Concord, New Hampshire – August 28, 1901
On August 28, 1901, an aeronaut named Stevens, was giving a balloon exhibition at the Concord State Fair. According to a newspaper article, Stevens was shot from a cannon while descending in his balloon, the logistics of which are not explained. The balloon and cannon fell upon some electrical wires running from the city’s power plant causing a blackout.
A lineman named Harry Quint attempted to make repairs and was subsequently electrocuted.
Although the following had nothing to do with the balloon accident, it was also mentioned that a 12-year-old boy named William Sheehan was killed by a train as he walked along the tracks near where the fair was taking place.
Source” New York Times, “Trouble Follows Mrs. Eddy”, August 29, 1901