The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-21
AN A.asl TRIP over Esxe Maehisan.

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lAn tErssI TRIP over. Eske i Maehisan.
Prot Steiner, #ho made q balloon ascen.
sion in Milwsukee on the. 4tii, and passed
over Lake Michigan, gives, an account OF
his trip, which is published fnsthe, Milwau-
kee Ncsos fn the following shapes:i i i. III,
At 61 the ascent was made, the balloon
going north of the Cathedral, clearing the
1steeple by about fifty feet. In fifteen min
utes an elevation OF 5000 feet was gained,
when the ascent became more gradual. at
this time the balloon was some two miles
out over fhe lake. Here most magnificent
view was spread out beneath the delighted
/ eve of the intrepid vogager. The coast
was visible for fifty miles in either direc-
Etiou all the villages and lakes In the
interior were spread out behind him.
while before HIM the vast Iexpanses of
the lake stretched away till the horizon
terminated the eview.,p Thetthermoneter
indicated q temperature of 40o. The Cuff
rent in which the journey was, begun was
Of the. rapidity OF. about thirty miles, an
hour. This held good for some thirty miles,
when the barometer showed an elevation of
10000 feet. AAt this point, and at rthigtre.
mendous height, both shores OF the lake
wereAdsibfe for 100 miles in either ctiop.
The sun was fast sinking. in the west, and
the view was beautiful In the extreme. Here
for over an hour, at an elevation: Of Il, 900
feet, the current, which had sbesn carrying
the balloon to little south Of Grand Haven,
died out, and the balloon was completely
becalmed, not moving o. mile lin. that
time. Forty-eight vessels were counted
moving in all directions. The stiffness
was most intense. The professor says that
in all his experience he never before
had realized such perfect qufet. Not wish
scent to an elevation of some s, 900 feet was
made, with q view OF. continuing it to the
water and being picked up by some vessel
in case no current was found, the car OF the
balloon beiug complete. .life-preserver. at
the height mentioned q current to the south
southeast was struck. blowing about thirty
miles an hour, aud here he'Professor; de-
termined to ren}aan, as 1t wonld carry him
near St. Joseph, Mich. In this, current the
journey proceeded for about an hour, when
the sun went down and the, earth was
shronded in darkness. There was now no
longer any object to be seen, with which to
compare the motion of the balloon and
gauge its rapidity. ,..,r.t.... .... .
In such. o. place, at such time, the sen.
sations experienced are most peculiar.
Prof. Steiner says that loneliness is no
name for the feeling chat came over him.
Beneath him was the black void, overhead
the stars came out one by one. and twin
kled merrfly in the yaulted sky. Toward
the south thunderstorm was seen passing
over Chicago. At last the moon rose in
great beauty, adding new grandeur to the
scene. The sight Is said to have been one
Of the most Splendid, that can be con-
ceived. AT this time 70 o'clock) the balloon
was 5000 feet abovethe lake, some % miles
from; the Michigan shore. BY the light Of
the moon the aspect of the country was
plainly visible Here brisk westerly wind
was encountered, which carried the pro-
fessor in an east-southeast direction at the
rate of fifty miles an hour. Soon the Mich
igan shore was reached, but not finding a
good place to land, the Journey was con-
tinued. Lights are seen; rockets assembled
now and then {; cannon was heard, and. oc-
casionally village was lndiStinctly' seen.
About ten O'clock a railroad train was heard
laundering along, and presently the head
light of the locomotive was seen flushing
among the woods. The balloon was now
going east very fast. 1t was quite cold, the
| thermometer showing $40. The professor
bundled up in his cloak and began to feel
very sleepy. AT length he concluded he
would alight, as he was over fine farming
country, where he could make good de-
| scent. The valve rope was pulled, and
down the balloon went till comparatively
| near the ground. Here fiddling and merry
| voices were heard, and the aronaut
thought this would beaa good place to stop
So, at little after 10 o'clock ,the anchor
was thrown out, and after tearing up q
| .ence, it held on to a good bottom, and
down came the air-ship in cloveE.feld, be.
! side a road leading to Mattawan, a station
on the Michigan Central railroad, twelve
miles this side of Kalamazoo. The descent
was accomplished most successfully, and
once safely landed, the professor heard ]
wagon going past, and called for help,
| when number of young men came to. bis
aid. They were greatly astonished at what
they saw, and still more so when told that
the stranger they beheld came from Mil
waukee direct by the overland route,
never before travelled by mortal man.