The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-07-19

centuries.
Prof Steiner, the daring @ronaut,
who made an ascension from Milwau-
kee on the Fourth has furnished the
Wisconsin, with the details of his voy-
age, from his log book, which will give
better idea than could be presented
IN any other manner, of the accident
that occusred to him. He says:
Eeft' 4:40Awfnd west i north with
ascending power of 100 lbs. In 10
minutes reached an elevation of 5000
feet going east 4 south at the rate of
As miles an, hour-had now reached
an elevation Of $4,000 feet, losing sight
Of Milwaukee-now surrounded by a
thunder storn-thc lightning flashing
and thunder roaring, making the scene
anything but pleasant one. saw
steamer Detroit blowing her way across
the lake-passed her 35 minutes after
left soon left her far behind-also
saw several sail vessels. The rain now
began to fall fast, and increased the
weight of my balloon so mnch that she
made a rapid descent-it required all
my ballast to be thrown overheard to
keep her afioat-all the earth was shut
out from my view, and the air became
disagreeably cold the thermometer at
3e0-the rain continued for 80 min
utes, when / once more saw the earth
the sun also commenced to shine on
the balloon, the temperature becoming
somewhat warmer, the gas expanding
causing the balloon to ascend very
rapidly; now commenced to congratu-
late myself that the greatest danger
was over-scarcely was I allowed to
get glimpse of the earth before was
shut up again in another thunder storm.
/ now gave up all hope of reaching
the shore before the balloon would
come down, but did all that could be
done under the circumstances-thre
overheard anchor, rope and overcoat
and everything of weight that was left
In the car-but all of no use, down
came the Europa-but not until the
storm passed off when / could see quite
plainly where I was. / found myself
some ten miles from the mouth of the
Kalamazoo river, and the atmosphere
had become almost calm. At 7o'clock
minutes p. NJ, / struck the water
nine miles from the shore, coming down
very gently, and a light breeze still
Blowing from the west But in Is
minutes it hauled to the east and blew
off the shore, drifting me to sea again
could sea no vessel or boat in sight
II found it impossible to reach the
shore-I knew if could get up 5000
feet could strike the western current
Blowing east therefore made up my
mind that would ascend in the rig
ging.
therefore got in the concentrating
hoop, and cut away my car. Now
made beautiful ascension, and in three
minutes reached an elevation of 5000
feet. The sun, which had set, rose up
over the surface of the water again.
I'm fifteen minutes / was over the beach
when / commenced rapid descent,
but was struck by an under current and
driven ten feet into the lake about two
hundred yards south of Kalamazoo
river. The entire length of the voy-
age was 1913 miles, that occupied two
hours and thirty minutes. A short
time after / had landed, crowd of
fishermen gathered around me, and
with their assistance / conveyed my
balloon to the lighthouse, where was
kindly received by Mr.. Nichols, the
light keeper.
Remained there till the morning of
the 9th and then chartered tug to
Grand Haven. My basket came ashore
IL miles north of Kalamazoo river, and
was picked mp on the morning of the
9th. Took the steamer Milwaukee
and returned here at 10 p. M. last
night. Aaf NH.s
70 One of the finest sights, Prof Steiner
says, he ever saw, was the view he had
eftwo sunsets, while on his balloon trip.
He was at a certain altitude the first
time, when he saw the sun. go down
upon Lake Michigan, and then descen-
ded to the waters of the Lake. After
wards he commenced raising again
very rapidly, and soon reached such an
dltituuC tues Iuo uSiy OIU AZ AIN DSSdu
10 rise, apparently from the western
waters, and ere long he was once more
m full sunlight. Then he descended
again, the sun sank beneath the water
second time, thus affording two sun
set views in single day. The Profes-
sor says as the sun appeared to rise the
second time, it was one of the finest
visions he ever witnessed and the en-
tire spectacle was of the most magnif-
cent description.
Professor Steiner says he was not
injured and it is possible that he might
make another ascension from here. He
says there were many incidents in his
voyage of which he made no note, it
having become such an old story to
him that he does not take as full notes
as be used to. This is his s9th ascen-
sion, and he has in some of them un-
dergone the most perilous adventures,
from which it seems miracle that he
should have escaped. ~.
He once had balloon race with the
celebrated Prof GODDARD, and having
beaten him, may be considered the
champion aronaut. He once went up
from Cleveland, and being overtaken
by storm, he jumped out of his bal