Balloon ascents were all the rage in the first decades of the nineteenth century, Exeter saw its share and was impressed. This one, however, was different!
"On Monday last, in consquence of public advertisement that a Balloon would be launched from the Castle-yard by a Doctor Gamble, curiosity was excited to the highest pitch, and thousands repaired to the surrounding hills and fields to witness the sight. - Several hundred paid for admission to the Castle, where, having waited upward of an hour beyond the time appointed for the ascension, the company grew impatient.
At length the Balloon, (or rather a paper bag), was produced, but so badly constructed, and the operation of filling it was so clumsily managed, that instead of taking the promissed aeriel flight of 20 miles, it instantly caught fire, and vanished in smoke,
The public indignation was now roused against the poor Doctor, and but for the interference of constables, he would probably been roughly handled. He was, however, obliged to unburden himself of the cash he had collected, about twenty pounds, which has been disposed of...."
The poor Doctor was allowed his coach-fare home. The rest of the money he had collected, after his creditors had been paid, was donated to the Exeter Eye Infirmary.
Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 10th February, 1814.
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