The Red Cloud chief., 1907-10-25
RACING BALLOON UNITED STATES
COMES TO EARTH IN CANADA.
LANDS NEAR HAMILTON, ONT.
German Craft Last Reported az Whiri.
ing Across Lake Erie In a Gale.
Other Bslioons Scattered over
Ohio and Mssx viroioia

Other Balioons Scattered over
Ohio and West Virginia.
st. Louis, Oct. 2S.--The beginning
of the n Of the greatest ballooning
race ever held In America, the SET
ond contest for the international
%aeronautic cup, was ~signaled by the
landing Of the American balloon, Unit
ed states, at a point twelve miles
south OF Hamilton, Ont, near the
shore OF Lake Ontario. The United
States is believed to have held the
lead in the race at the time OF land
ing and in its twenty-five hours of the
fight from st. Louis had covered a
distance of approximately 700 miles,
measured IN an air line. The United
States is the present holder of the
cup and the record for the race, hav-
ing established it in the flight from
Paris last year at 400 miles. The pilot
of the balloon is Major Henry b. Her
sey of the United States weather bu.
reau at Washington. who acted as aide
10 Lieutenant Lahm of the United
States army, who piloted the balloon
in it's winning ace OF 1906.
The nearest rival to the United
States is believed to be the big
chrome yellow German cruising bal
loon, the Pommern. which was last
reported as whirling across Lake Erie
in the teeth of a t~hirty-ive mile gale.
The Pommern passed over Cleveland
during the afternoon and sent down a
message reporting "All we'll" 1t is
figured that the Pommern was but a
little distance behind the United
States during the afternoon. and If
she is able to remain up after cross.
ing the lake there is a belief that she
may excel the excellent record of the
United States.
With the exception Of the United
States and the PomInern, all of the
ether contestants seem to be scattered
over Ohio and West Virginia. Dis
patches have come from Minnesota,
from Wisconsin and from northern
illinois, reporting balloons in those
localities. bat they are given slight
consideration here by the experts who
believe all OF the cars must have taken
a northeasterly direction soon after
the start.
Trial Trips Of A~irships.
In preparation for the race OF
dirigible balloons or airships, sched-
uled for this afternoon. three of he
big c~igar-shaped vessels made trial
trips. One of them, the California Ar
row, sailed by Captain Thomas S.
| Baldwin of New York, performed in
a wonderful manner and seemingly
was capable OF any feat desired by
| the pilot. The Arrow made two as
cents, moving against the wind at a
| rapid speed, turning in almost its W
length and twice alighting at the
starting point, with the grace of a
| bird. The second trip OF the Arrow
was a demonstration of its maneuver-
| ing qualities in a contracted space and
was given for the benefit of several
officers of the United States army,
who were present. The airship made
three circuits of the ballooning en-
| closure, "A square measuring about 100
| yards in either direction.
An exhibition which promised to
p%arallel that of the Arrow was cut
| short by the breaking down of the
motor in Charles J. Strobeis airship,
the "Strobel," which was sailed by
| Jack Dallas, an experienced aeronaut.
The Strobel was about 700 feet high
when the accident occurred and al
most directly over the crowded Grand
stand. Immediately the motor stopped
the big vessel darted downward and
there were wild cries of alarm from
the spectators. Dallas seemingly re
gained control for "A time and threw
out a long drag rope. 1t failed To
reach the ground by more than BOO
feet. Seeing This the operator made
his way along the slender frameWorh
OF the under structure TO the release
valve of the big gas bag. Opening II
gradually and balancing the unwieldy
machine as best he could, he descend
cd.
Another exciting incident was the
flight Of Cromwell Dixon, the sixteen
year-old lad Of Columbus, o., in his
Sky Bicycle" This is a smaller
model of the type used by Baldwin
and Dallas, with the exception thai
the propeller is operated by Il bicycle
arrangement, propelled by the aero
naut Young Dixon demonstrated the
dirieibility of his machine by turning
two or three times and then sailed
away to the northwest. directly over
st. Louis, being unable TO make head
way hack to the grounds against thu
wind.