Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-21
NINE AIR RACERS
STRAIN IN LEASH
Big Balloons All Ready to Start
at St. Louis.
COMPOSITION OF TEAMS
Weather Is Favorable and Good
Contest Likely.
START LATE THIS AFTERNOON
Lahm's Winner Of the Paris Race Is
Among the Entries-Consider-
able Betting Done.
Balloons and Pilots.


- 1
sun shining brightly overhead and the
wind in a northeasterly direction and
blowing briskly the aeronauts from all
over the world who are here to particf-
pate in the Sreat international balloon
race for the Bennett cup this afternoon
put on the finishing touches to their
plans this morning and then settled down
to wait all expectant for the time for
the start to come The wind will carry
the balloons toward Lake Michigan, ac-
cording to the prediction of the weather
bureau and its fulhllment is now indi-
Gated. According to arrangements the
pilots were required to be at their bal
looms with their aids at least two hours
before the staring time. o'clock.
Tomorrow there will be a contest for
aeroplanes. or flying machines, of the
heavier than-air-type. with total cash
prizes of 800. Wednesday there will be
a contest for airships and vehicles of the
Ighter-than-air-type, with total prizes of
81, 500, and Thursday the contest of flying
will be held. Friday will be "free-for air
day. in which any kind of air craft may
participate.
All the aerial contrivances have reached
St. Louis and are being assembled in
Forest Park on an elevated site far
moved from wires and smokestacks The
ballooning ground proper is about 100
yards wide by 40 yards long and is in
closed by d fence of wire netting. Twenty
feet inside this fence there is another
wall of netting. this inner court being
served exclusively for the aeronauts and
contest officers. Through the center of
the inner court runs a twelve-inch gas
pipe from gasometer with a capacity of
100000 cubic feet, one of the largest in
the world.
Everybody Anxious.
ST LOUIS October 21.-With brilliant
autumn weather and snappy racing cur
rent in the blue depths of the sky, nine
mammoth balloons representing -four OF
the great nations of the world. will start
this afternoon in the slanting rays of the
setting sun on a journey which should
add an important chapter to the history
OF aerial navigation.
The contest is officially known as the
second international aeronautic cup con-
test, and the prize. "A massive silver
trophy and s2,500 in cash, VII be award
ed TO the pilot yhose skill and daring
lands his car the farthest from the start
ing point AS each OF tn" balloons is of
sim lar design and material, the race will
go To the aeronaut-FrenCh, English Ger
man or American-who is capable of TAX
ing the best advantage of favorable winds
and who loses the least ground under
adversely. The race also marks the entry
of the United States into active com
petition with the Eu -op-an nations in a
field which has been left almost exclu-
slvely to them in the past.
Lahm Is Absent.
II was through the winning of the cup
last year in race from Paris by Lieut.
Frank L. Lahm of the United States
Army that the contest was brought this
year TO this country. The three Amer!-
can teams which will start this after
noon are all that are allowed to enter
under the rules of the competition, but
SO great has interest grown in the sci
ence OF ballooning in the United States
that the Aero Club of America which is
In active charge, could easily have en-
tered many times the number of balloons
permitted
Considerable interest attaches To the
fact that the balloon in which Ijeut
Lahm set the record for the race at 4Or
miles last year will start today and will
carry as pilot Maj. Henry B. Hersey OF
the tnlted States weather bureau who
acted as aid to Lieut.. Lahm. The latter
VINO Is III In Paris, is unable to take part
Two German balloons that were in the
nrst competition, the Dusseldorf and the
fommeTn. are also among todays start
ers
Will Be Spectacle
The first OF the balloons will be sent
away at pm. central time, and the
Others will follow at hve-minute intervals
The aeronauts are wishing for a breeze
which Will carry them hull down on
the horizon Of the upper deep" before
the next starters are cut away but IL is
generally expected that four or five oi
the big inflated balls of vanished cotton
Will be in view at the same time Those
who Will witness the event purely as \
spectacle are hopeful for such a con.
oltlon and would rather like to see the
balloons shunted about on variable cur.
rents until night closes in on the SQUAD
ron of air vessels. Varia BILE winds. how.
ever, are the terror of the long-dis;anct
baAoonist. an e!ghty-mile hurricane be.
ing far preferable in the Judgment of a
man GIFTED in the handling of sand ballast
and gas taps.
First away will be the German balloon
Pommcrn, with Oscar Erbs!oeh as piIo
and Prof. II. ii. Clayton of the Blue Hi
observatory, Hyde Park Mass as aid
The two other German contestants will
start in fourth and eighth places Amer
lea S three teams will start second, sixth