Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-10-22
nine BALLOONS
Continued from page ~

Continued from page 1, 81 IS;
presenting Germany. two for France
and one for England, The basket
of each balloon contains two occu-
pants, the pilot and his aide.
With the prospect of a breeze hold
ing to the southeast and south, many
predictions were made tonight that
the final landing place of the winning.
balloon would be in Minnesota or
one of the Dakotas Others held the
opinion that the upper currents
would send the crafts further to the
east, to find a place of descent east
of Lake Michigan.
The record of the race, establish
ed last year by Lieut.. Lahm of the
United States, in flight from Paris
/ to Flying Dales in the north of Eng
land, is 402 miles, but each aeronaut
3 in the contest today, confidently ex-
pected to exceed that distance. The
start was spectacular in the extreme
and was witnessed by throng gath
cred in Forest park, variously esti-
mated at from sixty thousand to
I50, 900 persons. All st. Louis gazed
skyWard during the late afternoon,
but a heavy pail of smoke obscured
the view from greater distances.
TIE action of the Germans in TAX
ing higher attitudes assisted mater
tally in making the start the splen-
did spectacle it was. ~ ~
Floating away along three levels
as many as six balloons were visible
at one time. The American balloons,
the bright crome yellow globe, No.
4 L in the race was first away, the
start being made just 50 seconds at
ter the scheduled hour, A o'clock. The
other contestants followed at inter
( walls of five minutes. AS each was
away the great crowd broke into
cheers, and until they were well out
of view the occupants of the baskets
were kept bowling and waving their
hands in acknowledgment of the de-
monstrations of good wishes and
good luck. B
The day was one of brilliant sun
shine with Just touch of autumn
chill. In the enclosure at Forest
park, given over to aeronauts, the
nine balloons were arranged in two
rows, the five big ones on one side
of a central line and four on the 9TH
err For four hours before the start
. ing, however, gas was pumped stimuli
taneous1y in bags from a skeleton of
specially constructed pipes. Arrange
ments for the flight of the 1interna-
tional feet were well nigh perfect
/. and there was so much time to spare
at the finish that the contestants had
TO wait impatiently for the command
to be off. 4.
The big German bag, a veteran o.
many European bal1ooning contests,
including the International race of
1906, was the first to start, holding
the head of the line.
The basket which had been prepar-
ed with great care, was stored with
delicate instruments for recording al
titude, temperature, air pressure, and
rise and fall of balloons and provi-
\ stoned with sandwiches. hard boiled
eggs. timed meats and water bot
ties sufficient for three days jour-
ney, was hauled directly beneath the
bag and It was the work of few mo-
ments only TO connect the rigging
which led first from the webbing of
the basket ring and from the ring to
= the basket, Up and up, and drifting
but slightly to the north and west,
the Pommern rose. She had been in
the air but o few moments when
more sand came drifting down. h.
The United States, the first OF the
American representatives to get away
was pushed into starting position
just after the Pommern had cleared
: the ground. The United States was
the balloon in which Lient. Lahm
made his victorious ascent last year
and the first sight of the aeronautie
vessel called forth spontaneous
cheer. Major Hersey. the pilot was
ready for the word to go long before
f. E
A it was given. The balloon was away
on the instant Of 4:O5 o'clock and
was cheered until the occupants were
out Of rang. l>s5<
The United States swept away at
a low level and barely cleared some
OF the stubby trees in the balloon en-
closure She seemed to make far
better time toward the north than
did the Pornmern and was apparently
rSlf xI,x. Il 4 Z <. ~. ,