Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-09-02
Air vOyage Aeross Lnke Oman 10.

The successful voyage of Mr.. Steiner from
Toronto across Lake Ontario to the vicinity of
Oswego, was attended with some incidents of
peril His voyage commenced on the oath ult
at Al P NJ, and in fifteen minutes the balloon
attained an altitude of 5000 feet, the wind car
rying it in a southeasterly direction at the speed
Of about 80 miles an hour. An hour later Mr..
s. found himself at height of 5000 feet. In
his narration Mr. S. says:
Heavy masses of clouds to the north and
northwest slowly accumulated, and in msestic
silence floated eastwards. Into their secrets it
was given to the eronaut TO inquire. To the
dwellers upon earth they appeared solid and
dark, but from the side turned skyward deem
caveTns were diseernible in each, filled with the
suns rays, intensely, gloriously bright Bat
though their presence pleased the eye they chill
led the atmosphere. The balloon began to
descend, it required the discharge of consd-
erabie quantity of ballast ere il was brought to
stand. Still further TO add TO the difficulty of
the situation, thick vapour rose up from the
lake which, gathering round the Europa, be-
came condensed on her surface, and added ve.
ry considerably to her weight.
The balloon dropped down with the weight
OF watOr comparatively near the surface Of the
Lake. and was kept aAoat by throwing over
ballast. The Europa was thus lightened until
she sscended higher than before The nara
tive says:
The sun had now gone down. darkness COW
cred the face of the earth. II was very cold,
and an uncomfortable feeling seized upon the
ehal wandcTer His feet and hands became
benumbed, his ears began to acte, and that hi
larty which all voyageurs describe as attendant
upon ascent into rarifed air, departed. By
wrapping himself up, however, he managed to
keep from freezing, and continued on his way.
And now came an event in the voyage which
well nigh proved fatal. When the sun had rnno
down Prof. Steiner had tied the neck of the
balloon to prevent any unnecessary flow of gas,
so that the ascending power might be retained
as long as possible. About eight O'Clock, and
| in the space of five seconds, he suddenly found
himself in the midst Of an immense mass of
yapor. It was pitch dark; he could not eyon
see the balloon which bore him; but soon found
he was rising with an immense speed His
attentive ear was caught by the kissing sound
Of the gas, which was forcing its way through
and instantly apringing into the netting, he felt
that the balloon was distonded to her utmost
capacity. 1t was but the work of moment to
unite the string which confined the neck, and
ont came the hydrogen with a rush, which had
nearly suffoeated the traveller The clouds
disappeared as they had come; and once more
the Europa went calmly on hrr way. To the
north and northeast clouds were still discemi.
BILE, ut elsewhere the staTa twinlled in the
clear heavens. IL was still very cold, but more
gas having been discharged, congenial atmos-
phere was soon reached, About hGlf-past nine
O'Clock Prof, Steiner neared the Little sodus
light, and shortly afterwards he sighted o.
wego.