The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-06-30
From the Detroit Free PTees.
Singular Occufrencc--An Aeronant Picked
up on Lake Erie--The Balloon Tost.


From the Detroit Free Prees.
Singular Occufrencc--An Aeronant Picked
up on Luke Erie--Ihe Balloon Lost.
The propeller Mary Stcwart arrived here
night before last, bringing with her a gentle.
man named John II. Steiner, a resident Of
Pbiladelphia, and an aefonaut of celebrity,
whose presence on board is accounted for in
the following manner: The Mary ,Stewort
was ont four hours from Buffalo, on her way
to this place, and twenty-five miles below
Long Point, when Captain Woodruff discov-
cred, at about 8 O'clock, small speck in the
midst of n black cloud, which he watched
for soma time, supposing it TO be a gull on
the wing; 1t was about two and half
miles high, when first seen. lie procured a
telescope, and bringing it 10 bear upon tho
object, ascestaiued at once that il was large
balloon, with man in the ear attached un-
dcrneath. Cemprchen1iug the danger to
which TO which the aeronaut was subjected,
as night was coming on, and the wind was
blowing n heavy gale AID increasing fast, he
Immediately ordered the flag 10 be hoistcd,
and the wistlo sounded. When this had been
done, the aeronaut waved small. fag in
return, and commenced descending. The
balloon was at this time about fifteen miles
distant from The propeller, and driving on to-
wards her at the tcrriiicspecd of sixty or sew
cnty miles m hour The balloon continued
dese ending with great velocity until it struck
the water about QUO mile windward Of The
propeller. The aeronaut was hurled in the
water but was soon released from his uncom-
Portable situation, as the balloon, with the
rccoiI, sprang into The air, and made bound
Of about a hundred feet in height, end q
quarter Of mile IN length. 1t then struck
again, and rehoundcd in like manner, and
continued taking the same terrific leaps, drag
gipg lis passenger through the water, row
completely submerged, aud again flying thru
the mir, in manner entirely uncomfortable.
1t bore down upon the propeller. however, in
::,s mad career, and rasscd some 20 or twcn-
nn,a rods stern, where boat, containing the
two mates nd u ctew, were waiting liz am
val 1t Ia.scd o,I- t',2'n. md tic men
caught the grapnel that va hnt'% 0u', and
secured il in the how Of tho boat. Mr
Steiner jumped out, and rcaohed the bo''s 10y
swimming, and IN effort WIS made to return
TO the propel!or. \ tremendous gale was
blowing by thib time, and The balloon started
of 10 lccvNr|, carrying the yawl boa; and
It's cicv CT al tie rate ol fifteen or twenty
miles an Aour Captain Nooduf shouted
to The nlalo 10 shiA the grapnel 10 the stern
of the boat, and pull with his oaJs, so as to
hold his way against it, until the propeller
tempting 10 Go this, tie Inc to which The
grarncl was attached was jelked from their
hands with irresistible force, and the balloon
aeccudcd, and WAS ont Of sight in less than
one minute. The propeller was then reached
without much difficulty.
Rr. Steiner states tlat he stated from Eric
at abou, half rast three in the afternoon,
with the intention Of taking to Canada be-
fore night He Lad intended TO have started
in tho morning. but was prevented by the
.taii,y weather. The balloon rose to the height
Of three miles, and was driven 10y u layora-
BE wind across the lake, and arrived within
th.cc miles Of the Canada shore, when the
wind changed aud blew Inn back, half way
across the lake. Another strong cuuent then
struck him, which carried him down the lake
towards Buffalo at railroad snecd. lie WAS
en- this course when he discovered the propcl-
lor at nearly The same time that he was dis
covered 10y Captain Woodruff He com
mcnccd letting off the gas, and descended In
time to reach the boat as described. His es-
cape is narrow one, for il the boats crew
had been unable 10 secure the rope as he
passed them ut this fearful rate Of speed, lie
must have drowned, rs no person could W tn
stand being dragged through the water at
velocity Of fifty miles an hour for amy great
lchgth Of time.
Captain Woodruff says that he was rs cool
and deliberate when he had got through with
the dangerous affair as though ne had been
sitting on the deck as witness, instead of
acting as the principal participant. He called
for some brandy and water and sat down TO
supper MS if nothing had happened. The
loss of the balloon seemed TO be his only con-
ccrn. us it cost him $500, but he said that it
wouldn't take long to make another, lie is
in hopes Of recovering it somewhere on the
Canada shore.
The first appearance Of tho phenomenon
excited much apprehension in the minds OF
the deck-hands aboard the propeller, who
very naturally mistook it for the comet, prob.
ably supposng that the time Of its arrival
had been delayed for a day or two by some
unforeseen circumstance, and that il was
coming with the greater force TO make up for
delays. 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 being steering the concern
quietcd their apprehcnsions, however, and
they lent ready hand TO rescue him from
bis peril.
Mr.. Steiner is an experienced acronaut,
having made, including this ono, forty ascen-
sions. He returned TO Ere last evening on
the Cleveland boat.
r,,r-,,prp Rrrce Dr. UceLnrm,n writes