The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-10-23
BALLOONS BREAK
RECORD; UNITED
STATES IN LEAD
Aerial Racers Scattered and
All Still Aloft at
Last Reports
FLY TO GREAT LAKES
Major Hersey of Weather
Bureau Seems Certain
of Being Winner
PASSES INTO CANADA
English, French and Ger
man Craft Remain in
Sight of the America

ST. LOUIS. Oct 2z.-Scsttered
through the state of Ohio. with one
or two balloons trailing in the vicin.
Rity of the great lakes, and another
last heard from in Chatham, Ont, al
nine of the big balloons participating
In the second international seronautic
cup races were still in the air tonight
Throughout the afternoon reports OF
balloons at various points in Ohio
have been coming in, while Detroit
first sent word of the contestant
which sfterward passed over the
Canadian border and was last seen at
Chatham
The identity Of only four of the
balloons has been proved. Mccoy and
Chandler first reported their presence
at Marion, Ohio. Their last message
was to the effect that-tE1e America
would descend on the borders of Lake
Erie, probably IN the vicinity of
Cleveland.
The German balloon Pommern, No. l
IN the race, passed over Cleveland late
this afternoon, and its pilot, Erbsiosh,
dropped 8 note saying, Open water
ahead All we'll" The Pommern had
been reported earlier in the day in the
interior Of Ohio.
note dropped during the morning
81 New Augusta, Ind, near Endianapo-
lis, conveyed the information that the
NaIoon passing was the Lotus IL the
only English entrant in the race
The French balloon Isle de France
dropped 3 message for the Associated
Press Al Columbus, Q.
There has been much speculation
here as to the identity OF the balloon
which passed over into Canada with
apparently a wide lea in the big race.
The balloon is reported to have flown
two American flags. and this fact is
accepted by some as showing that the
balloon is the United States, with Ma
sor Henry B. Hersey of the United
States weather bureau as pilot The
United States was the winner Of the
international race Of 1906. All of the
contestants We're decorated with flags
aud bunting and there is a chance that
the theory OF the leader being the
United states may be upset. The
Aero club officers are inclined 10 be-
liepe however. that there can be no
mistake as to the identity OF the leader
and are freely predicting that Major
1Iersey viii be the winner OF the con
test The balloon reported at Detroit
and later at Chatham evidently had
followed the course which Major Her
sey forecasted he would take.
There seems no doubt that the record
made IA the race from Paris last year,
l09 miles. viii be exceeded by practi-
caIly every balloon IN the present race.
Nearly all Of the balloons reported in
C.io have covered more than that dis
tsnoe. while those on the great lakes
are more than 100 miles ahead of the
record.
All Of the balloons have gone to the
east and northeast. One vagrant car
was reported At 7:45 p. m. tonight as
passing wau0egan, Ill. just north OF
Chicago. Oh the edge OF Lake Michigan.
The balloon America reported to the
Associates Press that it had been
within sight Of three other balloons
during most OF its journey. One of
them undoubtedly was the English bal
loon Lotus II and another the Isle de
France. The race between the four is
being watched with great interest.