Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-01
Sixteen Balloons Participate in
Gordan Bennett Cup
Trials
MILLION PEOPLE SEE EVENT
Santos Dumont Furnishes the Novelty
Of the Day in Propeller Equipped Car
Two American Balloons in the
Race-Would Break Long Distance
Record Of Count De La Vaulx.

Paris, Oct. 1.--Under perfect weather
conditions and with a light east wind
sixteen balloons, averaging over 1000
cubic meters capacity each and rep
resenting seven countries, sailed away
from the Tuileries gardens, in the
heart Of Paris, yesterday afternoon in
the first competition for the Gordon
Bennett cup for international aero
nauts.
Fully million eyes were turned up
ward as the great balloon fleet started
on its aerial race against time. More
than $4,000 persons were gathered in
side the gardens, while the Place de la
Concorde, the bridges over the Seine,
the embankn,ents of the river, house,
tops and every coign of vantage for
miles around We're black with people.
Americans in Contest.
The contestants with the names of
their balloons are as follows:
America - Santos-Dumont. Two
Americans.
America - Lieutenant Frank P.
Lahm, United States.
France-Count De La Vaulx, Wal
halla,
France-Count De ST. Victor, Foehn.
France--Jacques Balssn, City Of
ChateaurouS.
German-Captain Abercron. Dussel-
dorf.
Germany--Herr Scher Schwaben.
German-Baron Won Hevald, Pot
mern.
Great Britan-C. S. Rolls, Britain
MIA.
Great Britain-F. H. Butler, City of
London.
Great Britain-Professor Hunting
ton, Zephyr.
Spain-Lieutenant Herrara, Ayayay.
Spain-Senor Salamanca, Norte.
Spain-Captain Kindelan, Montaner.
Belgium--M. Van Den Driesche,
Ojouki.
Italy-Signor Vonwiller, Ellie.
Distinguished Personages Attend.
The terraces in the gardens, reserv-
ed for invited guests, were occupied
by prominent aeronauts of Europe, as
well as many distinguished visitors
from various countries, the foreign
here and the French min
listers OF war and marine. The for
eign military attaches are specially in
terested in the event, it being regard
ed as a great test of aeronautics and
much more than mere Sporting con-
test.
The start was preceded by the flight
of hundreds of trial balloonettes and
the loosing Of 500 homing pigeons.
Not the slightest accident married the
start Each enormous balloon in turn
SCARED aloft amid the plaudits of the
crowd and sailed gracefully away to
the westward.
Dumont Furnishes Diversion.
Each contestant is an experienced
aerial pilot, but, contrary to the ex
pectations Santos-Dumont, one of the
two representatives Of the Aero Club
of America, proved to be the only one
pose of keeping afloat as long as posi-
BILE, he had equipped his car with a six
horse power vertical propeller with tie
object of lifting and lowering his bali
loon without discharging any of its
precious ballast. The enthusiasts
cheers Of the multitude which greeted
the ascent of Santos-Dumont showed
that he was favorite and quite as
popular as his French rivals. Major
Hersey, the companion to Walter
wellman in the north pole expedition,
acted as assistant to Frank P. Lahln,
lieutenant in the Sixth United States
cavalry, the other American COMPETE
tor.
cording barometer to work for twenty
four hours and number of envelopes
to be thrown out every two hours in
order to mark the individual trail. Food
for there days was also on board each
car.
Light Wind Disappoints.