Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-07-19
Pleasures of BalloOning.

Prof. Steiner leA Milwaukee. last Monday
week in a balloon, and had rather an adyen-
turous time of il. He was up two miles, and
encountered a terrible thunder storm when
over Lake Michigan.
With the repeated flashes oflightning and
heavy claps of thunder, rain began to fall very
fast. His balloon was soon saturated, and the
rain following the sides Of the gas holder down
to it's mouth fell upon him in streams, SO that
be was soon completely wet through; added to
this the temperature of the atmosphere became
very cold, and alroge ether he was decidedly I'M
comfortable. The rain increased the weight Of
his balloon so much that it began TO sink very
rapidly. The Professor thinks the weight of
his balloon must have been increased, by mois-
ture, at least 200 pounds, and upon its rapid
descent he was compelled to throw out all the
ballast he had on board in order 10 keep the
balloon from going into the water. Thus light
ed, the ship agaip rose. In thirty minutes he
had got clear ofthe storm.
A little after six O'clock, when he had been
about tw hours in the air, he encountered an.
other VIC ent thunder storm, the atmosphere
being very cold and the thermometer standing
at about % degrees. The teeth of the Profess
sor chartered like pair ofcasianets in conse-
quence of this sudden change in the tempera-
! ture, and the rain falling heavily he was again
made dripping wet, while his balloon again
commenced rapidly to sink from its increased
weight by water. He now gave up all hopes
of reaching the shore before The balloon would
strike the surface, but he still continued to
exert himself to The utmost and did all in his
power TO keep her alloat. Everything was i'm
mediately cast overheard graphing irons,
ropes aud even his overcoat, but all YVES of no
avail. Down she came into the water, bat not
until the storm had passed, so that he was en-
abled 10 see where he was. He found himself
some ten miles from the mouth ofKalamazoo
river. The atmosphere had by Rhis time be-
come almost calm. At o'clock and 8 min
utes be struck the waters Of Lake Michigan,
nine miles from shore, but still going towards
the shore at the vety slow rate of two or three
miles per hour. This progress, however, did
not last great length of time, as the wind
suddenly hauled around very suddenly to the
east aud drove him further out into the sea
again.
III know" says Professor s., "lhat If could
by any means reach an elevation of s, 1000 fee
could again get the great eastern current
but as everything had been thrown overheard
! had nothing to cast loose by maans Of which
to tighten my balloon. at once got into III,
, rig ging Of mig balloon, and cot away the car
The balloon Immediately began to rise verl
: rapidly. Thus clinging to the rigging, | mad
the second ascension, and in thrse minutes
had attained the deiired altitude and struck tn
eastern current, and in fifteen minutes more
was on the beach. | now pulled the valv
= rope and made a rapid descent, but was caugh
by the under current and taken out into tn
water about ten feet. With the aid of fe,
: fisherman, however, | secured my balloon IN
! injured, and had II conveyed 10 the Lgt
House. Then secured passage to this cit
!, on the steamship Milwaukee, andsrrived her
with the balloon and car on the night Of Frida
7 last, none the worse, bodily. for my trip. Th
. car drifted ashore about IL miles north of III
) Kalamazoo river. on the morning of the gu
! but when secured it if had been rifed Of a
y its contents. The voyage was 1903 miles, ar
occupied two hours and 30 minutes. Had
= xot encountered the thunder storms. great
= distance might have been accomplished in
= hour and half"
q Such is the fearful narration Of this darir
~ eronaut's seth ascension.