The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-04
An Eronaut Picked up on Lake Erie.

(From the Detroit Free Press.
The propeller Mary Stewart arrived here
night before last, bringing with her q gentle
man named John II. Steiner, a resident of
Philadelphia, and an eronaut of celebrity,
whose presence on board is accounted for in
the following manner: The Mary Stewart
was out four hours from Buffalo, on her way
to this place, and twenty-five miles below
Long Point, when Capt. Woodruff discovered,
at about five o'clock, small speck in the
midst of a black cloud, which he wa ched for
some time, surprising it to be a gull on the
wing. 1t was about two and halfmiles high,
when first seen. He procured telescope,
and bringing it to bear upon the object, as
certained at once that it was large balloon,
with man in the car attached underneath.
Comprehending the danger to which the er-
onaut was subjected, as night W coming on,
and the wind was blowing heavy gale and
increasing fast, he imm> dately ordered the
flag hoisted. and the whistle sounded. When
this had been done, the prOnaut waved small
flag i'm return, and commenced descending.
The balloon was at this time about fifteen
miles distant from the propeller, and driving
on towards her at the terrific speed of sixty
or seventy miles an hour. The balloon con-
tinued descending with great velocity until it
struck the water,about one mile to windward
of tue propeller. The Hronaut was buried in
the water, but was soon released from his I'M
comfortable situation, as the balloon witch the
effects Of the recOl, sprang into the air and
made a bound of about hundred feet in
height, and Il quarter of q mile in length. 1t
then struck again. and rebOunded in like man
ner, and continued taking the same terrific
leaps, dragging its passenger through the wa
ter, now completely submerge I, and again
flying through the air. in Il manner entirely
uncomfortable. 1t bore down upon the pro-
peller however, in its mad career, and passed
some twenty or twenty-five rods astern, where
boat, containing the two mates and crew,
were awaiting its arrival. Il passed over
them. and the men eau sht the grapnel that
YVES hung out, and secured it in the bow of
the boat. Mr.. Steiner jumped out, and reach
ell the boat by swimming, and an effort was
made to return to the propeller. A ttemen-
dous gale was blowing by this time, and the
balloon started off to leeward, carrying the
yawl boat and its crew off at rate of fifteen
or twenty miles an hour. Capt. Woodruff
shouted to the mate to shift the grapnel to the
stern of the boat, and pull with his own oars,
so as t. hold his way against it, until the pro-
peler could run down and pick them up. In
attempting to do this, the line to which the
gtapnel was attached was jerked from their
hands with irresistible force, and the balloon
assembled, and was out of sight in less than
one minue. The propeller was then reached
without much difficulty.
Mr.. Steiner states that he started from Erie
at about half past threein the afternoon. with
the intention Of taking q trip to Canada be-
fore night He had intended to have started
in the morning, but was prevented by the
rainy weather. The balloon rose to the height
of three miles, and was driven by favorable
wind across the lake, and arrived within three
miles of the Canada shore. when the wind
changed and blew him back, half way across
the lake. Another strong current then struck
him,which carried him down the lake towards
Buffalo ut railroad speed De was on this
course when he discovered The propeller, at
nearly the same time he was discovered bv
Capt. Woodruff. He commenced letting off
the gas, & descended in time to reach the boat
as described His escape was narrow one,
forif the boats crew had been unable to Sc
cure the rope as he passed them at this fear
full rate of speed he must have drowned, as no
person could withstand being dragged thro'
the water at velocity of fifty miles an hour
for any great len tn of time.
Capt. Woodruff says that he WAS as cool
and deliberate when he had got through with
the dangerous affair as though he had been
sitting on the deck as witness, instead of act
ing as the principal participant. He called
for some brandy and water, and sat down as
if nothing had happened. The loss Of the bal
loon seemed to be his only concern, as it cost
him $500, but he said it wouldn't take long
to make another. He is in hopes of recover
ing it somewhere on the Canada shore.
The first appearance of the phenomenon
excited much apprehension in the minds OF
the deck-hands aboard of the propeller, who
very naturally mistook it for the comet, prob
ably supposing that the time of it's arrival had
been delayed for day or two by some UNI
foreseen circumstance, and tina it was COM
ing with the greater force to make up or de-
lays. The religiously inclined portion pre-
pared for prayers, the reckless made for the
bar, and the more prudent part went TO the
clerks Office and drew their wages. The sight
of human eng steering the concern quie-
ted their apprehensIons, however, and they
lent ready hand to rescue him from his
peril.
Mr.. Steiner is an experienced aronaut, hav-
ing made including this one, forty ascensions.
He returned to Erie last evening on the
Cleveland boat.