Balloonist Captain Lorraine shown in his first successful ascent in Christchurch
Balloonist Captain Lorraine shown in his first successful ascent in Christchurch
[1899]
Capt. Lorraine (Real name: David Mahoney, of Auckland) was giving a parachute display from a balloon at Lancaster Park on 3 Nov. 1899 when his parachute came adrift from the rapidly ascending balloon. The parachute fell off and Capt. Lorraine was left clinging to the balloon which headed over the Port Hills and out to sea. Signalmen at the Port Levy lookout saw the balloon land in the sea about 10 miles from Lyttelton and a boat was launched from the Harbour Board station hut. However, there was no trace of Capt. Lorraine's body and he was presumed drowned.
Here the aeronaut is shown clear of the ground
File Reference CCL PhotoCD 6, IMG0077
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