Death of a Balloonist.

Manawatu Herald, 4 November 1899, Page 2

Death of a Balloonist.

Captain Lorraine, an aeronaut whos e exhibitions have created great interest in Christchurch, was tendered a benefit on Thursday atternoon. The Mayor and many prominent citizens afforded their patronage, the exhibition was splendidly organised. Thankful to the citizens for their generosity, Lorraine determined that on this occasion he would attempt to surpass all His previous efforts in ballooning. He proposed, if the conditions were favourable, to mount higher than ever, and vary his graceful parachute descent by evolutions on a suspended trapeze. The ascent was announced for 4 o'clock this afternoon, and there was a large gathering of spectators at Lancaster Park. Lorraine himself was in the gayest mood — everything seemed to favour him in his adventure, for the afternoon was warm, and clouds tempered the heat and glare of the sun. Not till he was about to ascend did the wind threaten to rise. The " Empress," as the balloon was called, was well filled with gas. The captain himself secured the parachute by a slender tape to a ring at the side, half-way up the netting. The* trapeze was brought to him as he stood beneath the balloon by his wife, and as soon as the lady was clear, Captain Lorraine cried, v Now, then, gentlemen, let her go/ 1 Up shot the globe, but a cry of horror went up from the spectators for the parachute by some means had broken free and hung below. It filled out, and prevented the balloon from rising, but for a few moments the captain clung to it. The strain was too great, however, and dismay was depicted on the faces of all the spectators when the bundle ot silk collapsed and fluttered to earth. Then the balloon bounded up with a great rush, and the rising north-west wind carried it , strongly towards Sumner. The captain appeared to be drawing the netting down on one side, and to be climbing up to the silk. Then it was remembered that he had no knife with him — that he had to borrow one to cut a string beforehand. His only chance seemed to be in his own nerve and strength. If he could turn the balloon ever $0 slightly so as to allow the gas to escape gradually, he would descend. The great globe travelled away for half an honr, growing smaller and smaller in the distance, and it became evident that the captain had gone out past the coast-line. When at last it really seemed that the balloon was collapsing, and that it was acting as a parachute, though, a 1 poor one. people breathed easien By a quarter to five the speck of black against the sky was no longer visible, and the fate of the aeronaut became a matter for conjecture. The • signalmen at the Harbour Board's station at Godley Heads (Lyttelton), who had been watching the aeronaut, saw him fall with the _ balloon into the water near Port Levy j rocks. A telephone message was sent j to Captain Clark, the harbourmaster, who at once despatched a tug to the '

scene, and the signalmen also launched their dingey, while arrangements were made for launching the Sumner lifeboat by Pilot Day. ■ A message received from the Heads later on, however, stated that Captain Lorraine sat for some time on the floating balloon, which remained buoyant in the water. The balloon subsequently sank, and late advices said that the ill-fated man was swimming towards the Heads, from which two boats were proceeding to his rescue.

At 5.30 p.m. Captain Clark received a message from the Pilot Station that Captain Lorraine was seen later on to disappear in the water. A boat from the station pulled over the spot, but discovered no trace of the missing man. The tug returned at 6.40, having seen no signs of him, and there seems little doubt that Lorraine was drowned.