Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-10-25
NINE BALLOONS START IN RACE
TERNATloNAL AERIAL CON-
TEST BEGINS AT ct. LOUIS.
Nearly 100000 People Witnessed the
Start Of the Race-German Bal
loon Went Up First.

st. Louis, Mo- - Drifting along
in direction just west of north, when
lost to view in the haze of falling
night and with a freshening south
east breeze behind them, nine big bal
looms are competing for the honors
attached to the winning of the second
international aeronautic cup race.
Conditions seem ideal for record
breaking fight.
sitter wind would have been
more welcome to the occupants of the
wicker cars, but the five-mile breeze
of the lower air stratum gave promise
of splendid racing currents in the
higher attitudes. The Germans made
for the upper courses right from the
start. The French and English aero
nauts selected a middle depth, while
the Americans raced away at an alti-
tude which seemed to take them just
clear of trees and houses.
The st. Louis, one of the largest
balloons in the race, came so close to
the grand stand that it was seized by
soldiers and swept back to safer
starting point, whence it was sent
away two minutes after the Official
word to go was given.
In the race there are three balloons
representing America, three repre-
senting Germany, two for France and
one for England. The basket of each
balloon contains a pilot and his aide
With prospect that the breeze
would hold towards the northwest,
many predictions were made last
night that the final landing place Of
the winning balloon would be in Min
nesota or North Dakota. Others
claimed that the upper currents would
send the balloons further to the east,
near Lake Huron.
The start of the race was spectacu-
lar and was witnessed by soem 100,-
900 persons gathered in Forest park
In addition all st. Louis gaZed sky
ward during the late afternoon, but a
heavy pail of smoke obscured the
view from any great distance, Six
balloons were visible at one time, the
American contestants being the first
to disappear in the haze.
The German balloon Pommern, a
bright chrome yellow globe, contain
ing 1900 cubic feet of gas, carrying
Pilot Oscar Erbsoleh and A Rotch,
was the first away. The start was
made just 80 seconds after the sched-
uled hour of 4 o'clock Monday. The
other contestants followed at inter
walls of five minutes. AS each was
sent away the crowd broke into
cheers, and until they were well out
of view the occupants of the baskets
kept bowling and waving their hats in
acknowledgment of the demonstra-
ton.
Reports as to the whereabouts of
the balloons which started, in the race
were received last night. From Ef-
fingham, Pana and Taylorville, ILL.,,
three towns about 80 miles east of st.
Louis, dispatches came stating that
three balloons passed there between
and 9 o'clock. At the headquarters of
the Aero Club of America a telegram
was received stating that balloons
were passing over Montgomery City,
Mo-, at 8 p. m. Montgomery City is
70 miles northwest of st. Louis. These
reports are easily reconcilable be-
cause of different air strata.
Jacksonville, III. - Two balloons
passed over Jacksonville Monday
night, lights in the baskets being
plainly visible. The first balloon
passed at 1880 p. m, about 5000 feet
high, carrying d red light and going
northwest. A second balloon, travel
ing so near the earth that the voices
of those N the basket could be heard,
passed at l1:l5 o'clock