The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-22
The Great Balloon Race at Cincinnati.
THE RIVAL FRoNAUTS on THEIR TRAvELs-ASCEN-
sion OF THREE BALLOONS.

TIKI RIVAL fRONAUTS ON THEIR TBAvELS-ASCEN-
SION OF THREE BALLOONS
From the Cincinnati Gazette, Oct. 1ql
Yesterday afternoon the great balloon which has
been the talk of the town for the past two weeks took
place from the City Lot, and witnessed by probably
one hundred thousand people The rival eronauts were
to start at four o'clock and long before that hour the
grounds comfortably filled with people, while out
side, surrounding the entire enclosure there one
dense of human beings Wagons, carriages, carts,
% eye Ky Were drawn up aThs
streets completely blockaded for a considerable
distance in every direction The fences pos
session Of and the trees waving with old and young
America in the branches.
The picture altogether in the region Of the City Lot
beautiful one. AS far the eye could get sight Of
building more elevated than its fellows the roof had
been taken possession Of To have attempted count,
would have been like enumerang the leaves of the forest
and yet ten thousand in the surrounding the
lot could have spared quarter each and been the
poorer and in measure renuneraed the daring aronaus
for their trouble.
AT ten O'Clock the forenoon the imitation Of large
balloons commenced within the enclosure and when about
half full of gas, the saml balloon, the Niagara" was
brought upon the ground and filed At four o'clock C.
Beman stepped into the car and waving the stars and
stripes cast loose from earth and rapidly above
the heads of the immense amidst the shouts Of thou
sands The voyager moved Off in northeasterly direc
ti0n at altitude of about mile The ascension was
beautiful one, and quite exciting, and first attempt
the part Of Mr.. Belman to make trip unaccompanied
by aroRaut, may be regarded entirely successful
He went up beautifully; how he came down may be
The balloon of Professor Steiner which he styles the
Pride Of the West' is constructed Of the Lcst Irish
men, owe hundred YARDS beng AMI almost
transparent shaped much like egg and possesses
an ascending power, when fully inflated, sufficient to
carry one thousand pounds, including its own weight
The amount OF gas consumed in initiating il was 1000
cubic feet. The in which the aronaut rode
large round, willow basket about four feet in height
lastly covered with red velvet and gilt lace Inside the
the Professor had about six hundred pounds of bal
last basket of provisions of water, and bottle
of wine-the latter contributed by friend.
The balloon OF Monsieur GODDARD, The Leviathan,"
was much larger than its rival II constructed of
brown linen and when inflated made beautiful appear
the Pride of the West II had also greatly the advan
tagc in the amount of requiring S6S60 cubic feet
to initiate igvng Monsieur G. feet gas the adyan-
tage his competitor in the In the basket with
the aronaut Mr.. William Hoel who made ascen-
sion with NJ g. some two three years since and
near losing his life in the descent getting two three o.
his ribs broken and being otherwise injured He
tanly exhibited uncommon degree Of to attempt
a second aerial voyage after his former experience
Notwithstanding the well directed efforts of Mayor
Thomas, Chief of Police Ruin and the force under their
command, (al Of whom deserve credit for their
tons the crowd almost the baloonss before
they left the ground They broke down the ropes and
surrounded the and balloons hardly aordng pas
sageway for communication between the two for the
mtee 10 arrange for their departure The utmost anxiety
prevailed TO see every thing and hear everything
nected with this extraordinary and novel undertaking
At ten minutes past four Prof Steiner announced to the
committee that he was ready, and jumping upon the
hoops of his balloon, called 10 his rival to come on
Some delay occurred in getting Monsieur Godards appa-
readiness but twenty minutes past four
the word given by Mayor Thomas for a start ana
both balloons cast loose Prof Steiner started of
little in advance of his competitor, the eronaut standing
erect in his and waving the American flag his thou
sands Of friends below who simultaneously joined in
shout that might have been heard half the city Tho
thousands upon thousands outside less enthusiast
their admiration of the beautiful ascent loned
in the general huzza for the star and stripes.
The balloon attained altitude Of perhaps mile and
struck of directly in the wake OF the Niagara the Pro
esor waving his flag and throwing out papers and hand
bills as he assembled.
Monsieur GODDARD followed in a second or two after
rising beautifully above the immense throng and starting
of in the direction. AT the height OF two
he baok he
hoops Of the balloon, and waved farewell with his cap
10 his friends below. The chase then became exciting
In racing parance Steiner had the 'nsde track follow
ed hard and close by his more ap
peared 10 clap him for sharp brush Then Steiner
seemed to opened gap OF few rods, and in a minute
after the two appeared TO be neck and neck sailing along
maiestcally.
The balloons remained in sight for perhaps three
quarters Of an hour and far could be determined by
the eye the general impression amongst the multi
tude that Professor Steiner considerable distance
ahead Of his rival, while the little Niagara had entirely
disappeared from sight Whether the American colors
viii be able to maintain the vantage ground gained the
first few miles against the powerful French repre-
sentative, remains TO be determined.
Both crenauts carry with them printed dispatches
send down 10 terra hrma whenever they pass a town
with directions to have them forwarded 10 the
telegraph station. How long they will remain up is
matter OF conjecture Should nothing unusual they
continue their for perhaps twenty hours and
should they strike rapid current OF air will he
upon the borders OF Lake Erie long before pape.
press Both daring and experienced and
are confident neither will yield the race so long
their balloons have power sufficient 10 keep them above
the housetops.
The contest is not for wager. Monsieur GODDARD cha
lengcd the world OF cronauts and Prof Steiner IN par
ticular, and that gentleman accepted promptly. The
suit the exciting Of yesterday, which, the first
Of its kind upon record, be regarded event
worthy Of all the attention has received from the
hundred thousand people who witnessed the ascensons