Henry Coxwell

Henry Coxwell was 43 and had already shown great courage and resource in many notable balloon flights when he was invited by the British Association to make an ascent for taking observations of the atmosphere.

He built a balloon specially for the occasion, and one September day in 1862 he and Dr James Glaisher, the observer, started on the most amazing voyage in the air that had yet happened in history.

They soared seven miles above the earth, the first men to reach that height. When they had reached 26,000 feet and the temperature was below zero Glaisher began to lose the power of his limbs and his sight failed. No cylinders of oxygen were available in those days, and he fell unconscious in the car of the balloon.

Coxwell, who also felt he was becoming insensible, climbed into the ring to adjust the valve line of the balloon which, through their continual spiral motion upward, had become twisted. He was able to secure the rope, but to his horror he lost all sensation in his hands for on touching some metal they became frostbitten.

Then he saw Glaisher collapse. He shouted to him and managed to rouse him. The cold in these terrible regions of space was ever more intense, for they were still mounting at a thousand feet a minute.

Coxwell knew that if they did not descend at once they must both die. Could he open the valve? His hands were black and lifeless, but after much difficulty he grasped the cord with his teeth. Desperately he jerked his head downward, once, twice, thrice. At last the valve opened, and it was only just in time.

At 2000 feet a minute, almost dead with cold, they rushed back to the warmth and comfort of Mother Earth. The story has a happy ending, for both lived to rise in their balloons again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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