The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-24
THE GREAT BALLOON RACE.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF The VOYAGE
from tho c.ncirnati Gazette, Oct. 20

The balloons started from the city lot at four o'clock,
twenty -one minutes Prof Steiner leading off in his
"Prdc Of the West followed closely by Mons God
ard in his Leviathan The latter gained rapidly upon
its rival for the first mile two from town, until the
aeronauts within speaking distance when less than
three miles from the city, both moving about twenty-five
miles an hour Mons. GODDARD sailed up majescally be-
side the Professor when the latter greeted his rival with
welcome and pointed to the beautiful sight which every
where met the eye. AIngnifcent responded the rep
rescntatiye OF France.
Mr. GODDARD then introduced his friend and passenger,
Mr. VIM Hoel, to Prof Steiner, and at the time
proposed that they should take friendly drink Both
aeronauts opened bottle of wine, when Mons GODDARD
proposed the toast-t1b de Grea Republic. This was
drank with will in sparkling Catawba, when Prof.
Steiner gave the following: ''ro Mons GODDARD, tho
Justly celebrated French acronaut" The compliment
was returned by Mons. GODDARD -Io Prof Steiner the
greatest aeronaut in America Mons. GODDARD drank
pbottoms up" and his companion followed suit and
thcn after filling their glasses, Mr. Hoe gave toast
pHeres to swcethearts and wives. 'Three cheers
for that /" shouted Prof Steiner, the balloons were
coming together and the three joined heartily in
.hip-hp-huraW y
Scarcely five minutes after the balloons came in col
son an elevation of 900 feet from the earth
The balloon of Professor Steiner drove rapidly toward its
rival that the basket of the latter struck the former
about midway Of the balloon Mons. GODDARD and his
companion promptly forced OIL with their hands, and
Prof Steiner shouted to Mons GODDARD to throw out ball
last which he did, and rapidly above the Pride of
the West and out Of danger of any further contact.
The aeronauts not again within speaking distance
during the Steiner started ahead at elevation of
about 900 feet and gradually gained upon his compet
itor He found strong current of air, and taking ad
vantage of it by keeping ut about the same elevation,
made rapid progress Mons GODDARD soon after com
menced to descend 70 within five six hundred feet of
the eath creating the greatest excitement amongst the
country people, who shouted like hundred steam
whistles
Mr. Steiner still kept the current which carrying
him rapidly north bynorth east at height of about
nine thousand feet At six o'clock he opened his basket
provisions and sat down to excellent supper which
he patook of while driving through the Dir at the rate OF
about fifty miles an hour
At five minutes past six he passed Dayton, at
elevation of about ten thousand feet He cast overheard
several dispatches but found that the wind strong
that they carried several miles from the city Moth
ing could be of Mons GODDARD and Mr. Steiner
concluded that he had taken the under current and gone
southwest He passed several towns and sent down de-
spachcs but he could hear nothing from the inhabi
tns concluded that he unobscrved and kept his
course
About half-past o'clock the aeronaut became very
sleepy and found it almost impossible to keep awake.
The cold quite benumbing. He sang songs, over
hauled his traps in the basket to divert his attention. and
finally attached about 5000 feet Of guide line to his
wrist so that if he descended, the drag rope would
awake him He then threw out ballast and assembled to
elevation of about IL 900 feet and unable longer to
keep himself awake quietly resigned himself to COM
Portable nap.
About 10 o. clock the acronaut was awakened by a
crash, and found that his balloon had descended low
that the in which he enjoying sound sleep had
struck in the top of tree in the middle of small for
est The basket turned nearly over and the sleep
ing thrown violently into the hoop to which
the ropes attached which united the basket with the
balloon. The remainder of his supper thrown out
his wine cast overheard part of his ballast followed
in the descent his bundles OF dispatches and papers kept
them company The shock was SO great split the
scat on which the aeronaut was taking aesta!
The basket rghted in minute, and the balloon, being
relieved Of considerable weight in the way of cold
chicken and other Walnut Street House preparations
for long voyage shot into the air with great velocity
rapid that the aeronau opened his valve in order to pre-
vent going 'away up yondcr amongst the stars. Be-
being stopped the balloon reached elevation of
900 feet and finding the atmosphere dsagreeaby cold
the aeronaut commenced to descend.
Finding good current at an elevation of 5000 feet
Prof Steiner managed to keep his conveyance in it, and
proceeded at speed Of sixty miles hour when he dis
covered Lake Eric but few miles ahead The cement
around his valve had become broken in the collision with
the tree, and he had already discharged considerable
quantity of gas he did not deem it advisable to attempt
to the lake The direction in which he sailing
Sandusky TO Long Point the Canada shore some $50
miles. With dense forest for landing place. to escape
which he would have been obliged travel probably 300
miles, he opened his valve, and rapidly descended
The balloon struck the ground about 500 yards from
the lake. and dragged within 800 yards of the water
before the anchor took firm hold. The landing place
was about half mile from Sandusky city, in
field the farm of Mr.. A. c. Townsend Professor
Steiner called loudly for assistance but falling to
anybody, he cvapomted his balloon and gathering q
shock or two of nsalks, he wrapped himself IN his
blanket and overcoat and lay down by his "Pride o the
West, and slept mntil daylight
After enjoying refreshing sleep Professor Steiner pro-
ceeded 20 the Guln-honsc and arousing the inmates
was carried by Mr. Townsend to sandusky, where he