Balloon accident at Malton and Weaverthorpe / Helperthorpe.

On Wednesday, 11th August 1886 the 27th annual exhibition of the Malton Floral Horticultural and Pouktry Society was held on the Orchard Fields in the town. During the event a balloonist was employed to make an ascent from the showfield. The balloonist was Mr Beatson of Huddersfield who had undertaken a number of display balloon flights around Yorkshire. Owing to the wind the ascent was not begun until 19.15hrs. The initial ascent did not go to plan owing to the wind. Once the men were on board and the ropes were released the balloon lost height, the car struck the top of a flagpole, struck a wooden erection in the field and cut through two telegraph wires alongside the Malton and Thirsk Railway Line. Once it finally became airborne it travelled east and over the Yorkshire Wolds. Well clear of the coast the pilot opened to gas release valves and it eventually was brought to the ground near Weaverthorpe but the grappling irons on board failed to hold it on the gate it hooked upon. It travelled along the ground for around two miles with the gate hanging below it for part of this flight, it travelled through fences and across fields until it reached Helperthorpe. The car in which the passengers were in became upturned and those inside were forced to hang onto ropes in the upturned car. It was eventually stopped when people on the ground hung on to it though two on board received fairly serious injuries, the pilot sustained head injuries and passenger of the Malton Gas Company sustained head and arm injuries. They were taken back to Malton by 01.00hrs the following day.

Pilot / Aeronaut - Mr J T Beatson. Of Huddersfield. Injured.

Passenger - Mr Potter. Of Huddersfield. Injured.

Passenger - Mr Edward James Brockway. Employee of Malton Gas Company. Injured.