New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-21
READY TO RACE In AIR.
lERON4UTS OFF TO-DAY.
Second International Contest of Bal
looms Starts an st. Louis.

Ct Louis oct 20-After months of planning
esRs of preparation and days of manual labor, all
arrangements have been completed for the second
,nernational aeronautic contest. which viii begin
tere at ! o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Nine bal
1oons have been entered. representing the United
states, Germany. France and England.
The first international contest was held last year
g, Paris and Lieutenant Frank p. Iahm, Of the
United States cavalry, by flight of 402 miles won
The James Gordon Bennett Cup. the trophy Of the
contest The cup valued at $500, was offered by
lanes Gordon Bennett to the aeronaut covering the
longest distance in single flight If It is won
three times in succession by aeronaut it be-
comes the property OF the aeronautic club of which
he is A member. The winner of the cup in each
International contest by the terms Of the donor,
Will receive in addition a prize Of $500 in cash
together with one-half of the entry fees and for
feits The contestant finishing second Will receive
one-thiyd. and the contestant finishing third the
rest of the entry fees and forfeits.
This second competition for the cup was organ
Ted by the Aero Club Of America, under the rules
~ Tie International Aeronautic Federation and will
h. conducted under the auspices OF the Aero Club
az s. Louis. The first five days Of the week will
te devoted TO aeronauts.
The programme viii open tomorrow. when nine
balloons VIII ascend for the long distance race for
the Bennett cup. on Tuesday there will be a con-
Test for aeroplanes, or flying machines heavier
than air. with total cash prizes OF $500. On
wednesday there will be a contest for aIrships and
-ahCeS lighter than air, with total prizes of $50
OF Thursday the contest OF flying machines for
.~The Scientific American Cup will held Friday
ill he freefor-all day, in which any kind OF air
craft that can get above the ground may partici-
rate in the contest TO win the Lahm cup. To win
mis- the contestant must excel Mccoy and Chan
6lc-'s long balloon flight from ST. Louis 10 West
Virginia last week.
All the air craft entered have reached ST. Louis
and are quartered the plot of ground whence
the ascensions viii be made. at the eastern end Of
Forest Park. about TWO miles from the former site
Of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The start
ing point one Of the highest in city and IL IS
far removed from wires, buildings and smoke
stacks.
The hallooning ground proper is about one hun
dred yards wide by 10 yards long and is inclosed
nv wire netting Two feet inside this fence there
is another wall Of netting. This inner court is
served exclusively for the aeronauts. contest off,
GERS members Of the United States Signal Corps
and the Frenchmen who Will assist in the initiating
A Finch gas pipe 100 yards long, With offshoots
Of smaller piping, from which the cup contenders
viii be inflated. runs through the centre of the in
ner court. The main pipe runs from gasometer
with a capacity OF 100000 cubic feet
On three sides Of the outer Enclosure, gayly dec
GRATED with red white and blue bunting, stands
lave been erected which VIII seat 5000 spectators.
The tents in which the airships and flying machines
are assembling TO wait the departure Of their
larger clu1nsier sisters, the balloons, are on the
south side. the tents of the two provisional
batalions of United States soldiers from Jefferson
Barracks, placed there at the request Of President
Roosevelt, TO guard the grounds and assist the
police.
INTERNATIONAL RACE ENTRIES.
Aeronautic interest centres chiefly on the inter
rational balloon race. According to announcement
Of the Aero Club the first balloon. the Pommern,
viii he sent UP at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
and the others VIII follow at five-mnute intervals.
The balloons entered in the race follow, in order Of
fight: