Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-29
A Balloon Race-Interest,ng De.c,,n,,o,-

Balloon Race-Interesting Descrint,o
The Cincinnati papers have very full descrintio
tne iate oaloon race between M. GODDARD French
NJ Steiner, American @ronauts The balloou,, and
there ednesday at four and twentvone minuo,S Iet
Prof Steiner taking the lead in the Prdo Clock
West" nj. GODDARD, in The Levathan, soon " the
took. When three miles from the CITY thew i over
each other. NJ GODDARD introducing his c6nn with
uoyage, Mr. VIM. Hod to Prof Steiner TbeTo n1o1 d
each other and drank toasts-then came oc Ptdged
The Gazette says: ''iOn-
| Scarcely five minutes AFTER the balloons came
lsion, at elevation of five Thousand CO.. ~ COL
the earth The balloon of Prof Steiner drove 1s from
toward its rival, so that the basket of the Iat
the former about midway of the balon Mons G Sk
and bis companion promptly forced off with tbe
and Prof Steiner shouted to Mons Go6oJ IN az IShcS,
out ballast, which he did, and rapidly rosa 'rOW
Pride of the West and out of danger and If ~ he
contact. '"' 'er
The aronauts were not within speaking distonoo J..
ing the race Steiner started ahead at an elevation r
OF about 5000 feet and gradually gained upon h VI
petitor. He found strong current of air and toGn
advantage of it by keeping at about the same eevan
made rapid progress. Mons. GODDARD soon agto o
menced to descend to within five or six hundred foot r
the EARTH creating the greatest excitement amonoS M
country people, who shouted like hundred Steam any
whistles. "l
Mr.. Steiner still kept the current which was cor:
him rapidly north by northeast, at a height of LIS
nine thousand feet At o'clock he opened his boo
of provisions and sat down to excellent supnpr wI
he partook OF while driving through the air at the %
of about fifty miles an hour. A"0
AT five minutes past six he passed over DAYTON 81 -
elevation of about ten thousand feet He cact oI
board several dispatches but found that the wind WA
strong that they were carried several miles from tb
city. Nothing could be seen of Mons GODDARD ana Mr.
Steiner concluded that he had taken the undpr no AL.
and gone south west. He passed several towns and son.
down dispatches but he could hear nothing from tbo
inhabitants, concluded that he was unobserved andk
on his course.
About half past o'clock, the aronaut became very
sleepy, and found it almost impossible to keep awake
The cold was quite benumbing He sung sonps oTor
hauled his traps in the basket to divert his attention
and finally attached about 5000 feet of guide line f.
his wrist so that if he descended the drag rope woud
awake him. He then threw out ballast, and assembled
to elevation of about 900 feet and unable longer
to keep himself awake, quietly resigned himself to CON-
Portable nap.
About ten o'clock the aronaut was awakened bv
crash and found that his balloon had descended 50 low
that the car in which he enjoying sound Sleep had
struck IN the top OF tree i'll the middle of small forest
The basket was turned nearly over and the seeping
aronaut was thrown violently into the hoop to which
the ropes attached which united the basket with
the balloon The remainder of his supper was thrown
out-his wine cast overboard-a part of his ballast
followed in the descent-his bundles OF dispatches and
papers kept them company. The shock so great as
to split the seat on which the eronaut was taking
SteSta!
The basket righted in minute, and the balloon being
relieved of considerable weight in the way of cold
chicken and other "Wanut Strret House" preparations
for long voyage, shot into the air with great velocity
so rapid that the aeronaut opened his valve in order 10
prevent going ''away up yonder' amongst the stars
Before being stopped the balloon reached an elevation
of 900 feet and finding the atmosphere disagreeaby
| cold, the aerOnaut commenced to deCend.
Finding good current at an elevation of 5000 feet
Prof Steiner managed to keep his conveyance in it. and
proceeded at speed of sixty mixes hour when he
discovered Lake Erie but few miles ahead The &C.
ment around his valve had become broken in the coils
ion with the tree and as he had already discharged
considerable quantity of gas he did not deem it advs
BILE to attempt to cross the Lake The direction in
which he sailing would have carried him about north
by northeast from Sandusky to Long Point the Can
ada shore, some $50 miles, With dense forest for
landing place. to escape which he would have been obi
ged to travel probable 800 miles, 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 firm hold The landing place
was ABOUT half mile from Sandusky city, in corn
field on the farm of Mr.. A. G. Townsend. Prof. Ste
ner called loudly for assistance, but failing to arouse
anybody, he evaporated his balloon and gathering
shock or two of corn stalks he wrapped himself IN his
blanket and overcoat, and lay down by his Pride OF
the West" and slept until daylight.
After enjoying refreshing Sleep Professor Steiner
proceeded 10 the farm house, ana arOuSlng the inmates
was carried by Mr.. Townsend to Sandusky where he
shipped his balloon by express to this city, and himself
took the morning train
All this time from O'Clock, Prof Steiner had had
knowledge of his competitor in the race, but on ar
irving at station on the railroad some Is 20 miles
from Sandusky, Mons GODDARD came on board with bis
monster Leviathan." He had landed Hunts
Corners, some Is miles this side of Sandusky.
The aronauts started at AL and Mons GODDARD
landed at about 20 minutes past ten-having been up
about hours Professor Steiner landed at 1890 hay
ing been in the air 10 or minutes longer than bis
competitor, and having travelled in the SIX hours and
ten minutes about 230 miles
Both could have Travelled considerably farther but
neither having knowledge Of the whereabouts of the
other and not feeling disposed to attempt to cross the
lake into Canadian forest they descended we have
described and returned to town the Hamilton and
Dayton road last evening.