The general outline of this apparatus was in imitation of a bat's wings, the framework being made of cune, and the intervening membranes of stout waterproof silk. The wings were in all 37 feet long, with an average of 4 feet, while the tail was 18 feet by 3 feet. These wings were inserted into two hinged fr. mes that were attached to a wooden stand upon which the aeronaut took his place. Here he had three levers which he worked by Land to give his machine propulsion or guidance as might be required, his theory being that having started from a given height he could manage his descent so as to reach the earth by a kind of swooping motion, without risk of concussion. About a year ago M. de Groof made an attempt of which our correspondent at the time telegraphed Hie

I particulars to descend from the Grande place at "Brussels. The effort was a failure but L 1 Homrae Volant, as he was then called escaped unhurt, though his network was afterwards torn in pieces, by the crowd. On Monday the 29th ult, however M. de Groof repeated his experimentfat Cremorne gardens, with success. Mr Bmim, the proprietor of the g?rdens, had, seems, after making some arrangements with him felt pome uneasiness as to tke result and at first rofiii'ed 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 dona. The wings and stand were attached to a balloon guided by Mr Simmons, who, after drifting over London towards Brandon, in Essex, released his companion at a considerable height — 300 ft or 400 ft it- is said — and the flying apparatus was immediately set in motion. "Fur a time," it is stated, "it was a race between the aeronaut and the flyer, De Groof winning by two fields' lengths, a^d attaining the ground in perfect safety."

How the accident occurred last night cannot be clearly ascertained. The apparatus, previous to the ascent, was iv satisfactory order, and De Groof — though, according to custom, ho took an affectionate farewell of hia wife — appeared fully confident of making a successful ascent. About a quarter to 8 o'clock the balloon was cut loose, and rose slowly in the air, bearing with il the flying man and hia gear. There was hardly a breath of air, a circumstance which might have been supposed to have been favourable to the performance of an aeronautical feat of the kind. Be this as it may, however, when the balloon had attained the height of three or four hundred feet the unfortunate performer seemed either to mistrust his own powers or the Capability of his apparatus, for he was heard by the spectators below shouting to be let down from the balbon nearer the earth. " This request was complied with, and the balloon descended slowly towards Robert street, which lies a quarter of a mile or so to the north of Oremorne Gardens. On approaching St Luke's Church, Mr Simmons, the balloonist, was heard to say, "You must cut loose now, or you'l come on th« church roof." The answer was, " Yes ; let tad drop into the churchyard," and these were, no doubt, the last words De Groof uttered. He out the rope when about 80ft from the ground, but, to the horror of the spectators, who must have numbered many thousands, the apparatus, instead of inflating with the pressure of the air, collapsed, and, turning round and round in its descent, fell with great violence in Robert street, a yard or two froi^i the kerbstone. Assistance to the unfortunate man was instantly forthcoming. Although still breathing, he was insensible ; but the despatch with which he was extricated from the wreck of his apparatus and conveyed to Chelsea In Urinary 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 husband's fall, fainted at the sight, and a still more painful scene took place a short time later at the hospital, when she learnt the whole sad truth. The apparatus was carried off in shreds by the crowd before the police could secure it. It only remaius to acid that the balloon, on being freed from the weight of De Groof and his flying machine, soared away over the metropolis in a north easterly direction, and at dark was seen at a great height above Victoria Park, where it was watched with much interest by large numbers of people, who were, of course, ignorant of the shocking tragedy in whicli it had played a part.