The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-08

fore being swallowed up in the gloom of
the smoky distance.
Without a Hitch.
The Isle de France, the first of the
French contestants to get under way, and
regarded as one of the most likely bal
looms in the race, was third to get the
starters word and took a course just
above that followed by the United States.
The Dusseldorf. another of the Ger
man contestants, was fourth away and
followed the Pommern to the higher altt-
ltudes. where they were Joined later by the
Abcrcorn. the last OF the German trio,
and the smallest balloon in the race. The
three German hip were the last seen,
the higher positions they occupied max
ing them visible longer than the st. Louis,
the last Of the nine balloons to ascend.
The only English balloon. the Lotus H.,
formerly the Nivienne w., went up with
out a hitch.
The first excitement attending a possible
mIshap did not come until the start of the
America. sailed by ]. c. Mccoy and Cap
tain &. DEF. Chandler. When released
the America stood stationary for several
minutes and then glided of directly
toward the big grandstand erected at the
edge of the starting field. In their efforts
to acknowledge the Demonstration in their
honor the a%eronauts did not notice the
danger until shouts Of warning went I'D
from the W. stand. Then Chandler
reached for a ballast bag and was about
to heave it overheard when a gust of
wind swept the basket clear of the dodR-
ing heads of the alarmed people. This
excitement was repeated with the ascent
OF tine ST. Louis.
Hours Of WAITING.
Sin of the competing balloons were still
visible when the st. Louis assembled. and
the crowd waited and watched In the
coming night until the last OF the bal
looms had disappeared. Then came hours
of waiting for possible reports Of the
wandering aerolauts. The first OF these
came to the Associated Press from Bonnie
Terre, Mo-. sixty miles due south of st.
Louis. 1t was to the effect tina q balloon
had been seen over that place at 7.aO
O'Clock. Another report came in . dis.
patch to the Associated Press from EfrinR-
ham, ILL.,. ninety miles due east of 81.
Louis. A balloon passed that place at
7:3O. 1t was high In the air and travelling
fast in an easterly direction. THIS same
balloon or one Of the other contestants
WAS seen from Mason, ILL.,, twelve miles
below E%ff;ngham.
Another report came from Tayloryille,
ILL.,. near Eningham. to the effect that
two balloons passed over that place.
Pana. H.. reported three balloons there
at S o'clock.
Sketch Of the Winner.
Mr.. Erbsloeh is a wholesale merchant
and amateur balloonist. He was born
in Elberfeld. Germany, and going into
the army at an early age served in a
curaissier regiment. He is known wide
ly through his native country as a
horseshow exhibitor. His aeronautic
experience dates from 1904. In 1905
he qualified as a pilot in the national
Herman b%ailooning society. OF which he
is a director. He has nude hfty-two
free a%scensions, landing In Germany,
France. Holland and Belgium
His most noteworthy voyages pre-
vious to his latest achievements in
winning the international cup were
from Dusseldorf to Scrau, $40 miles,
and from Paris to Diuxe. Twenty-Five
hours. He was m aid to Won Aber-
cron, of the balloon Dusselldorf. In the
international race last gear In the
Pommern he won the Brussels compe-