The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-10-06

or taking chances on drifting the water trusting
to good fortune and favorable carry them
across
1t is proverb among aeronauts that the balloon has
one enemy-the desire get as far as pos
sble from that enemy Of the reasons for Sc
Letting St Louis starting point for the interna-
tonal contest Nevertheless Lakes Huron Superior and
Michigan almost directly northeast Of St Louis with
Lakes Erie and Ontario and Georgian Bay a the
eastward, and so situated that southeastern wind
would carry the balloons directly into that locality. and
while the lakes less menacng than the ocean their
sufficient an undesirable hazard par-
eularly in the last half OF aerial voyage when ball
last may be welnigh exhausted and the gas somewhat
diminished
Many difficulties physical otherwise which aero
nauts encounter in European race are not found in
America During the International contest in Paris
year ago there was the constant menace Of large
Of water on various sides and was also the pos
sbity that the aeronauts might come down in a sec
ton OF country where they could understand the
language ana where the people might not be altogether
friendly to air travellers.
To guard against any possible troubles Of this sort
each pilot provided with long list Of questions and
explanations. printed in English German French Rus
sian, and Latin that, matter in which direction
his balloon might DRIFT Paris he was rrepared n
explain why and how he had dropped the sky and
10 make known his immediate wherever his bal
loon CHANGED TO come down
The printed slips after explaining tho rar1re ,f tho
international contest asked the name Of the country
name Of the nearest town and railroad station and
asked also that the aeronaut be taken to the mayor TO
be provided with a conveying the balloon and
for such various other things might be needed In
the forthcoming from Louis this precauton viii
not be necessary because there spot between the
Mexican border and the Arctic regions of Canada where
the English language IS spoken and understood
French. English German aeronauts who are n
compete will arrive in New York early this month and
most Of them have planned go at once to St louis
where they will begin preparations for the big contest
several days viii be required unplcking and over
hauling the balloons and the foreign competitors wilt
devote all the time possible Studying prevailing air
currents and maps Of the country. They will also need
some time Tor making general preparations as Sc
ectoh or provisions and other equipment taken on
the aerial trip Usually scientific Instruments of one kind
and another for measuring altitude temperature gpce6
and other aspects Of tile regions taken along
Eatables and drinkables are Of course necessary. il,
the air as well as on the earth but sleep not at least
the aerial do not intend close their ewes from
the time they start until the balloon is safely landed
and aboard train ready for shipment to the nearest
city. Every minute from finish requires vigilance
part of the pilot there Is too much inforst
we'll peril in tie trip permit sleeping Every
experienced aeronaut realizes that balloons as well as
the air currents have their ergac moods and while the
men slept nhey might be dropped lifted thousands of
feet with unpleasant Proper clothing is of
requisite because the higher attitudes are very
cold. and IL is sometimes necessary remain for long
time in the upper stratum of air in order to get the
benefit of certain currents
The for the international aeronautc oyr
held in Paris September 30 1906, and attracted
greater attention among those interested aeronaus
than any previous the For weeks proceed
ing the it the taked-o sporting event in
Europe, and nearly all European put forward
their foremost aeronaUts as competitors.
On the day Of the practically all Paris turned out
to witness the and until the big balloons had
sailed out Of sight little business was done in the CITY
The start from the Tuileres Gardens where oppor
tunity afforded for throngs prepara
tons for the start and follow the balloons as one
after another they gracefully away into
the clouds The Place de la Concorde, the Quais and
the lower part Of the Champs Eysees crowded as
never before, thousands remained gag
ing into the sky long after the last balloon shrunk
in sight TO the merest speck
Following the the anxiety and eagerness to
know the result and the fate of the various competitors
The city of Paris that night and until aeronauts
weSe heard from the following day was in a state of
nervous disturbance The interest great as might
have been shown in the result Of a national cleo
ton, because, in addition to national rivalry for the
victory 1t was an of unusual character and the
possibility of disaster intensified desire to
Although unexpected by some, who believed more ex-
perenced aeronauts Of Europe would have the better
chance, the first international contest was won by an
American in the balloon United States The victor was
Lieut. Frank P. Lahm of the Sixth United States Cav
airy who was given first place upon his achievement
of 40 miles in twenty-six hours and fifteen minutes
Sixteen balloons started in the and several of them
drifted across the Channel in England Lieut.
Lahm came down Scarborough. Santos-Dumont
who represented the Americas the contest met with an