The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-10-26
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| rrron Ne c,ss,unaA Gasssss.1
Result % the lsalfeoo = ace-Profeaeou
stcinc-. - --.s ~scan Aeronant. Vic
Nam An l.ae Asr-Ucsurm oI lhc Nes
renauSs % the City. a
The great Balloon Race" ID over. and Youna
America, represcnted by Prot. J. b. Steiner
y the victorl He has proved himself the
Champion Aerenaut Of Amsrica, and match
for one Of the most skilful and daring French
Professors.
THE srARrISa-rHE cHAsE-ExcIrIxa INCL
The balloons started from the city lot at four
o'clock twenty-onc minutes, Professor Steiner
-.Dg Off in his " Pride of the West" fol-
lowed closely by Monsieur GODDARD in his " Lee
viathan.' The latter gained rapidly upon bis
rival for the first mile or two from town, until
the Gronauts were within speaking distance
when less than three miles from the city, both
moving about twenty Eve miles an hour. Mon
sieur GODDARD sailed up majes.ically beside the
Professor, when the latter greeted his rival with
| . welcome, and pointed to the beautiful sight
which every where met the eye. Magnif-
cent" responded the representative of France.
Mons. GODDARD then introduced his friend aud
passenger, Mr.. William Hoel, to Prot. Steiner,
| and at the same time proposed that they should
| take friendly drink. Both Eronauts opened
bottle Of wine, when Mons GODDARD proposed
| the toast
"1o the Great Republic"
| This was drank with q will in sparkling
| Catawba, when Professor Steiner gave the
| following
"To Mons. GODDARD, the justly celebrated
| French Eronaut."
| The compliment was returned by Monsieur
Go lard
ITO Prof. Steiner, the greatest -Eronaut in
America"
Mons. GODDARD drank "bottoms up" and his
companion followed suit, and then, after filling
their glasses, Mr.. Hoel gave toast
"Here's TO our sweet hearts and wives.
"Three cheers for that" shouted Prot. Stein
er, as the balloons were coming nearer togeth-
err, and the three joined heartily in 8 :" hip-hip'
harral"
THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE BALLOONS.
Scarcely five minutes after the balloons came
in collision, at an elevation OF some 5000 feet
from the earthl The balloon of Prot Steiner
drove rapidly towards its rival so that the bas
ket OF the latter struck the former about mid
way of the balloon. Mons. GODDARD and his
companion promptly forced off with their hands,
aud Prot. Steiner shouted TO Mons. GODDARD to
throw out ballast, which he did, and rapidly rose
above the Pride OF the West and out of danger
OF any further contact.
The aronauts were not again within speaking
distance during the race. Steiner started ahead
at au elevation of about 6, 900 feet, and gradu-
ally gained upon his competitor. lie found a
strong current of air, and taking advantage of
it by keeping at about the same elevation,
made rapid progress. Monsieur GODDARD soon
after commenced to descend to within five or
six hundred feet IF the earth, creating the
greatest excitement amongst the country peo-
pie, who shouted ike an hundred steam
whistles.
Mr. Steiner still kept the current which was
carrying him rapidly north by northeast, at a
height of about nine thousand feet. At six
o'clock he opened his basket Of provisions; and
sat down TO an excellent supper, which he par.
took Of while driving through the air at the rate
of about fifty miles an hour.
At five minutes past six he passed over Day.
ion at an elevation of about ten thousand feet
He cast overheard several dispatches, but
found that the wind was SO strong that they
were carried several miles from the city
Nothing could be seen of Mons. Godatd, and
Professor Steiner concluded that he had taken
the under current, and gone southwest. He
passed several towns, and sent down despatch.
es, but as he could hear nothing from the In.
habitants, concluded that he was unobscrved,
and kept on his course.
THE AERoNAUT GETS ASLEEP AND BRINGS UP IN
TREE TOP.
About half past O'clock, the -Eronaut be-
came very sleepy, and found it almost impossi-
BILE to keep awake. The cold was quite benumb-
ing. He sung songs, overhaued 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 an elevation of about 900
feet and unable longer to keep himself awake,
quietly resigned himself to comfortable nap.
About ten o'clock the Eronaut was awakened
by crash, aud found that his balloon had des-
ceuded SO low that the car in which he was en-
joying a sound sleep, had struck III the top of .
tree, in the middle of u small forest. The bas.
ket was turned nearly over, and the sleeping
-Eronaut was thrown violently into the hoop TO
which the ropes were attached which united
the basket and the balloon. The remainder of
his supper was thrown out-his wine was cast
oyerhoard-a part of his ballas. followed in the
descent his bundles of dispatches and papers
kept them company. The shock was so great
as to split the seat on which the Aeronaut was
taking his siesta
The basket rightcd in a minute, and the bal
loon being relieved Of considerable weight in
W
Street House preparations for long voyage,
shot into the air with great velocity, so rapidly
that the aronaut opened his valve in order to
prevent going away up yonder," amidst the
stars. Before it was stopped, the balloon
reached an elevation OF L, 900 leet, and finding
the atmosphere disagrecably cold, the erona "
commenced TO descend.
Finding a good current at an elevation of
5000 feet, Prof Steiner managed to keep his
conveyance IN it, and proceeded at speed of
sixty miles an hour, when he discovered Lake
Erie but few miles ahead. The cement around
his valve had become broken in the collision
with the tree. and as he had already discharged
a considerable quantity OF gas, he did not deem
it advisable to attempt to cross the lake. The
direction in which he vas sailing woula have
carried him about North by North-East, from
Sandusky to Long Point, on the Canada shore,
some $50 miles. With "a dense fores. for land
ing place, 10 escape which lie would have been
obliged to tEave! probably 500 miles, he opened
his waive, and rapidly descended.
Tile ARoSAUT GOES TO sLEEP IN CORN FIELD.
The balloon struck the ground about 500
yards from the lake, and dragged to within 800
yards Of the water before the anchor took a
hrm hold. The landing place was about bait IL
mile from Sandushy City, in a corn field on the
farm of Mr.. A. @ Townsend. Prot. Steiner
called loudly for assistance, hut failing to arouse
| any body, lie eyaporated his balloon, and ga
| tdering shock or two OF corn stalks, he wrap
ped himself in his blanket and orercuat, and
lay down by his PRIZE of the West" and slept
| until daylight.
After enjoying refreshing sleep, Prof. Stein
er proceed 10 the farm house and az ousing
the inmates, was carried by Mr.. Towpsend to
Sandasky, where be shipped mis- balloon by ex-
press TO this city, and himself took .ne morning
train.
All this time irom six o'clock, Prof. Steiner
had had no knowledge of his competitor in the
race, bat on arriving at y station on the rail-
road, some fifteen or twenty miles from San
dusky, Mons. GODDARD came on board with his
monster "Leyiathan." He had landed near
hunts Corners, some eighteen miles this side OF
Sandusky.
RECONCILIATION or TIME.
The Eronauts started at 4:2l, and Mons. Co
dard landed at about twenty minutes past ten
having been up about six hours. Prot. Steiner
| landed at 1910, having been in tho air ten or