Viewing page 321 of 323

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

482 THE CASKET OF LITERATURE,

MR. COCKING'S PARACHUTE DESCENT.

As the unhappy termination of this worthy and lamented gentleman's experiment continues to engross public attention, and all information on the subject is still sought with avidity, we again draw on our peculiar resources, through which we are enabled to publish an engraving explaining, on a sufficiently large scale, the machinery by which the Parachute was attached to the balloon, and the mode in which Mr. Cocking detached himself. Our engraving is a copy of the drawings made by Mr. Cocks, the artist of Vauxhall, for the information of the Coroner's jury, and may be therefore fully relied on as correct in every particular, the whole being on a scale from actual admeasurement.  A double rope, fixed to one side of the balloon, passed under the car, and reached the catch, or trigger, marked A B, on which it hung in a loop.  C marks the end of the liberating line in Mr. Cocking's car, which reaches thence to the trigger, to which it is fastened.  D shows a rope, suspended by a ring at the upper end to the ropes already described as passing round the car, to which the parachute is attached by its passing through the dome to the lower hoop, on which the car was hung.  Mr. Cocking is represented in the act of pulling the line C, which causes the latch of the trigger, at A B, to fly up; the rope round the car consequently falls down, and lets the ring slide off, by which the parachute is liberated.

Mr. Cocking, as has been stated in the public papers, had had this project in contemplation for a great number of years, and it is only due to his reputation as a scientific man to mention that the theory has been tested in various ways both by himself and Mr. Green, and the result has always been favourable to Mr. Cocking's principle, in preference to that of Garnerin. As many as twenty-five years ago, about which time Mr. Cocking lectured on aerostation at the theatre of his friend, Mr. Tatham, in Dorset-street, these gentlemen, with the co-operation of Mr. Charles Green, the eminent aeronaut, constructed two parachutes--one on each principle, and a paper balloon, of considerable dimensions for the purpose of giving them an equal trial. At the time fixed on for the experiment, circumstances prevented Mr. Green being of the party, but Messrs. Cocking and Totham--who is still living--proceeded together, at a very early hour of the morning, to Hampstead Heath, carrying with them, besides the parachute and balloon, the materials for generating hydrogen gas. The balloon being inflated, a stick was fixed across the bottom of it, and at each end was affixed one of the parachutes, suspended by a piece of touch-paper, calculated to burn for equal periods, and the whole was launched into the air, and acted as desired. The result was that the parachute on Garnerin's principle exhibited all the oscillations found so objectionable at his descent, while Cocking's was altogether free from them, came much more slowly to the earth, and travelled a greater distance in its descent. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that he gathered confidence in the truth of his theory. It is, however, considered by scientific men that, although the theory is good, in practice, the increase of strength and weight required are so far out of proportion to the increase of capacity, that a safe descent never can be accomplished in such a machine. 

It will shock every one of right feeling to hear, that the property of the unfortunate gentleman was most shamefully stolen from his person, while lying at Lee. Allowance may be made for the desire to possess some memorial of the event, and for the manner in which the parachute accordingly vanished piecemeal; but what must be thought of those who could aggravate the woes of a destitute widow by stealing his purse--his watch--his snuff-box--his eye-glass--even his shoes, the buttons from his dress, his cap, and every detachable part of his apparel. We are happy, however, to find that there are benevolent individuals actively exerting themselves for Mr. Cocking's accomplished and amiable widow. Mr. Durrant, the eminent stock-broker, has become the treasurer of a voluntary contribution on her behalf; and Mr. Green has most liberally offered to make an ascent in the large balloon gratuitously, on the Vauxhall proprietors giving the use of the gardens, and the Gas Company supplying the gas gratuitously. 

The following letters, from gentlemen of great scientific attainments, have appeared in the public papers since our last, and will no doubt be read with considerable interest. 

From Mr. Faraday. 
Sir,--Though very unwilling to appear in the public journals or intrude on your kindness, I am induced, by what appears to me an unnecessary reference to my name in the late inquest, to ask of you the favour of publication for the present letter. 
I knew Mr. Cocking long ago, was a fellow member with him at the City Philosophical Society, and heard him deliver the lecture 23 years since referred to by Mr. Gye at the inquest; and the recollection of his companionship, abilities, and kindness at that time, adds greatly to my feelings of sorrow for his melancholy death. I did not know that he thought of putting his parachute to the proof by a descent until I saw his intention announced in the papers, and did not see him or the parachute until the day of the descent. He then asked me at the gardens my opinion of its safety, and I said that, as to its capability of retarding his descent, it was purely a matter of calculation into which I could not go. He said that he had made both experiments and calculations, and was fully assured the velocity of descent would not be greater than that of a man falling from a height of two feet. I then remarked upon the weakness of the construction, especially of the upper ring, and asked why he had not given it a form better able to resist collapsion? Why it was not assisted by stretchers or bracings, &c.? He gave me the same answer generally that he had given to Mr. Gye, that it was strong enough, and that he objected to more weight above. I made other objections, as for instance, to the opening in the middle of the parachute, the place of the centre of gravity, &c., but finding him perfectly satisfied with his preparations, and resolved to ascend (as is fully proved by the evidence on the inquest), finding, also, by the care of Mr. Gye that every precaution was taken to enable him to abandon his intention at any moment, I desisted from making further remarks, which might tend to disturb his presence of mind, though they would not have prevented his ascent. I, however, said not a word to him to advance his going; but, being doubtful and anxious, had expressed myself so to some on the ground, and amongst others to Mr. Green, who asking me whether I would rather be in his or Mr. Cocking's situation, I said in his; and this he told to Mr. Cocking in my hearing. With these feelings on my mind I retired in part, and did not speak to Mr. Cocking for the last hour and a half. 
Hearing that Mr. Mason was disturbing Mr. Cocking's attention, I did venture to say to the former gentleman, that as Mr. Cocking was resolved to ascend, I thought it unwise. Mr. Mason told me that he had made calculations, the result of which was, that the descent would be a very rapid one. I observed that Mr. Cocking had also told me he had made experiments and calculations, the results of which were, that the descent would be slow. Mr. Mason's calculations and objections, as far as I know, had no relation to the strength of the parachute, or to the actual cause of the failure and sad result. 
The opinion given by Mr. Green and Mr. Gye (who appear to me to be the best judges under the circumstances) regarding the failure of the parachute, makes me glad that I said no more to Mr. Cocking than I did. The retention of the rope attached to the balloon at the moment of separation may have been due to some disturbance of mind through anxiety, thus bringing on the fatal termination;