The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-10-06

T< HOSE interested in balloons or in the general
subject Of aerial navigation. that includes
pretty nearly everybody nowadays turning
their attention to ST Louis, where the second
great balloon race Of the world will start from
closure in Forest Park Monday, October q, at $50
o'clock IN the afternoon.
It is to be the long distance flight the
ternational Aeronautc Cup. by Lieut. Frank p
Lahm of the Club Of America, first inter
national from Paris last year Should the cup be
three times in succession by American il will
become the permanent possession of this country All
international conducted under the auspices
OF the International AeronautiC Federation and in
cordance with rules governing the cup races.
As now arranged, eleven balloons wifi take part in
the event America will have three, England three,
Germany three, and France Italy Spain had
intended compete but failing comply with certain
established rules OF the contest became necessary
eliminate them The balloons be viii be the
ordinary type, but will be among the largest
IN the world and viii be started their under
the most favorable conditions possible 70 obtain
The will be the alone unless the
lack OF wind should make necessary to award the
prize upon duration It is likely however,
course viii be necessary, and the winning race
Will depend much upon the skill OF the aeronaut his
knowledge Of varying air currents and the judgment
uses in keeping his balloon in the that
carry him most swiftly in direction.
Each balloon viii have two occupants the pilot or
chief aeronau and his companion The balloons will be
OF the larger type will inflated with gas espe-
cally manufactured the purpose the ascension
q n,
once in the air there viii be further communication
with the earth until the finished With ordinary
conditions the winner Of the trophy may expected 20
travel through coudand twenty-four hours
and his landing may be from 300 800 miles more
from the starting point
The best distances recorded in the international bal
loon which Brussels on September II
Of this with hirtyfour competitors were made by
the English balloon Zephyr the Swiss balloon Cogn
&C Both exceeded $50 miles
As soon possible after coming 10 the earth the
pilot will communicate by telegraph the exact time and
locality OF his descent all the reports have
been received and properly verified the winner will he
announced As the cup now by the Aero Club Of
America all balloon enthusiasts particularly eager
that It should remain here Consequently especial
terest centers in the men who part in the
race These, with the clubs they represent are.
France-Aero Club of France two balloons: pilots
Alfred Leblanc and Rene Cashier; aids. NJ Mix and
Charles Levee. Three entries originally received
from France but only two pilots named up TO Au-
gust p after which time names could not be filed
England-Aero Club OF the United Kingdom three bal
looms pilots and companions, Hon C. S Rolls Griffith
Brewer, Prof A X Huntington, J. T. c. Noore-T,ra-
bacon, Lord Royston, and Mr.. Brazon.
Germany-Deutscher Luftschiffer- Vervand three bal
looms, the Dusseldorf Pommern and the Schwaben:
pilots and aids respectively Capts Won Abercron and
Hedmann and Oscar Erbsloh. No companions have
been named to with Erbsloh Heidmann Abercron
and Erbsloh were pilots in last years races
America-Aero Club Of America, three balloons; pilots
Lieut. Frank P Lahm. with Mai. Henry f. Herzay as
alternate. his balloon the United States: Alan r
Hawley, in his balloon. St Louis and J. C. Meow
in his balloon, the America.
While it is practically decided that the race is to be
for distance only, it is possible conditions NAV arise
which will modify race in some particulars Under
Article II the international rules is this provision.
The contest shall be distance but this NAV he
changed into one for duration, subject atmos-
pheric conditions The decision is be made bv the
contest committee which Is empowered 10 make
any change up to the moment of departure"
Article III Of the rules determines the nature Of the
apparatus to be used reads as follows.
The contest shall open 10 aerostats ~ tho third
fourth and fifth series of the general rules Of the In
ternatonal Aeronautc Federation and motor aerosats
the latter that by previous performances
they have given signal conclusive proof of Ibit
Should the club holding the cup wish to admit anna
ratus Of other series It obtain prior to Apr the
authorization Of the international Aeronautc Federation
which shall determine the conditions of admission Tho
admission Of apparatus for locomotion other
than aerosats and motor shall be determined
directly by the International Aeronauc Federation
within the time"
On the day following departure of the balloons in
the international contest however there will be contests
for aerOplanes and Siderable balloons near St Louis
Prize money amounting 5000 for series has been
amassed.
For days nights following the start from Ct
Louis practically the entire population Of the United
States and Canada will become sBy-gazers. Everybody
will keep turned heavenward ia the expectation
Of seeing Of the big balloons drifting along for no
one, not even the pilots themselves viii know what
the air craft they have' reached
the upper currents
No doubt scores of unreliable reports come from
al parts OF the country because the eye
bird far up in the air the fragment OF cloud may
look very like balloon person who expects 70
see balloon and story that somebody saw some
thing that looked like balloon is usually sufficient to in
spire some other somebody dash a telegram that
large air ship passed the town, sailing low that
it narrowly escaped the church spire
With favorng winds conditions il is not AT
all unlikely that the winner race may come down
very close to the Atlantic Every village and ham,
let between Boston and St Louis on the look
out and unless the landing in some spot remote
from telegraph or telephone wires the record of each
contestant viii be known York within one hour
after the voyage is finished
There little probability the balloons will travel
west from St Louis. During October the prevailing
winds at that point from the west and southwest
hence it is expected that the general direction Of the
race Will be toward the northeast The dis
lance from the starting point either ocean is so great
that there is little apprehension that score but is
not at all impossible should theswnds blow steadily from
the south and southwest that some of the aeronsuts
may find themselves very close the shores OF the
Great Lakes before they ready descend In that
event they must choose between cutting short the voyage