The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-07-11

netti, whom they perfectly recoggized, pass
ed through; he walked at q slow pace, and
with head erect, in order to be the better
seen, they said and he bade US adieu in
clear and audible voice These unani.
nous testimonials were confirmed oy the
written declarations of the officers placed al
every gate to inspect the passports of travel.
lers. The inscription of Pirnetti's passports
was inscribed in the fifeeen registers
Where is the wizard, whether coming from
the North or South, who could in these de.
generate days, perform so astonishing az
exploit?
Prom the Detroit Hree Press. 31st
An Eronaut Picked up on Lake Erie.
The propeller Mary Stewart arrived here
night before last, bringing with her gentle.
man named John II. Steiner, a resident ol
Philadelphia, and an &ronaut 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 discover.
ed, at about 5 o'clock, q small speck in the
midst of black cloud, which he watched
for some time, supposing it to be gull on
the wing 1t was about two and half miles
high, when first seen. He procured a tele.
scope, and bringing it to bear upon the oh.
ject, ascertained at once that it was large
balloon, with a man in the car attached un-
derneath. Comprehending the danger to
which the aronaut was subjected, as night
was coming on, and the wind was blowing a
heavy gale and increasing fast, he immedi-
ately ordered the flag hoisted, and the whis.
tie sounded. When this had been done, the
aronaut waved a small flag in 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 rate Of sixty or seventy miles
an hour.
The balloon continued descending with
great velocity until it struck the water, about
one mile to wndward Of the propeller. The
3Tonaut was buried in the water, but was
soon released from his uncomfortable situa-
ton, as the balloon, with the effects OF the
recoil, sprang into the air and made bound
of about a hundred feet in height and .
quarter of a mile in length 1t then struck
again and rebounded in like manner, and
continued taking the same terrific leaps,
dragging its passenger through the water,
nov completely submerged, and again flying
through the air in a manner entirely uncon-
trollabie. 1t bore down upon the propeller,
however, in its mad career, and passed some
twenty or twenty five rods astern, where a
boat containing the two mates and a crew
were waiting its arrival. 1t passed over
them and the men caught the grapnel that
WAS hung out and secured in the bow of the
boat. Mr.. Steiner jumped out and reached
the boat by swimming, and an effort was
made to return to the propeller. A tre-
mendous gale was blowing by this time and
the balloon started off to leeward, carrying
the yawl boat and its crew Oft At q rate of
fifteen or twenty miles an hour. Captain
Woodruff shouted to the mate to shift the
grapnel to the stern Of the beat and pull with
his own oars, so as to hold his way against
it until the propeller could run down and
pick them up. In attempting to do this the
line to which the grapnel was attached was
jerked from their hands with irresistible
force, and the balloon assembled and was out
Of sight in less than one minute. The pro-
peller was then reached without much ditti-
Guilty.
Mr. Steiner states 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 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 ar
rived 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 car
ried him down the lake towards Buffalo at
railroad speed. He was on his course when
he discovered the propeller, at nearly the
a., I,,.
Woodruff He comm-nced letting off the
gas, and descend in time TO reach the boat
as described HIS escape is a narrow one,
for if the boats crew had been unable to Sc
cure the rope as be passed them at this fear
full rate of speed he must have drowned, ss
no person could withstand being dragged
through the water at velocity Of fifty miles
an hour for any great length of time.
Captain Wood, utf says that he was as
cool and deliberate when he had got through
with the dar gerous affair as thoug h he had
been sitting or the deck as a witness, instead
of acting as the principal participant. He
called for some brandy and water, and sat
down to supper as If nothing had happened.
The loss Of the balloon seemed to be his only
concern, as it cost him $500, but he said
that it wouldn't take long to make another.
lie IS IN hopes OF recovering II somewhere
on the Canada shore.
The appearance Of the phenomenon excit-
ed much apprehension in the minds OF the
deck -hpnds abroad the propeller, who very
naturally mistook it for the comet, probably
supposing that the time Of its arrival had
been delayed for day or two by some un-
forseen circumstance, and that it was COM
ing with the greater force to make for de-
l.. IL &.a1
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,
pueted their apprehensions, however, and
they lent ready hand to rescue him from
his peril.
Mr.. Steiner is an experienced @ronaut,
having made, including this one, forty ascen-
sions. He returned to Erie last evening on
the Cleveland boat.