Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-06

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BALLOON ASCENSION.
At twelve o'clock a goodIy number ofpeo-
| pie was gathered around the central sec-
ton of the northern portion ofMonumental
Park, with anxious faces turned in the di
rection of Prof. steiner's balloon, which was
tuggi2g away like q huge bubble at confn-
ing ropes, in process of imitation. The
crowd increased till about halfpast faHr P
NJ, when the ascension took place, but at no
time was IT very large or very enthusiastic.
The imitation being complete, Prof. Steiner,
A. H. Hazsn, Esqy of the Union Foundry,
and Mr.. S. B. Porter, the member of the
local press fraternity who drew the fortu-
nate lot emitting him to the ascension, took
their seats in the car or basket, when it was
discovered that there was not sufficient as
cending power in the balloon, and that one
OF the party must necessarily disembark.
Mr.. Porter, therefore took again Ia terra
frDa and at halfpast four the balloon rose
splendidly with two aerial voyagers, about
four hundred pounds of ballast and fifty
pounds of ascending power, taking a east
sOuth-easterly direction before a pleasant
though not a brisk breeze. There wee
course loud cheers, wavinss of pocket hand
kerchiefs, &c. Five minutes elapsed and
many Of the spectators having gratifed
their curiosity began to dispense, when
practiced eyes saw that some accident had
happened to the aerial ship and that she,
after having risen to height of about five
thousand feet, was nearing the earth with
astonishing rapidly. The balloon was OBJ
served collapsing with upwOnted haste, and
the dull streaKs of sand from the ballast
bags could be seen in the sunlight. Still
nearer the earth and the anchor was cast
out Then followed the sand bags and their
contents, and the seats of the basket, in
order to tighten snd ascend, but in vain,
and q descent was made in a grape
arbor near the Kinsmsn street Driving Park,
at about three miles from the place of as
cent. The anchor caught in the t~rellises of
the arbOr. These suddenly breaking way,
Mr.. Hazen was thrown from the car,
through the arbor to the earth, but fortu-
nately not seriously injured. This tighten
ed the balloon so that it rose with a bound
about forty feet, but Mr.. Hazen recovering
himself caught to a hanging rope and was
dragged ten or twelve rods, when a Mr.
Rogers, who happened TO be near, assisted
in wrapping the cord around a post, making
captive the bird whose wings are the wind.
By means of this rope the balloon and Prof
Steiner were brought safe to land. About
six o'clock the two voyagers returned to the
city, bringing the collapsed balloon and the
basket.
Had there been three men instead Of two
the consequence would doubtless nave been
injury or death to some or all of the party.
To explain the cause of the short flight
and rapid approach to the earth, it will be
necessary to slate that there is a safety
valve of wood in the top of a balloon from a
foot to two feet in diameter. Now when a
balloon is ascending too rapidly to afford a
fine view Of the country passed over, it be.
ome necessary to open the valve by
means Of a cord running from it to the car
through the center of the balloon. This
valve from some cause refused to work, and
upon Prof. Steiner's pulling upon it, it split
completely in twain, and Of course the gas
escaped beyond the power of control.
Hence the necessity of casting out all avail
abe ballast.
The ascension was beautiful and very
successful, but the short flight, though una.
voidable, was unsatisfactory. This was
Prof. Steiner's two hundred and ninety
second aerial voyage. HelcaYes for Cincin-
matt this evening, going thence to ST. Louis.
where he will make a series of topical as
tensions, or ascensions in which the balloon
is secured by q rope and allowed only to
rise a certain height.
DRUGGED AND ROBBED.
A young man named Thomas Judge. Iiv-
three miles from Hudson, was drugged
and robbed on Wednesday BY some person
or persons unknown. In the evening he
wandered down the river towards the depot
and the last place he remembers stopping
st is the Western Hotel. There he drank
some soda water or something, and this
morning he woke up in a freight car at
the depot minus a lew cost, a new hat, a
new pair Of boots and socks, a good watch
and SIS in greenbacks. When he came to
realizing sense Of his situation, be made
himself known to the authorities at the
depot, and was provided with an old coat
and hat and is making an effort to discover
the thieves.
rIcxIcs AND EXCURSIONS.
There was a large number both of picnics
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