Attleboro, Massachusetts – July 31, 1907
The las
t week of July was Old Home Week in the town of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and part of the celebration included balloon ascensions.
On July 31, aeronaut William Canfield was scheduled to make a balloon ascension and parachute drop from Capron Park. When he tried to lift off, the balloon didn’t rise due to a malfunction with the hand flap to which the parachute was attached. Its probable that there was also a strong wind blowing for instead of rising, the balloon tilted and was dragged along the ground until it crashed into three small trees. Canfield was thrown from the balloon, reportedly “with great force”, and knocked unconscious. He was carried to a nearby home on County Street where he received medical attention.
Canfield responded to the treatment, and an hour later announced that he still wanted to make the ascension, but this idea was overruled by the committee sponsoring the event.
Source:
The News-Democrat, (Providence, R.I.), August 1, 1907.
