ROBERT Henry Scott was born in Dublin in 1833 and is sometimes said to have been the one who, during his time at Trinity College, introduced the game of rugby football into Ireland. Otherwise, however, the life of R.H. Scott was blameless; he became a meteorologist, and in due course was appointed director of the Meteorological Office in London.
It was during his tenure there that he was obliged to pen a poignant note to the Permanent Secretary to the War Office, the equivalent, I suppose, of what we, being more ephemeral and less belligerent in outlook, would call Secretary of the Department of Defence.
"I regret to have to inform you," Scott began, "that on Saturday afternoon last the balloon Saladin was caught by a gust of wind on the coast at Bridport, broke away, and was carried out to sea. Up to the present time no tidings have been obtained of the balloon or of its occupant." The story serves as a timely reminder that mere failure is not the worst may befall hot air balloonists.
The drama had taken place on December 10th, 1881. Three amateur meteorologists - a Westminster MP called Walter Powell, an experienced aviator, one Capt James Templer, and a Mr Agg Gardner - took off in a hot air balloon from Bath in England.
The launch was at 2 p.m., and the objective was to observe temperature and humidity at various levels in the atmosphere, and to "measure the amount of snow in the air for the Meteorological Office."
Ascending quickly to 4,000 ft, where the busy weather observers found the temperature to be "two degrees Celsius below zero", the team was carried briskly southwards; they passed over Wells and Glastonbury, and by 5 o'clock the balloon had travelled over 60 miles.
But the crew was soon concerned. The craft was drawing close to the south coast and a strong northerly wind had developed to blow them along at 35 m.p.h. They were in danger of being carried out over the English Channel.
Two miles from the coast, despite the gale force wind, Capt Templer decided they must attempt a landing. Just 150ft from the edge of the cliff the basket lurched against the ground. Templer was thrown out - and survived; Gardner, jumped, and he too escaped injury; but the unfortunate; Powell was left alone in the craft, now rising rapidly because of the reduced weight.
It was last observed heading south across the English Channel towards France, and neither Walter Powell MP nor the ill fated Salad in was ever seen again.