Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1858 — Result of the Balloon Race. [ARTICLE]

Result of the Balloon Race.

[Frorn the Cincinnati Commercial.

The great Balloon Race is over, and Young America, represented by Prof. J. H. Steiner, is the victor! He has proved himself the Champion aEronaut of America, and a match for one of the most skillful and daring French Professors. THE STARTING THE CHASE EXCITING INCIDENTS. The balloons started from the city lot at four o’clock twenty-one minutes, Prof. Steiner leading off in his “Pride of the West,” followed closely by Mons. Godard in his “Leviathan.” The latter gained rapidly upon its rival for the first mile or two from town, until the zEronauts were within speaking distance when less than three miles from the city, both moving about twenty-five miles an hour. Alons. Godard sailed up majestically beside the Prof, when the latter greeted his rival with a welcome, and pointed to the beautiful sight which everywhere met the eye. “Magnificent,” responded the representative of France. Mons. Godard then introduced his friend and passenger, Mr. Win. Hoel, to Prof. Steiner, and at the same time proposed that they should take a r friendly drink. Both -Eronauts opened a bottle of wine, when Mons. Godard proposed the toast — “To the Great, Rep'ublipJ’ This was drank with a will in sparkling Catawba, when Prof. Steiner gave the fol-, lowing: “To Mons. Godard, the justly celebrated French .Eronaul.”

The J compliment was returned by Mons. Godard—“To Prof. Steiner—the greatest -Eronaut in America.” Mons. Godard drank “bottoms up,” and-' his companion followed suit, and then, after ] filling their glasses, Air, Hoel gave a toast — “Here’s to our sweethearts and wives.” ] “Three cheers for that,” shouted Prof. ] Steiner, as the balloons were coming nearer together—and the three joined heartily in n “hip—hip—hurra!” . i THE. COLLISION BETWEEN THE R A I.LOON <. ] Scarce five minutes after, the balloons came in collision, at an elevation of some, 5,000 feet from the earth! Tha balloon of Prof. Steiner drove rapidly toward its rival, so that the basket of the latter struck the former about midway of the balloon. Mphs. Godard and tfrsGioinptlnion promptly forced it off’ with their hai ds, and Prof. Steiner shouted to AlonS. Godard to throw out ballast, which he did. and rapidly rose above the Pride of the West, and out of danger of any further contact. The jEronauts were not again within speaking distance during the race. Steiner started ahead at an elevation of about 9,000 i feet, and gradually gained upon his coinpetitor. He found a strong current of air, and taking advantage of it by keeping at about the same elevation, made rapid progress. Mons. Godard soon after commenced to descend to within five or six hundred leet of the earth, creating the greatest excitement among the country people, who shouted like an hundred steam whistles. Mr. Steiner still kbpt the current which ] was carrying him rapidly north by northeast, at sd hight of about 9,000 feet. At ] six o’clock he opened his basket of provisions, and sat down to an excellent supper, which he partook of while driving through the air at the rate of about fifty miles an hour! At five minutes past six he passed over Dayton at an elevation of about 10,0.00 feet. He cast overboard several dispatches, but found that the wind was so strong that they were carried several miles from the city. Nothing could be seen of Mons. Godard, and Mr. Steiner concluded that he had taken the under current and gone south-west. He passed several towns, and sent down dispatches, but as he could hear nothing from the inhabitants, concluded that he was unobserved, and kept on his course. THE -ERONAUT GETS ASLEEP AND BRINGS UP IN A TREE TOP. About half past eight o’clock, the zE rollout became very sleepy, and found it almost impossible to keep awake. The cold was quite benumbing. He sung songs, overhauled his traps in the basket to divert his attention, ami finally attached about 3,000 feet of a guide line to iiis wrist, so that it he descended the drag rope would awake him. He then threw out ballast and ascended to an elevation of about 11,000 feet, and .unable longer to keep himself awake, quietly resigned himself to a .com-

sortable nap. About ten o’clock the -(Eronaut was awakened by a crash, and found that his balloon had descended so low that the car in which he was enjoying a sound sleep, had struck in the top ot a tree, in the middle of a small forest. The basket was turned nearly over, and the sleeping -Eronaut was thrown violently into the hoop to which the ropes were attached which united the basket with the balloom. The remainder of his supper was thrown out—his wine was cast overboard — a part of his ballast followed in the descent; his bundles of dispatches kept them company. The shock was so great as to split the seat on which the zEronaut was taking a siesta! The balloon righted iu a minute, and the ballbon being relieved of a considerable weight in the way of cold chicken and other “Walnut. Street House” preparations lor a long voyage, shot into the air with great velocity, so rapidly that the aeronaut opened his valve in order to prevent going “away up yonder”"amongst the stars. Before being stopped, the balloon reached an elevation et 12,000 leet, and finding the atmosphere disagreeably cold, the aeronaut commenced to descend. Finding a good current at an elevation of 8,000 feet, Prof. Steiner managed to keep his conveyance in it, and proceeded at a speed of sixty miles an hour, when he discovered Lake Erie but a few miles ahead. The cement around his valve had become broken in the collision with the tree, and as he had already discharged a considerable quantity of gas, he did not deem it advisable to attempt to cross the Lake. The direction in which he was sailing would have carried him about north by north-east from Sandusky to Long Point, on the Canada shore, some 150 miles. With a dense forest for a landing place, to .escape which he would have been obliged to travel probably 300 miles, he opened hi« valve, and rapidly descended.