Quigley has narrowly escaped death! He happened to be at a church garden fete in Gravesend – and we may well ask how he ever came to be invited – where a balloon ascent was scheduled to take place. The noted pilot  M. Grasse was attempting a channel crossing. Quigley made some facetious attempt to assist in the untethering of the balloon, the upshot of which was that he was trapped by a rope about his ankle and sailed off  down the Thames Estuary , upside down and screaming blue murder . Grasse was in a quandary. If he did not gain height quickly, the balloon and its contents would be  smashed against the walls of the naval dockyard. To the amazement  of the onlookers , the balloon shot up  like a rocket and set off for the open sea  at a very brik lick. But Grasse had his wits about him and coming low over the Channel dumped the indignant Captain into the briny – but within sight of land . He was picked up by a herring boat , minus his trousers and one boot. The Mayor of Margate opened a small fund for him and the intrepid Captain ( and notorious chancer ) is richer by eight guineas.