Balloon incident in Leeds.

On Tuesday, 18th May 1875 a planned and publicised balloon ascent was to have taken place in the "Horticulture Gardens" in Leeds. The location was probably what had been the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Headingley. The balloon was owned by Mr Henry Coxwell but for this flight his assistant was to undertake the flight solo. At 18.00hrs the balloon was ready to go, with the aeronaut in the basket the tethering ropes were released. Unfortunately a strong wind blew the balloon toward a conversatory building and the aeronaut did not throw out ballast bags fast enough to prevent a collision. The collision between the basket and the building was hard enough to render the aeronaut unconscious and immediately afterward the balloon rose vertically to a great height before he came around. His leg has also been injured by the grappling hook that was laid in the base of the basket. Once he understood what had happened he opened the gas release valve and the balloon descended. It finally landed in a field near Thorner and the aeronaut required treatment for his injuries.

Aeronaut - Mr William Barker. Injured.