The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-01
SIXTEEN in THE
BALLOON RACE
Imposing spectacles as the Big
Gas Bags Sailed
Aloft.


o'clock this morning, six Of the six
teen balloons engaged in the contest
for the James Gordon Bennett cup,
which started from Paris yesterday at
ternoon, arrived on this side of the
channel, and continued in northeast
erly direction.
The first arrival was Count de la
Vaulx's balloon, Walhalla.
Later in the day several other bal
looms were sighted at various points
in the southern counties of England.
Captain Kindalen's Montaner descend
ed at Chichester after considerable
anxiety lest she be carried out over
the Atlantic. G. s. Rolls Britannia
passed over Cranbrook, Kent, this
afternoon SO high that it could scarcely
be Identified
Paris, Oct. l.-Sixteen balloons, av-
eraging over 1000 cubic meters ca
pacity each and representing seven
Countries, sailed away from the Tuil-
leries gardens, in the heart of Paris.
yesterday afternoon in the first compe-
tition for the Gordon Bennett cup for
international aeronauts.
d The contest was primarily long-d
tance race. The date had been care
fully selected, and when the prevailing
winds were from the west in the hope
of giving the aeronauts an opportunity
to break the record Of Count de la
Vaulx, made in 1900, when his balloon
landed in Korostychef, Russia, having
covered q distance Of l,185 miles in
thirty five hours and forty minutes. But
the wind was light, hardly more than
eight miles an hour, and from the east.
thus making the shores of the Atlantic
the limit Of distance and robbing the
occasion Of It's choice as test Of long
distance aerial travelling. On this &C
count the race was a keen disappoint-
,ment to the aeronauts, who had come
from every corner Of Europe.
lE The rules Of the contest, however.
provided that in case of unfavorable
atmospheric conditions the judges could.
at their option, make the test one of
endurance to remain in the air.
E Nevertheless, as spectacle the event
that over million people saw the bal
looms as they sailed away. A quarter
of million had gathered inside the
gardens, while the Place de la Concorde
the bridges over the Seine, the embank-
ments Of the river, housetops and
every other coign of vantage for
miles around were black with people.
The terraces in the garden had been
held for invited guests. They were &C.
cupied by prominent aeronauts Of Eu-
rope, as well as many distinguished Wis
itors from various countries, the foreign
diplomats here and the French minis
tiers of war and marine. The foreign
military attaches are especially inter
ested in the event, it being regarded
as great test Of aeronautics and much
more than mere sporting test.
All Experienced.
Each contestant is an experienced
aerial pilot, but contrary to expecta
tions, M. Santos-Dumont, one of the
tWo representatives Of the Aero club
Of America, proved to be the only one
to inaugurate novelty. For the pur
pose Of keeping afoat as long as pos
sible he had equipped his car with q
Fix, horsepower vertical propeller with
the object of lifting and lowering his
precious ballast. The enthusiastic
cheers of the multitude which greeted
he ascent Of Santos-Dumont showed
lat he was favorite and quite al
OCULAR as his French rivals.
Major Hersey, the companion Of Wal
ter Wellman in the Wellman Chicago
;secord-Herald north pole expedition
acted as assistant to Frank P. Lahm
lieutenant in the Sixth United States
cdVdlry, Cle OCner American COmpe
Each balloon carried sealed record
ing barometer to work for twenty-fou
hours and a number of envelopes to b.
thrown out every two hours in order t
mark the individ dual trail. Food TO-
three days was also on board each ca,
Not the slightest accident marred tn
start. Each enormous balloon in tur,
scared aloft AMID the. plaudits Of tn
crowd and sailed gracefully away to tn
westward.
The contestants with the names O
the balloons are as follows:
Amerioan-santos-D umont, Two Americas.
Acknowledgements Frank P Lahm Unite
/ States.
Erance-Count De la Vaulx, Walhalla.
7Rrance-Count BEST Victor Foehn.
y France-Jacques Balsan City Of Chateaurou.
Germany-Oaptain Abercron. Dusseldorf.
Germany-Herr Scherl, Schwaben.
9ermany-Baron Won Hevald, Potmern.
great Britain-C. s. Rolls. Brittania.
Great Britain-F. K. Butler, City Of Londo
Great Britain-professor Huntington, Zephyr.
Spain-Lieutenant Herrara, Ayayay.
Spatn-Senor Salamanca, Notre.
6pain-Capta1n Kinderlan, Montaner