Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-26

DETROIT, June 20, 1857.
Professor Steiner, balloon excursionist, left
Erle on the 18th instant, intending to cross Lake
Erie, but missed his mark and was pic ked M in
the lake on the same day by Captain Woodruff
OF the propeller Mary Stuart, and arrived here
last evening. ....
CAPTAIN wOODRUFF's STATEMENT.
LoG-BOOk PROPELLER MARY STUART
June Is, 1857.
O'Clock, p. m.-Wind s. W., and very
squally; being on deck, attention was called to
an object dead ahead in the clouds at an angle
Of about fortyfve degrees, and about ten miles
distant, bearing s. S. w. Took the glass
looked at it, and made it out balloon; called
all hands on promenade deck, and pointed to
the object and told them twas the comet. Some
OF them thought it was fact, and were scared
almost out of their senses. Keeping my eye on
Mr.. Balloon / ordered the American ensign
hoisted, and blew our whistle, which was i'm
mediately answered by Mr. Steiner, displaying
from his fairy ship small American ensign,
and instantly commenced descending
This was o'clock and 4 minutes D. m, about
twenty miles below Long Point, and about the
middle of the lake. Down he came like an
eagle, striking the water or the sea, appearing
as though it was the last call But instead OF
remaining on the latter he darted up again
some hfty or sixty feet, and then down again,
skipping over the waves like Stormy Pet
rel, or, as the sailors call it, "Mother Carey's
Chicken had our boat lowered away and
pulled for the phantom ship :" The sight was
enough to make our blood run cold, but the
hero was as cool as though he were a child in a
cradle, singing out TO the men in the boat To be
easy as he was all right
he was then approaching the small boat at n
fearful rate, when he let off some of the gas and
the mate caught the balloon and rescued the
Professor from his perilOus situation, at the
same time taking line attached to the balloon
and making it fast to the stem of the boat. in
tending to save it if possible but at this mo-
ment squall struck Mr.. Balloon and away he
went, boat and all, at the rate of 20 miles an
hour, lifting the bow Of the boat clear out of
the water. l sung out to my mate to change
ends and make fast to the stern of the boat and
pull for the propeller, but Mr.. Balloon had no
notion of being captured, and off he went up
into the clouds all this transpired in much less
time than L can tellit We took our new made
acquaintance on board quite wet, but not the
least excited. He says the balloon was made of
Irish linen and cost $500, "but no matter"
said he, " would like to get dry"
From the Detroit Free Press, June 21l
Mr.. Steiner says that he started from Erie AT
about half-past three in the afternoon, with the
intention OF taking trip to Canada before
night. He had intended to start in the morn
ing Dut 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 struck him. which carried him
down the lake towards Buffalo at railroad speed
lie was on this course when he discovered the
propeller, at nearly the same time he was dis
covered by Captain Woodruff. He commenced
ON IUf ha md Il IL
to reach the boat as described. His escape is
narrow one, for il the boat's crew had been un-
able to secure the rope as he passed them at
his fearful rate of speed he must have drowned.
as no person could withstand being dragged
through the water at velocity of fifty miles
an hour for any great length Of time.
Mr. steiner Is an experienced eronaut, hay
ing made, including this one, forty ascensiOns
lie returned to Erie last evening on the Cleye-
land boat