Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-02
MISCELLA NY .
A Balloon Race....Interesting Descripti

A Balloon ntSdcess-.intereStlnS DeScIlPtlOus
The Cincinnati papers have very full descrip-
tions of the late balloon race between M. God
ard, French, and M. Steiner, American, FRO
nauts. The balloons left there Wednesday at
four and twenty-one minutes o'clock. Prof.
Steiner taking the lead in the "Pride of the
West" NJ GODDARD, in "The Leviathan," soon
overlook When three miles from the city they
spoke with each other. NJ. GODDARD introducing
his compagnon du voyage, Mr.. VIM. Hod, to Prof.
Steiner. They pledged each other and drank
toasts-then came collision. The Gazette
says:
Scarcely FIVE minutes after, the balloons came
in collision, at an elevation of some five thousand
feet from the earth The balloon of Prof Stei-
ner drove rapidly toward its rival, so that the
basket of the latter struck the former about mid
way of the balloon. Mons. GODDARD and his com
panion promptly forced off with their hands,
and Prof. 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 Eronauts were not within speaking dis
tance during the race. Steiner started ahead at
an elevation of about 5000 feet, and gradually
gained upon his competitor. He found strong
current of air, and taking advantage of it by
keeping at about the same elevation, made rapid
progress. Mons. GODDARD soon after commenced
to descend to within FIVE or six hundred feet of
the earth, creating the greatest excitement a.
mongst the country people, who shouted like a
hundred steam whistles.
Mr.. Steiner still kept the current which was
carrying him rapidly north by.north east, at
height of about nine thousand feet. AT O'Clock
he opened his basket of provisions, and sat down
to an excellent supper, which he partook OF
while driving through the air at the rate of a.
bout 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 car
ried several miles from the city. Nothing could
be seen of Mons. GODDARD, and Mr.. Steiner con-
cluded that he had taken the under current, and
gone south He passed several towns, and
sent down dispatches, but as he could hear moth
ing from the inhabitants, concluded that he was
unobserved, and kept on his course.
About half past 9 o'clock, the Hronaut be-
came very sleepy, and found it almost impossible
to keep awake The cold was quite benumbing
He sung songs, overhauled his traps in the bas
ket to divert his attention, and finally attached
about 5000 feet of guide line to bis wrist, so
that if he descended the drag rope would awake
him. He then threw out ballast, and ascended
to an elevation of about II, 900 feet, and unable
longer to keep himself awake, quietly resigned
himself to comfortable nap.
About ten o'clock the Kronaut was awakened
by crash, and found that his balloon had de-
scended so low that the Car in which he was
enjoying sound sleep, had struck in the top Of
tree, in the middle of small forest. The bas
frrn naA IL op1 kha cir inO
Kronaut was thrown violently into the hoop to
which the ropes were attached which united the
basket with the balloon. The remainder of his
supper was thrown out-his wine was cast over
board-a part of his ballast followed in the de.
scent-his bundles of dispatches and papers kept
them company. The shock was so great as to
split the seat on which the Kronaut was taking
O siesta!
The basket righted in minute, and the bal
loon being relieved of considerable weight in
the way of cold chickens and other "Walnut
Street House" preparations for long voyage,
shot into the air with great velocity, so rapid
that the Eronaut opened his valve in order TO
prevent going "away up yonder" amongst the
stars. Before being stopped, the balloon reach
cd an elevation of $4,000 feet, and finding the
atmosphere disagreeably cold, the Eronaut oom
menced to descend.
Finding good current at an elevation of g.
600 feet, Prof. Steiner managed to keep his con-
veyance in it, and proceeded at speed of sixty
miles an hour, when he discovered Lake Erie
but a few miles ahead. The cement around his
valve had become broken in the collision with
the tree, and as he had already discharged con-
siderable quantity of gas, he did not deem it ad-
visable to attempt to cross the Lake. The di-
reCtiOn in which he WAS sailing wonld have car
risd him about North by Northeast from San
dusky to Long Point, on the Canada shore, some
100 miles. With dense forest for a landing
place, to escape which he would have been OBJ.
liged to travel probably 800 miles, he opened
bis valve, and rapidly descended.
The balloon struck the ground about 500 yards