Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-07-17
plaaxprea Of BallOOning'

Prof Steiner left Milwaukee last Mon
day in "a balloon, and had rather an al
yenturous time of it. de went up two
miles. and encountered a terrible thunder
storm when over Lake Michigan. We
condense. from the Milwaukee News OF
the 9Th, portion of the narrative
With the repeated flashes Of lightning
aud heavy claps ofthunder, rain began
to fall very fast. His balloon was soon
saturated, the rain following the
sides of the gas holder down to its mouth
fell upon him in streams, so that he was
soon completely wet through; added to
this the temperature ofthe atmosphere
became very cold, and altogether he
was decidedly uncomfortable. The rain
increased the weight OF his balloon 80
much that 1t began to sink very rapidly.
The Professor thinks the weight O.
his balloon must have been increased, by
moisture, at least 200 pounds, and upon
its rapid descent he WAS compelled TO
throw out all the ballast be had on board
10 order to keep the balloon from going
into the water. Thus lghtened, the
ship again rose. Ia thirty minutes he
had got clear Of the storm.
A little after six o'clock, when he had
been about two hours in the air, ne CO.
countered another violent thunder storm
the atmosphere being very cold and the
Thermometer standing at about IS deg
The teeth of the Professor Chartered like =
pair of castenets in consequence of this
sudden change in the temperature
and the rain falling heavily he was
again made dripping wet, while his bal
loon again commenced rapidly to sink
from its increased weight by water. lie
now gave up all hopes Of reaching the
shore before the balloon would strike
the surface, but he still continued to ex
ert himself to the utmost and did all il
his power to keep her aAoat. Every
thing was Immediately cast overheard
-grappIing irons, ropes aud even biz
over coat, but all was Of no avail. Down
she came into the water, but not until the
storm had passed 80 that he was enabled
to determine where he was. He fount
himself some ten miles from the mouth
Of the Kalamazoo river. The atmos
there had by this time become almost
calm. AT O'Clock and minutes he
struck the waters of Lake Michigan
mine miles from shore, but still goine
toward shore at the very slow rate o.
two or three miles per hour. This pro
gress, however, did not last a great
length Of time as the wind suddenly
hauled around to the east and drove him
further out to sea again.
~ knew,, says Professor S., "that
if could by any means reach an eleva.
ton of 5000 feet, could again get the
great eastern current, bat as everything
had been thrown overheard, had moth
ing to cast loose by means Of which to
tighten my balloon. At once got into
the rigging Off my balloon, and cut away
the car. The balloon Immediately be
gan to rise very rapidly, Thus cIingine
to the rigging, | made the seccmd ascen'
sion. and In three inmates l had attain
ed the desired altitude aud struck the
eastern current, aud in fifteen minutes
more WAS on the beach. now pulled
the valve rope and made rapid de
scent, but was caught by tho under cur
rent and taken out into the water abou,
ten feet. With the aid OF few fisher
men, however, secured my balloon IN.
injured, and had it conveyed to the
Light House. Then occurred passage
to this city on the steamship Milwaukee
and arrived here with the balloon and
car on the night of Friday last none the
worse bodily, for my trip. The Car
drifted ashore IL miles north Of the Kali
smazoo River, on the MOI ming Of the
9th, but when secured it it had been
rifcled of oil its contents. The voyage
WAS 1913 miles, ard occupied two hours
and 80 minutes. Had not encounter.
ed the thunder storms, . greater dis.
tarcc might have been accomplished in
an hour and halt"
Such is tho fearful narration OF thi.