PUSHED OUT OF A BALLOON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8350, 10 February 1913, Page 3

PUSHED OUT OF A BALLOON

An exciting balloon flight was experienced by Captain Penfold, an Australian aeronaut, Mr Spencer, the pilot, and a representative of Qaumont's moving pictures. The balloonists left Battersea with the intention of landing in Hyde Park, London, but in consequence oi boisterous weather were carried to Chelmsford before a landing was effected by Captain Penfold in a parachute, and the others from the balloon. Captain Penfold thus related their adventures -. “We were driven along at about 1200 feet at the rate of about fortyfive miles an hour. I sat on the edge of the basket dressed as Santa Claus, anu 1 watched for a chance to get away with the parachute. But there was no hope of doing so, as I would have been dashed against the buildings, whilst the other occupants of the balloon would have hardly had the chance of saving themselves. At 1500 feet we entered the clouds, and ballast was thrown out. andwe jumped into the sunlight at about 2000 feet. Time after time we tried to get down. But as there was no lessening ot the balloon's velocity, we had to keep on. At Chelmsford, a distance of between thirty and thirty-five miles irons our starting point, we got into the clear country, and this was the first chance we had of seeing earth after leaving Westminster. "Still 'sitting on the edge of the basket. I was, at my own request, violenth pushed off at a height of about 3000 feet. I dropped between 400 and 50b feet before the parachute opened. 1 then felt my speed slackening, and 1 managed to get mv breath. When i left the basket the balloon, with decreased weight, bounded up to 10,000 feet, i landed on the back of my head in a field at Little Haddow. It was ten min, utes before I recovered my senses. 1 heard some voices, and two farmers came running across- to my assistance." The occupants of the balloon, after an exclt ing adventure, landed at Hatfield Paverel. They were dashed violently against a tree, which lacerated Mr Spencer's hand, while the other occupant had one of his fingers almost torn off. The men were pulled along in the basket for about 200 yards.