A brave Captain nearly met his end over a chevaux-de-frise, when the balloon he was in brushed nearby trees.
“Providential Escape. – Mr. Graham attempted to ascend in his balloon at Chelmsford on Thursday the 11th inst., but failed from want of gas. On Friday a second attempt was made, accompanied by Captain Gape, but the power was not sufficient to carry up both, and the Captain resolved to go alone; he was however with some difficulty persuaded to forego his purpose, which from his inexperience might prove dangerous; and Mr. Graham, determined to gratify the anxiety of the concourse of people assembled, again got into the car, but it still refused to rise. Some of the crowd injudiciously called out ‘the Captain’, whose courage immediately got the better of his prudence, and he rushed into the car, which then rose sideways, brushing the trees in its progress, and he could with difficulty keep his seat. In passing over the House of Correction, the car caught one of the chimneys, which suspended Capt. Gape over a chevaux-de-frise, upon which he was momentarily in danger of being precipitated, but he providentially extricated himself and remained at the top of the building. The balloon then rose, continued in sight about an hour, and suddenly fell at Little Baddow, Essex. The populace were so delighted with the courage, and so happy at the preservation of Captain Gape, that they carried him in triumph round the town. His father resides at St. Alban’s, and we understand the Captain greatly distinguished himself at the memorable battle of Waterloo.”
The Stamford Mercury, 19th August, 1825.