Fire, flood or disaster · 12.09.1889
Charles Leroux's last parachute jump over Tallinn Bay
Charles Leroux' viimane langevarjuhüpe Tallinna lahe kohal
On 12 September 1889 thousands gathered on the rampart by the Harju Gate to watch the American aeronaut Charles Leroux, aged 32, rise in a gas balloon. The wind carried him over the town towards Kadriorg and the sea. High up he let go and floated down under a parachute of his own design, but near the water it began to swing and threw him flat onto the bay about a verst from shore. A famous swimmer, he sank at once. Boats found nothing; his body was recovered two days later near the harbour. It had been his 379th jump.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
12. septembril 1889 kogunesid tuhanded inimesed Harju värava kõrgustikule, et näha, kuidas 32-aastane Ameerika õhusõitja Charles Leroux gaasipalliga õhku tõuseb. Tuul kandis palli üle linna Kadrioru ja mere poole. Kõrgel lasi ta end lahti ja laskus enda leiutatud langevarjuga, kuid vee kohal hakkas vari kõikuma ning paiskas ta umbes versta kaugusel rannast lapiti vastu lahepinda. Kuulus ujuja vajus kohe põhja. Paadid ei leidnud midagi, surnukeha saadi kätte alles kaks päeva hiljem sadama lähedalt. See oli tema 379. hüpe.