New-York tribune., 1906-10-01
BALLOON RACE STARTS.
Great Crowds Watch the Sirteen
Cars LeaUe Paris.

Paris. Sept 3O-sixteen balloons. averaging
over 1000 cubic metres capacity each and rep
resenting seven countries, sailed away from the
Tuileries Gardens. in the heart Of Paris. this
afternoon in the first competition for the Cor
don Bennett Cup for International Aeronauts.
The contest was primarily long distance race
The date had been carefully set at time when
the prevailing winds usually from the west
in the hope Of giving the aeronauts an oppor-
tunity TO break the record Of Count de Ia Vaux'
made in 1900 when his balloon landed IN Koro-
stychefr. Russia, having covered 1,1S5 miles IN
81 hours 40 minutes. But unfortunately to-day
the wind was light. hardly more than eight miles
hour and almost due east. thus making the
shores of the Atlantic the limit Of distance and
robbing the occasion Of it's Importance as a
test OF long distance aerial travelling. On THIS
account the race was keen disappointment TO
the aeronauts. The rules OF the contest. how
ever provided that in case Of unfavoraole at
mospheric conditions the judges could. at their
option make the test one Of endurance to remain
in the air.
Nevertheless. spectacle. the snair was
success. It is calculated that more than mill
ion people saw the balloons they sailed away
A quarter Of million had gathered inside the
Gardens, while the Place de la Concoroe, the
bridges over the Seine the ernbankments or the
river. housetops and all other coigns Of vantage
for miles around were black with people Inc
terraces IN the Gardens had been reserved for
invited guests. They were occupied by prorni-
nent seronauts. as we'll many distinguished
visitors from various countries the forei- Dip
louats here and the French Ministers OF War
and Marine The foreign military attaches are
especially interested In the affair. II being re-
garded as a great test of aeronautics and much
more than mere sporting contest
DUMoNT HAS NOVEL PLAN.
Massed military bands enlivened the crowds
with music while they waited The start was
preceded by the flight of hundreds OF trial bal
loonettes and the loosing Of five thousand hom-
ing pigeons. Each contestant is an experienced
aerial pilot. but contrary to expectations Santos
Dumont one of the two representatives Of the
Aero Club of America, proved to be the only one
TO have novelty. For. the purpose OF keeping
afoat long possible, ne had equipped his
car with 6-horsepower vertical propeller with
the object of Hftin" and lowering his balloon
without dscharging any OF It's precious ballast.
The enthusiastic cheers Of the multitude which
greeted the ascent of Santos Durnont showed
that he favorite. Major Hersey. the COM
panion to Walter wellrnan in the Wellman
polar expedition, acted as assistant 10 Frank P.
Lahm. lieutenant in the Sixth United States
Cavalry. the other American competitor.
Each balloon carried a scaled recording ba-
rometer. arranged TO work for twenty-tour
hours. and a number Of envelopes, to be thrown
out every two hours in order to mark the indI-
vidual trail Food for three days was also on
board each car. Not the slightest accident
marred the start. Each balloon in turn scared
aloft amid the plaudits OF the crowd and driftsd
gracefully away 20 the westward.