The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-28

\ carrier pigeon returned I" the
Worlds Fair grounds last midnight
with the message that the Tomlinson
balloon. on its way. 10 Washington.
had found an casterly current Of air
and WIS making good progress.
Professor Carl Myers. the aeronaut.
who set sail from 81. Louis yesterday
for the Washington Monument. fell
with his collapsed balloon one mile
west Of ST. Charles. No. at I:3n last
night. and was uninjured.
He expects 10 return to ST. Louis to-
day. either by balloon-if he can make
the necessary repairs-or by rail.
The other balloon. when last seen,
was drifting to the northwest.
In the presence OF an enormous crowd
at the Worlds Fair late yesterday after
noon the balloon race for $50 to Wash
ington Monument In the national capital
was pulled of. Owing to the direction Of
the wind the race from all apppearances
was to Washington. y. G. via Kansas
City. as the balloons. upon rising above
the palaces and plazas Of the Ivory City
sailed due west. When last seen they
were still headed west.
The great spherical masses of var
! nished silk were hitched all day long TO a
spot In the Sunken Gardens just west Of
the Government building. Here they were
the subjec, OF much interest from the
crowd. SO much SO that when the aero
nauts appeared on the scene ready TO
make the ascent In a try for fame and
fortune the press OF the thronss was ire
mendous.
The casting loose OF the balloons for
the Journey East was scheduled for )
o'clock yesterday afternoon. and the start
was as prompt as that OF a railway train.
The aeronauts. Messrs. George To-llinsor
and Carl F. Myers. were at the sides Of
their aerial vessels ready for the start
some time before the balloons sailed up
"a III liz AAA4- 1 tAAA any 80
| cast loose they busted themselves exam
ming the tackle OF the great inflated
spheres and otherwise preparing for the
journey through the clouds.
AS the time for the flight approached
and the ships had been made s.ug for the
long journey the ~aeronauts boarded the
cars and PREPARED to cast off. They took
with them provisions and supplies sunl-
t--. e. f. 80. ~ sr--zFF--A-
also took in the car with him three car
rier pigeons to release at different points
during the journey.
Are you all ready. gentlemen sang
out the starters voice.
All ready replied the aeronaurs with
one voicc.
Then the starter lifted MS pistol and
fred. While the smoke curled up. the
order came from the a~eronauts TO their
helpers to let go the anchor and both bal
looms arose. Tomlinson's vessel had slight
ly the lead and kept It while the balloons
were in sight.
There was hardly any perceptibie breeze
stirring, and crowds watched the spheres
with curiosity TO sec in what direction they
would sail for the Washington Monument.
Man proposes and God disposes. and the
balloons turned tai or the point Of TIE
compass where Washington Is and sailed
| almost due west. with a slight tendency 70
the north.
The balloons attained a height OF per-
haps SO feet. when they caught the air
current blowing from the cast. and start
ed on tt.'ir westward journey. keeping
that ounse as long as they remained in
sight.
Shortly after attaining the course. Ny
ers let out ballast as he approached the
space over the Machinery building. and
the sand trickied from the great height
on the heads and down the necks of Wig
itors walking on the ste below.
When he had cleared the bounds OF the
Fair grounds. Tornlinscn released a car
rier pigeon. bearing 4 greeting. The faith
full bird set out for his home and arrived
there A short time after being released.
The pigeon IS the property Of John Par
kinson Of No. 1919 North Euclid avenue.
where he was homed.
Until the two air craft were bu: n
finitesima! specks on the horizon the in
mense throug continued to crane thc!r
necks in the long gaze upward al the sail
ing balloons. Tbs was about s O'Clock. at
which time they were still sailing north
OF west.
Besides his supplies and the pigeons
each aeronaut carries with him scientific
cash LAMPS. new things in navigation OF
the air. with which they will sweep tn.
heavens at night or when making i noe
turnai landing. As soon as either aero
naut lands he will telegraph to tie EXPO
sition grounds. The race Is for stakes Of
$500. There are no conditions to the con.
test, and the balloon which lands nearest
to Washington Monument will get the
prize OF 500
The ascension was the event Of Liberal
Arts Day ard the crowds made the Sunken
Gardens. where the balloons were An
chored. the objective point Of their steps
early in the day. when the direction Of
the balloons were seen there was much
speculation as to the winner. 1t was the
general opinion of spectators that. undar
the conditions. 1t would be a Ioafirg race
and that the race would go to the sIowest
balloon. which Jagged behind sufficiently
to be nearest to Washington Monument
when the landing was made. As one spec
tator put IT,: The race goes TO the man
who lands farthest east OF Washington.
pR-