Albuquerque citizen., 1907-10-24
LEADERS IN RACE WERE
ONLY FIVE MILES
APART
French Balloon Travelled
Nearly as Far as German
Winner of Bennett
Cup Yesterday.
It HOLDS RECORD
FOR ENDURANCE.
"L'Isle de France" Remained I'm
Air Many Hours Longer Than
ANY CompetItor---All Trav-
eled Many Miles From
Straight Course.

Blame, pilot OF the French balloon,
E1sle de France. and K. W. Nix, his
assistant, who landed at Herbert
Vile, N. j., last evening finishing sec
ond In the great race. from st. Louis,
which was won by the German ball
loon, Pommerin, arrived in this city
today. They reached here cold and
hungry but aside from minor dis
comforts had a fine trip.
NIX was born in Franklin county,
Ohio, and recognized familiar scenes
when passing over that neighbour
hood in the balloon.
Pleased With Races.
st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 24.-The Off
GERS of the st. Louis Aero club re-
lation over the success of aeronautic
week. There seems to be little doubt
that a determined effort will be made
next year by American aeronauts to
regain possession of the Bennett cup,
won this year by the German. The
race next year goes to Germany.
Brigadier General James Allen,
the United States army. who wit
messed. all the ascents made here this
week, was much impressed by the
performance Of some of the airships
yesterday, and declared that he
would recommend In his next report
to the secretary of war that several
balloons of dirigible quality be
bought as an experimental work.
Order of Landing.
The victorious German balloon, the
Pommerin, which landed at Asbury
Park by slightly more than five
miles the advantage of the French
contestant LTsle de France, second
In the race, which descended at Her
bertville, N. j., a few miles from
. t,n t. 1T.
west of Point Pleasant. Another Ger
man balloon, the Dusseldorf, stands
third In the race. American entries
are fourth and fifth, a third German
team is sixth, a French team seventh
an American eighth, and the English
ninth.
The Distance.
The unofficial estimated airline
flight of the Pommerin is $50 miles
and that of the LIsle de France Is
S75 miles The Dusseldorf, third,
which landed near Dover, Del, is
estimated to have covered 100 miles.
The official measurements will be
completed at the geological survey
of the United STATES government at
Washington. Only the proc unity of
the Atlantic ocean stepped the won
derful flight of the Pommerin. The
balloon could have remained in the
air many hours longer, and undoubt-
edly would have added several hum
dred miles to her record but for the
expanse of water ahead.
Record for Endurance.
While losing the record and pos
session of the cup, the French team
which sailed L'Isle de France gain
ed the honor Of the record for dura-
ton. Starting from st. Louis at 4:10
p. m, central time, they landed yes
terday at 1:10 p. m, eastern time,
making their time in the air just for
ty-four hours. The previous record
utes, held by Count de la Vlaux of
France. The record for the inter-
national race set by the balloon Uni
ted States in the flight from Paris
last year, was 402 miles. This was
more than doubled by the German
and French balloons, Pommerin and
L'Isle de France. In fact. but one
race failed to exceed the 1906 record.
Results Excellent.
The result OF the race, the first
of its character ever held In this
country. has qualified the United
States. in the opinion OF all balloon
ing experts gathered here. as the
most favorable aeronautic grounds
in the world and many regrets were
expressed that the race of next year
could not be fought out over the
same territory. Germany has OBJ
tained possession of the trophy pre-
sented by James Gordon Bennett,
and the race next year will be at
the home of the German holders.
Final possession of the trophy rests
with the club which wins It three
times. The ualloon United States,
which finished eighth in this years
contest. was the winner In 1906,
gaining a claim on the cup for the
Aero club OF America.
Won $4,000 and Cup.
Aside from possession OF the cup,
the Germans won a cash prize Of
$2,50O. also offered by Mr.. Bennett.
Although the worlds record for
distance, known as 1900 miles. is
held by Count Henry de la Vaux,
there Is some doubt as to whether
thfs distance means a measured air
line flight or the total number OF
miles Travelled in drifting currents.
All OF the balloons in this years
race Travelled many more miles than
the figures with which they are ac-
credited show. but only the air line
measurements are considered In the
a. n - ha r,r4zau