Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-30
IS NO FOOD IN SKY
Lack OF A er iaI Eating Houses Stops
Trip or Prof TOmlinson, Bound
for Washington.
HITS EARTH AT WYOMING
And After Having a Square Meal,
Packs His Balloon, and Returns
To st. Louis by Land Route.

Prof George c. Tomlinson, of SYRIA
cuse, n. Y, trying for the $4,000
worlds fair prize for the balloon race
between, St Louis and Washington.
lid not pass over Rock Island yester-
day, as it was expected he might do.
It was announced he had been seen
in the vicinity of Wyoming. which is
on the line of the Peoria branch
Of the Rock Island system. and
was thought he would keep his word,
and give us a call, even if declining
TO come down and meet us on the lev
Il. But the professor did not get this
far. That is the reason we did not
have peep at his ship.
Prof. Tomlinson returned to earth
at Wyoming. He left the earth at
the worlds fair grounds in st. Louis
last Saturday night. In another bal
loon Carl Meyer of FRANKFORT. n. Y.
took his departure at the same time,
and it was their purpose to race to
Washington for the exposition $4,000
prize.
Tomlinson evidently had no fear of
being delayed during his journey. as
he provided himself with few proyis-
.Ons. Hence his descent.
Incidentally Mr. Meyer also failed
to be switched onto the proper air
track as it has been announced
he struck earth again at st. Charles,
Mo. only % miles from ST. Louis
Comes Down to Eat.
Tomlinson, or rather his balloon,
was sighted over Wyoming at 4 o'clock
Sunday afternoon. 1t was a mere
speck in the sky moving slowly to the
eastward.
An hour later it dropped slowly and
gracefully, alighting in a pasture sew
en- miles southeast of town. Curious
persons set out Immediately in pur-
suit of the airship and brought Prof.
| TomlinsOn and his capital-bound bal
/ loon to town. The aerOnaut having
accustomed himself to mundane exist
ence through the night, partOOk of an
earthly breakfast and then packed the
| balloon in its wicker basket prepare
tory to returning to st. Louis.
! He had travelled nearly 800 miles
on his way to Washington, this dis
| lance representing a roundabout trip.
| Il had only two days ratiOnS and
got mighty hungry in 81 hours in the
sky" said TomlinsOn, so | dropped.
| Tomlinson says he expected TO go
to Washington, but his supply of ra
tions would imply that he anticipated
a speedy flight. The aeronaut, unable
to direct his balloon, went with the
wind up the Mississippi river. part OF
the time on the Illinois side and par
of the time in Missouri and Iowa.
Once Talked with the World.
At Burlington he was on the wes
side. but the airS current caught hin
and blew him over into Illinois, g
was very low when | crossed Burling
ton" he said land talked with the peO
pie on the street. How is it up there
asked a fellow. | told him | was get
ting dry. Wait and I'll send up /;
bottle of beer he said. but by this
time | was scOoting over to Illinois.
The wind carried the balloonist as ia
south as Pennington in Fulton county
There, too, he talked with people
found where he was and kept on sail
ing. Over Wyoming Tomlinson wa
800 feet high He had disposed o
his edibles and liquid supply and de
termined to come down. He tried t.
alight in the city but a current of al
caught him and carried him eastward
1t was nearly an hour later before n
could make the earth.