The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-22
BALLOONS ARE OFF
THE RACE FOR THE BENNETT CUP
 IS NOW ON.
The Scene in the St. Louis Grounds Jmsf Before the start Was Most Uniaue Ever Witneened
 in America.

St. Louis, Oct. 2i.--With brilliant aus tunn weather and snappy racing eur- rents in the blue depths of the sky. nine mammoth balloons representing four of the great nations of the world started this afternoon in the siantin9 rays of the setting sun on . journey which should add ap importance to the history Of aerial navigatlOns
 The contest is qtsess aly known As the second international aaronautic cup contest and the prinS. . massive silver trophy and s2.500 m cash, win be awarded to the pilot whose skill and daring lands his car the farthest from the starting point.
 The scene in the balloon grounds just before the start, was the most unique ever witnessed in America. The balloons were arranged In two lines, five on one side of the central line and four on the other. Some. of the foreign cars fionted pennants of highly colored bunting from the meshes of the webbing covering the big bags, and presented . gala appearance. More than 100 sand bags were required to hold the larger balloons in place until the imitation had been completed, and so great were the girths of the six craft that they gently bumped one an- other at times.
 The arrangements for the start were admirabie and the Pommerin, the first balloon to be put in flight, was ready for the ascent fully an hour before starting time. The American ofilcials, handling their first big contest, were heartily congratulated by the foreign representatives. President Cortland Field Bishop, President of the Aero Club of America reeeved q cabIegram of congratulation and feiicitation from the Aero Club of France.
 The Pommerin fioated away at 4S04 ?. m. on gentle breeze most due north. The band played the German national anthem as the big bag ascend
 The American balloon. United States. No. was sent away at 4:0s D. m. amid great cheering. By the time the United States was in the air the Pon,- merlin had struck current which took her off to the westward.
 The French balloon, Listle de France. No. 4 ascended at 4:10 D. m.
 The German balloon, Dueaseldorf, No. S. ascended at 4:15 1-2 D. m.
 The English balloon, Lotus IT, No. 6, started at 4;20 D. m. v
 The Lotus IT ascended very slowly. as 1t cleared the grounds. All i've balloons were then visible in the air.
 The American balloon, America, No. 2, Mccoy and fChandler's balloon, as- cended at 4:2B D. m. The America barely cleared theNgrand stand, caus- ing an interval of great excitement.
 The Frnech balloon, Anjour, No. 8. started at 4:30 D. m.
 The German balloon, Abercron, No. 3. started at 4:s5 D m.
 The American balloon, St. Louis No. II. last of the contestants. started at 4:42 p. m.
 The St. Louis. after being released, started so low it seemed 1t would strike the grand stand. Only five of the balloons were visible as the St. Louis joined the chase. A dense haze of smoke on the horizon obscureu the balloons which took the lower alti- tudes. As the St. Louis, the last of the balloons to depirt, started away, the band struck up. "I Don't Know Where I'm Going, But I'm On My Way o.
 Six of the competing balloons were still visible wien the St. Louis as cended and the crowd .awahed and watched in the coning night untu the last of the yellow globes lad disap- peared. Then came hours of waiting for possible reports of the wandering aeronauts. The first of these came to the Associated Press from Bonne Terre, Mo, S!Nty mlies que south Oi ol't lfoulS' It was 10 the effect that balloon hnd been seen over that place at 7;S0 o'clock tonight.
 The report was believed to refer to some vagrant or test balloon rattIer than one of the cup contestants.
 Another report came in a dispatch to the Associated Press from Efiingham, Iul. ninety miles due east of St. Louis. that a balloon passed that place at .T:sD tonight. It was high in the air and travelling fast in an easterly di- rectfon. This same balloon Of one of the contestants, was seen from Mason, Ill. twelve miles below Effing gham.
 Another report came from Taylor vile. nl. near. Efingham. to the ef- feet that two balloons passed over that place.
 Pana, Ill.,. reports three balloons there at o'clock tonight.