Balloonist crashed in Dhaka in 1892

In 1892, Jeanette Van Tassel, a daredevil balloonist was flown in from America by Nawab Ahsanullah. During the 19th century, the social life of Dhaka was centered around the Nawab and his family. Unfortunately, the exhibition ended on a tragic note as the adventurous lady met her end during her descent with the balloon.

The Nawabs were famous for their love for entertainment and pageantry. For the benefit of the city dwellers they often organised special events. It was because of one such initiative of Khwaja Ahsanullah that this lady was flown in from America on a contract of Tk.10,000/- for the show.

The area around Ahsan Manzil and Buriganga riverbank was filled to utmost capacity to witness the rare spectacle. People flocked in from all directions, many got into boats in the middle of the river. The Nawab himself along with his family members and local and foreign dignitaries witnessed the event from Ahsan Manzil compound.

They would witness the daredevil act of a young American lady, Jeanette Van Tassel, in her late twenties flying by balloon. Tassel had flown by balloon many times before in different countries of the world. She was asked to fly from south of river to north and land on top of Ahsan Manzil.

On 16 March 1892, at 6.20 PM, she started her ascent from the other side of the Buriganga river. Lot of kerosene and wood burnt to inflate the balloon, and soon it looked like a big tent. The balloon would then cast loose from its moorings. The direction of the wind upset her plan to land on the roof of Ahsan Manzil. The balloon rose in the sky swept by a strong current of air and flew pass the Ahsan Manzil. Smoke was visible and Tassel was seen hung perilously. After floating high, tragedy struck on her way down. To the shock of the onlookers, her balloon got enmeshed in a tree at Ramna 2-3 miles away. The police rushed in to rescue. It was reported that police advised her to get down holding on to the bamboo pole they placed. The bamboo broke in the middle and Tassel fell on the ground severely injured. She died a couple of days later in a hospital.

She had been married only days ago and her husband, along with many members of Dhaka elite, was present at the spot when a bamboo that was given to her for descending from the treetop, snapped and she crash-landed receiving grievous injury. It is alleged that her misfortune was the result of police apathy.

Her grave exists uncared for at the Christian cemetery at Narinda, Dhaka.

nawabbari.com