The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1907-10-24
BALLOON RACE CLOSE
Will TakeOffiCiaI Measurements
to Determine the Winner.
LANDED ON ATLANTIC COAST
Pommern, German, Landed at Asbury
Park and L'IsIe de France, French,
Five Miles Away-Others In DeIa-
ware, Maryland and Virginia.

ware, Maryland and Virginia.
st. Louis, Oct 24-With every bal
International cup competition, which
started from ST. Louis on Monday,
ended with the German balloon Pom
mern winning first prize for the long
est flight The finish of the race was
SO close. however, that the French
contestant, "LTsle de France" which
descended at Hubertsville, N. J., few
miles from the Atlantic coast, may
possibly be declared the winner after
the official measurements are COM
pIeted. The Pommern landed at AS
bury Park, N. j., apparently few
miles further from st. Louis than
Hubertsville.
Another German balloon, the Dus-
seldorf. stands third in the race. Amer
ican entries finished fourth, fifth and
eighth. while a third German team
finished sixth, another French team
seventh. The one English balloon en-
tered fell far short of the others.
The unofficial estimated air line
flight of the Pommern is $50 miles and
that of the LIsle de France Is S75
miles. The Dusseldorf, third, landed
near Dover, Del, is estimated to nave
covered 100 miles. The official meas
Irements will be computed by the geo.
logical survey of the United States
government at Washington.
The United States America came
down near Annapolis Junction, Md;
the United States st. Louis near Bal
timore. Md: the German Abercron at
Manassas, Prince William county, Va.
and the French Anjou near Richmond,
Va.
Only the proximity of the Atlantic
coast stopped the flight of the Pom
Morn. The balloon could have re-
mained in the air many hours longer,
and probably would have added sew
sral hundred miles to her record but
for the expanse of water ahead.
News of the landing of the Pom
mern was received early, and was fol-
lowed by reports of the descent OF
every other contestant In the race,
with the exception of the L'Isle de
France. The race was at once con-
ceded to be between these Two,
and when report was received
to the effect that the French craft
had been sighted in the vicinity OF
Asbury Park, intense excitement pre-.
vailed. Evidently a contrary current
,Ie1A do and hIlW
the vessel back to the southwest. Real
izing that they were losing actual
ground, the occupants of the French
basket decided to make a rapid de-
scent as near the coast as possible.
While losing the distance record and
the cup. the French team sailing L'Isle
de France, gained the worlds record
for duration of fight. Starting from
st. Louis Monday at All p. m. Central
time), they landed Wednesday at 1.1O
o. m. eastern time>, making their
time in the air A hours, minus 1 min
ute. The previous record was Al hours
and minutes, held by Count De La
Vaulx, Of France.
Germany having won possession OF
the silver trophy, presented by James
Gordon Bennett, the race next year
will be in the home Of the German
Aero club. Final possession Of the tro-
phy rests with the club which wins It
three times. The balloon United
States." which finished eighth In this
years contest, was the winner In 1906,
gaining leg on the cup for the Aero
club of America, the newest recruit In
the aeronautic confederation OF the
world. Aside from possession OF the
cup, the Germans won cash prize OF
s2500, also given by James Gordon
Bennett
The worlds record for distance, but
not in a race, is 1900 miles. held by
Count Henry de la Vaulx.