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It was a few seasons previous to this； namely； on the 8th of July； 1874； when Mr。 Simmons was concerned in a balloon fatality of a peculiarly distressing nature。 A Belgian； Vincent de Groof； styling himself the 〃Flying Man；〃 announced his intention of descending in a parachute from a balloon piloted by Mr。 Simmons； who was to start from Cremorne Gardens。 The balloon duly ascended； with De Groof in his machine suspended below； and when over St。 Luke's Church； and at a height estimated at 80 feet； it is thought that the unfortunate man overbalanced himself after detaching his apparatus； and fell forward； clinging to the ropes。 The machine failed to open； and De Groof was precipitated into Robert Street； Chelsea； expiring almost immediately。 The porter of Chelsea Infirmary； who was watching the balloon； asserted that he fancied the falling man called out twice； 〃Drop into the churchyard； look out！〃 Mr。 Simmons； shooting upwards in his balloon； thus suddenly lightened； to a great height； became insensible； and when he recovered consciousness found himself over Victoria Park。 He made a descent； without mishap； on a line of railway in Essex。
On the 19th of August； 1887； occurred an important total eclipse of the sun； the track of which lay across Germany； Russia； Western Siberia； and Japan。 At all suitable stations along the shadow track astronomers from all parts of the world established themselves； but at many eclipses observers had had bad fortune owing to the phenomenon at the critical moment being obscured。 And on this account one astronomer determined on measures which should render his chances of a clear view a practical certainty。 Professor Mendeleef； in Russia； resolved to engage a balloon； and by rising above the cloud barrier； should there be one； to have the eclipse all to himself。 It was an example of fine enthusiasm； which； moreover； was presently put to a severe and unexpected test； for the balloon； when inflated； proved unable to take up both the aeronaut and the astronomer； whereupon the latter； though wholly inexperienced； had no alternative but to ascend alone； which； either by accident or choice； he actually did。 Shooting up into space； he soon reached an altitude of 11；500 feet； where he obtained； even if he did not enjoy； an unobstructed view of the Corona。 It may be supposed； however； that； owing to the novelty of his situation； his scientific observations may not have been so complete as they would have been on terra firma。
In the same month an attempt to reach a record height was made by MM。 Jovis and Mallet at Paris； with the net result that an elevation of 23；000 feet was reached。 It will have been noted that the difficulty through physical exhaustion of inhaling oxygen from either a bag or cylinder is a serious matter not easily overcome； and it has been suggested that the helmet invented by M。 Fleuss might prove of value。 This contrivance； which has scarcely attracted the attention it has merited； provides a receptacle for respiration； containing oxygen and certain purifying media； by means of which the inventor was able to remain for hours under water without any communication with the outward air。
About the period at which we have now arrived two fatal accidents befel English aeronauts。 We have related how Maldon； in Essex； was associated with one of the more adventurous exploits in Mr。 Simmons's career。 It was fated also to be associated with the voyage with which his career closed。 On August 27th； 1888； he ascended from Olympia in company with Mr。 Field； of West Brighton； and Mr。 Myers； of the Natural History Museum； with the intention； if practicable； of crossing to Flanders； and the voyage proceeded happily until the neighbourhood of Maldon was reached； when； as the sea coast was in sight； and it was already past five o'clock； it appeared prudent to Mr。 Simmons to descend and moor the balloon for the night。 Some labourers some three miles from Maldon sighted the balloon coming up at speed； and at the same time descending until its grapnel commenced tearing through a field of barley； when ballast was thrown out； causing the balloon to rise again towards and over some tall elms； which became the cause of the disaster which followed。 The grapnel； catching in the upper boughs of one of these trees； held fast； while the balloon； borne by the force of a strong wind； was repeatedly blown down to earth with violence； rebounding each time to a considerable height； only to be flung down again on the same spot。 After three or four impacts the balloon is reported to have burst with a loud noise； when high in the air； the silk being blown about over the field； and the car and its occupants dashed to the ground。 Help was unavailing till this final catastrophe； and when； at length； the labourers were able to extricate the party； Mr。 Simmons was found with a fractured skull and both companions badly injured。
Four summers later； June 30th； 1892； Captain Dale； the aeronaut to the Crystal Palace； was announced to make an ascent from the usual balloon grounds； weather permitting。 Through the night and morning a violent storm prevailed； and it was contemplated that the exhibition would be withdrawn； but the wind abating in the afternoon； the inflation was proceeded with； and the ascent took place shortly before 6 p。m。； not； however； before a large rent had been discovered and repaired as far as possible by Mrs。 Dale。 As passengers； there ascended the Captain's son William； aged nineteen； Mr。 J。 Macintosh； and Mr。 Cecil Shadbolt。 When the balloon had reached an altitude estimated at 600 feet the onlookers were horrified to see it suddenly collapse； a large rent having developed near the top part of the silk； from which the gas 〃rushed out in a dense mass； allowing the balloon to fall like a rag。〃 The occupants of the car were seen to be throwing out everything madly； even wrenching the buttons from their clothing。 All； however； with little avail； for the balloon fell 〃with a sickening thud；〃 midway between the Maze and lower lake。 All were found alive； but Captain Dale； who had alighted on his back； died in a few minutes； Mr。 Shadbolt succumbed later； and both remaining passengers sustained terrible injuries。
Few balloon mishaps； unattended with fatal results； have proved more exciting than the following。 A large party had ascended from Belfast； in a monster balloon； under the guidance of Mr。 Coxwell； on a day which was very unfit for the purpose by reason of stormy weather。 A more serious trouble than the wind； however； lay in several of the passengers themselves； who seem to have been highly excitable Irishmen； incapable at the critical moment of quietly obeying orders
The principal hero of the story； a German。 Mr。 Runge； in writing afterwards to the Ulster Observer； entirely exonerates Mr。 Coxwell from any blame； attributing his mischances solely to the reprehensible conduct of his companions。 On approaching the ground； Mr。 Coxwell gave clear instructions。 The passengers were to sit down in an unconstrained position facing each other； and be prepared for some heavy shocks。 Above all things they were to be careful to get out one by one； and on no account to leave hold o