Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-03
YANKEE CAPTURES PRIZE
American Army Lisutsnsnt Carries CT
Bonsrs in Balloon Race
TAKES TROPHY AND Cash FOR DISTANCE
Cup offered by James Gordon Bennett
BECOMES Property of Aero
Club OF America as
Result.

PARIS Oct 2-All the uncertainty re-
gsrdng the result of the balloon race for
the James Gordon Bennett cup, started
from here on Sunday afternoon. was ended
at noon today, when a dispatch was re-
ceived by the Aero club announcing that
Hon. c. c. Rolls and his companion. Colonel
Capper. in the balloon Britannia, landed at
sandringham Upland at $3.50 last night.
thus establishing that Lieutenant Frank p.
Lahm, Sixth cavalry United States army.
the American competitor in the race who
descended near Whitby yesterday afternoon
In the balloon United States. is the winner.
Sisnor Won willer Italy, is second; Count
de Ia Vaulx, France. third, and Hon c. $.
Rolls Great Britain fourth.
Some anxiety was felt on account OF Mr..
Rolls, 1t being feared that he had at
tempted to cross the North sea. The delay
in reporting his descent is not yet ex-
planned.
Lieutenant Lahm's friends are enthusi-
astic over his victory. with the exception
OF senior Salamanca, the Spanish aeronaht.
I.ahm was the youngest competitor. Since
| his assignment to the cavalry school at
Saumur Lahm has devoted much attention
! to aerostatics and his rapid advance as an
aerial pilot has already attracted consid-
!
sions4during the summer, the longest voy-
age being from st. Cloud to st. Brieuc.
Took Fathers Place.
The lieutenant took the pace of his
father in the race, the latter. who is the
best known American seronaut in Paris
being called home on Saturday. Major
Hersey's trip as Lieutenant Lahms assist
ant was quite accidental. A Frenchman.
Levee. had been selected as his assistant
but the Aero club of France protested, and
Major Hersey, who has just arrived here
| from Norway with Walter Wellman, leader
( of9the Wellman- Chicago Record Herald ex-
petition, eagerly seized on the chance
Lieutenant Bahm, who is expected to ar
rive in Paris today, covered Ais miles
against $40 miles covered by Won .Willer, his
nearest competitor.
The beautiful cup presented for competi-
tion by James Gordon Bennett becomes a
trophy of the Aero club of America. The
first cash prize of $1,000 goes to Lieutenant
Lahm and the endurance medal to Mr..
Rolls, who was the longest in the air.
Lahm in London.
LONDON, Oct. 2-Lieutenant Frank p
Lahm, Of the Sixth cavalry, United States
army. winner OF the international balloon
race, arrived in London this afternoon from
| Whtby. where he spent the night. The
| lieutenant and Major Hersey his compan'
! ion during the trip described the voyage a:
having been most delightful. the weather
favorlng them from the start until shortly
before the finish, when an easterly wind
sprang up. taking their balloon. the United
! States. down near the cliffs near Whitby.
! After the start. Lieutenant Lahm said, q
westerly wind carried the balloon ovel
western France. and then, yeering north
westward. took her across the channel from
| just north OF -Caen to eastward of Chi
chester. They had a beautiful moonlight
! night for crossing the channel and greatly
1 enjoyed the experience. The balloon was Sc
| low and maintained her equilibrium so wei
!. that the aeronauts were enabled 10 see per
/ sons on the decks of the channel steamers
After crossing the channel the wind tool
the United States almost directly north
along the coast, and had the breeze CON
! tinued favorable, Lieutenant Lahm said
| there would have been no trouble in reach
! ing Scotland. AS il was an east wind sprans
| up and was carrying the balloon back sea
ward, 50 the aeronauts made leisurely
descent. the Lieutenant climbing down the
guy ropes TO inquire the way to the station
As the wind was favorable. the Americans
continued their journey towards the rail-
| roads. descending not far from the station
While the trip entirely without incl
dent. lieutenant Lahm gives much of the
credit for the success of the United State:
| to Major Herscys meteorological knowledge
| and the major says that the lieutenant
management of the balloon was perfect.