Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-23
The Balloon Raee.

The Times and Gazette state that Prof Steiner
and Mons. GODDARD, the late contestants for
erial superiority, returned to Cincinnati on
Tuesday evening at 10 O'Clock. Prof. Steiner
landed on terra tfrma just outside the corpo-
sate limits of Sandusky. while Mons GODDARD
.'let up" eighteen miles this side of the Pro-
sessor's landing place. About fifteen minutes
after starting. the balloons came in collision,
at an elevation of some 5000 feet from the
earth. That of Prof Steiner drove rapidly
toward its rival, so that the basket of the
latter struck the former about midway of the
balloon. Mons GODDARD threw out ballast
aud rapidly rose out of danger of any further
contact. The Eronauts were not again
within speaking distance during the race
Steiner started ahead and gradually gained
upon his competitor. Mons. GODDARD soon
after commenced to descend to within five
Il six hundred feet of the Earth. Mr..
teiner at five minutes past six passed over
Dayton, at an elevation of about ten thou
and feet:
About half past Q o'clock he became very
:,eepy, and found it almost impossible to keep
wake. The cold was quite benumbing He
Ittached about 5000 feet of line to his wrist
that if he descended the drag rope would
wake him. He then assembled to an eleva-
Ion of about / 0e0 feet and unable longer
keep himself awake, resigned himself to a
nap.
About ten the 1Eronant was awakened by
= crush and found that his balloon had de-
cended so low that the car had struck in the
.Op of tree in the middle of a small forest
The basket was turned nearly over, and the
-hock was great to split the seat on
which the Eronaut was taking a siestai The
hesket righted in a minute, and the balloon
being relieved of a considerable weight sprang
into an elevation of $4,000 feet and finding the
atmosphere disagreeable cold, the Eronaut
commenced to descend.
Finding a good current he proceeded at
speed of sixty miles an hour. when he dis
severed Lake Erie hut few miles ahead
The cement around his valve had become
broken in the collision with the tree. and as
he had already discharged considerable
quantity of gas, he did not deem it advisable
to attempt to cross the Lake. so he opened
his valve and rapidly descended.
The balloon struck the ground about 500
yards from the lake. and dragged to within
300 yards of the water before the anchor took
q firm hold. The landing place was about
half mile from Sandusky city. in corn
ield. Professor Steiner called loudly, but
liling to arouse any body. evaporated his
:,alloOn, and gathering shock or two of
rorn stalks. he wrapped himself in his blanket
and overcoat and lay down by his pride Of
the West" and slept until daylight.
After enjoying a refreshing sleep, Professor
Steiner proceeded to the farm house. and
aroused the inmates, was carried to Sandusky,
where he shipped his balloon by express, and
took the morning train.
All this time Prof. Steiner had had no
knowledge of his competitor in the race, but
on arriving at a station on the railroad some
fifteen or twenty miles from Sandusky, Mons.
Goddard came on board with his monster
"L"viathan."
Mons. Goddard landed at about twenty
minutes past ten-having been up about six
hours. Prof. Steiner landed at 1870, having
been in the air ten or fifteen minutes longer
than his competitor. and having Travelled i'll
the six hours and ten minutes about tlCO hun
dred and uIirty miles. Both could have Travelled
considerably farther, but neither having a
knowledge of the whereabouts of the other.
and not feeling disposed TO attempt to cross
the lake into Canadian forest, they de-
Iendcd.
Mons GODDARD lost sight of Steiner's bal
loon at 10 minutes before six. IL was then
North and below him. He passed over Ham
tOn at ten minutes after six, and over Day
on and then went in Northeasterly direc-
ion near the line of the Railroad. for about
IOrty miles; then left the Railroad and fiOated
on in the same general direction, until 20
minutes after 10 o'clock, when he landed in
prairie. or large open field, near to Hunts
Corners. about two miles west OF MOnroevillc.
The greatest height from the earth was be
tween 5000 and 5000 feet.