M'arthur Democrat

The Balloon Race---Their Ascension--Meeting in Mid-Air---Incidents of Travel---Fearful Collision!----Rapid Travel---Landing of the Balloonists.

The ascension made from the City Lot on Monday last, by the great balloonists, Prof. J. H. Steiner and Monsieur Godard, was most brilliant as the thousands that were gathered in and on the outside of the lot, on the tops of houses, and every other available place from whence a sight could be had, are ready to testify.-- The air was clear and balmy, the wind being slightly in the north-east, and the voyagers in the upper air moved off, apparently, at a very slow rate.

Before losing sight of the city, Steiner hailed Godard with the exclamation,

"What a magnificent view!" "Oui, monsieur!" replied Godard, whereupon he produced a bottle of wine, from which he filled a couple of glasses--one for himself another for his passenger, Mr. Wm. Hoe!--and then proposed, as a toast, "This great Republic!" Professor Steiner was prepared to meet him, and so he exhibited a bottle of Catawba, filled a glass, and drank the sentiment, whereupon they gave three cheers.-- Godard then proposed to his companions, "The great American aeronaut, Professor Steiner." Steiner then reciprocated by toasting, "The celebrated French aeronaut, Mons. Godard." Now, it came the turn of the passenger to propose a toast, who gave, "Our sweethearts and wives!" This was drank with three hearty cheers. What a scene for us on terra firma to imagine!

During the transpiration of this extraordinary incident the voyagers had reached an elevation of five thousand feet, and were about two miles from the city. Just then Steiner saw that Godard's balloon was gradually approaching him, and he was apprehensive that a collision would take place. When they got to an equal height, in the close proximity they were, Steiner's balloon took the wind away from Godard's, and made it almost stationary, which caused him to shout out to Godard to let go some of his ballast which he instantly did, but not so quickly as to prevent Steiner's balloon from striking the basket of the other --a collision that prompted Godard and his companion to reach over and push the balloon out of reaching distance. It was a moment of fearful suspense, but in another instant Godard shouted out: "All right--no danger."

But a minute or so before, Godard had disposed of a bag of his sand, and after the collision he began to ascend at a rapid rate, reaching, in a few minutes, an altitude of from 14,000 to 15,000 feet. After that, Steiner says, they never came within speaking distance.

Steiner then threw over a small portion of ballast, and rapidly ascended to an elevation of 10,000 feet, where he struck a strong current of air, north by north-east, which propelled him at the rate of 35 or 40 miles an hour. After parting with his compagnon du voyage, Steiner closely watched for Godard's balloon, and saw that he was gradually descending--he even went down to within 500 feet of the earth--which induced Steiner to suppose he was about to make a landing. Not so, however: it appears that he was merely skimming along for his own amusement, and for the purpose of creating an excitement among the country people.

At that time Steiner found he was gaining an advantage by keeping in the upper current where he was coursing along with the speed of the wind. At the time Godard made his descent they were within about thirty-five miles of Cincinnati, and he (Steiner) noticed that Godard soon began to ascend, when his attention was attracted to the beautiful panorama below, upon which he gazed for a few moments with admiring eyes. On looking up again in the direction where a few moments before he had seen Godard's balloon, he discovered that it was out of sight, nor did he see it again. He concluded that he had taken an under current which took him a south-east direction.

Steiner passed Dayton at half-past six o'clock, when he sent down several dispatches. Soon after which Dayton disappeared in the distance. At about ten o'clock, in consequence of the fatigue he had undergone during the day, together with the change of atmosphere, he fell asleep, when his balloon, left to itself, descended and struck a tree, capsizing the basket and spilling him in the netting: fortunately, the basket immediately righted, and, nothing daunted, he again took his seat, but not without having lost his provisions, his water and a part of his ballast, which so lightened his balloon that he commenced a rapid ascent, which prompted him to open the
valve of the machine to overcome the ascending power.

On taking a careful survey, which was near the hour of ten, he found he was within a few miles of Lake Erie, which, in his then condition, having lost his ballast and substantials, he did not feel like attempting to cross into Canada. He consequently made preparations for a descent, and landed without any difficulty in a corn-field at ten o'clock and thirty minutes, within three hundred yards of the lake and about the same distance from the corporate limits of Sandusky. On landing he tried by some good loud yells to find the whereabouts of somebody, but as he could not he secured his balloon, made himself a bed of some corn shucks, wrapped himself in his mantle, and laid himself down to pleasant dreams.

In the morning he found that he had landed upon the farm of a Mr. Townsend, who aided him in packing his balloon and getting it to Sandusky.-- He left in the cars yesterday forenoon, having shipped his aerial car by Adams' Express, and when about twenty miles this side of Sandusky who should get upon the cars but Godard with his balloon, who had safely landed in that neighborhood. They both arrived in the city last evening. Godard conceding, we learn, that Professor Steiner is the champion balloonist of America.--Cin. Enq.