ON Wednesday 4th September 1895, the Melksham Primrose League sponsored a parachute descent. The weather was glorious and people flocked into Melksham, both residents and those brought in by special train, to view the festivities in Bear Field.
An ox was roasted; the carcase, weighing more than 34 score pounds, was cooked and portions given away indiscriminately to anyone appearing with plates and dishes.
The principal attraction of the day was Emma Louisa DeVoy, an aeronaut who toured the country.
Miss DeVoy watched by the side as the balloon was inflated by the heat of the fire, then strapped into position at the end of the parachute. “Stand clear!” was the shout and the cord was pulled to release the balloon from the four stakes that held it to the ground.
Only three of the stakes released and as the balloon began to rise, the strain on the fourth corner badly tore the balloon material. The lady aeronaut turned pale; she knew at once there was trouble. The male assistants jumped on the ropes hoping to hold the parachute down, but instead became entangled, carrying them with the parachute toward the sky. One man released his hold immediately. Another realised the futility and jumped to land 15 feet below. The third tried to jump as well but his legs were twisted between several ropes and by the time he was freed the height was too dangerous to jump.
Women shrieked at the sight and almost fainted, while others appeared too horrified to utter a word. Meanwhile, the balloon rose gracefully with little oscillation due to the calm sky – a marked difference to the commotion on the ground.
With the greatest coolness, Miss DeVoy instructed her companion to come down where she was strapped in and together, at more than 2,000 feet in the air, they sailed across the railway and Avon toward Melksham Forest where a large crowd gathered. The lady aeronaut and involuntary companion made a gradual descent because of the hot air escaping the large gap in the balloon material and landed in a ditch.
Lisa Ellis
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