3-071-224 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Fatal Disaster with a Balloon, 1881. 1. West Bay, near Bridport. 2. Eypesmouth Downs, Scene of the Accident. 3. Cliff where the balloon disappeared. 4. Bridport Pier, with tug Commodore coming in after the search... The fate of Mr. Walter Powell, M.P. for Malmesbury, who...accompanied Captain James Templer, in charge of a balloon lent by the War Department to the Meteorological Society, on Saturday, the 10th December, is a matter of sincere regret... The Admiralty...and the Foreign Office, have given instructions to all under their orders that they should use any opportunity to assist the search; and rewards have been offered by the family of Mr. Powell...The Illustrations on our front page consist of, a view of West Bay, Bridport, with the steamer firing a gun, which was done to promote, by the effect of concussion of the air and water, the rising of any partially sunken body to the surface; the escape of the balloon from Captain Templer's hands, on the downs at Eypesmouth, or Eype, near Bridport; the cliff over which it passed to sea...There is, also, a sketch of the scene on Bridport harbour pier, when Mr. Powell's friends, and other persons interested, were there awaiting the return of the tug Commodore from its fruitless search'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.