Balloonomania Belles by Sharon Wright

Author:Sharon Wright [Wright, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Women, Adventurers & Explorers, History
ISBN: 9781526708342
Google: Fe6XswEACAAJ
Publisher: Pen & Sword History
Published: 2018-01-15T22:24:20+00:00

The letter hit a nerve. She and George were recovering from nasty injuries, besieged by pressmen and now had to read a report of the accident as no more than could be expected. Margaret was taking no prisoners. She fired off her own letter to the editor, starting with the fire, moving on to coronation day and revisiting the very sore point of the Duke of Brunswick:

‘I have not the pleasure of knowing who or what Mr. Swaine [Sic] is, but from the untruth and acrimony of his statements I conclude he is some paid hireling, or one of those disappointed “would-be reporters,” who intruded themselves yesterday at my residence, one or two of whom made the remark “that if I could give account to one I could give a later one to another.” This was in answer to the information that Mrs. Graham had sent down an account to one respectable individual, and she could not be troubled for any more. Be this as it may, in justice to myself allow me follow your correspondent through his various assertions. In the first place, he says, “It is not year ago her balloon was ignited down Tottenham, &c.” Pray Sir, does this prove my incapacity to manage a balloon? The night was a tempestous dark one, and pouring in torrents, I nevertheless ascended (having pledged to the public to do so), and descended safely; it certainly was a long time before I received any assistance, although shouting as loud as possible, and the lights from the Tuns Inn, Edmonton, were perfectly perceptible to me, but my grapnel having providentially taken fast hold, I went no further in distance. After the lapse of half an hour I had the pleasure of hearing a voice requesting me to come over the hedge, but as I could not do so, the welcome owner of that voice crossed to me—this was policeman Hillier, 305 N divison, who remained upwards of twenty minutes before any other assistance arrived, though he was springing his ratttle as often as the rolling of the car would allow him the opportunity, and who very singularly remarked, after the remnant of the balloon was packed, “Lord grant, Ma’am, they had left you and I to finish it.” In justice to this man, I cannot refrain mentioning one circumstance which highly redounds to his credit, and the force to which he belongs. On my reaching the inn above-named, after the burning of the balloon, I discovered that every thing I had in my pocket had been shaken out, by the constant rolling of the machine whilst on the ground,— amongst other articles, 46s. 6d. in silver. I made known my loss to the policeman, who advised me to say nothing to any one but the landlord and landlady, and after he was off his beat or duty in the morning, he would search for it. On my husband going down next morning, this same Hillier returned him 28s. in silver, though the place had been ransacked before he got there.

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