Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-22

loon would be in Minnesota or North
Dakota. Others held the opinion that
the upper currents would send the bal
looms further to the east, near Lake
Huron.
The start of the race was spectacular
and was witnessed by some 10000 per-
sons gathered in Forest Park. In addi-
ton, all st. Louis gaZed skyward dur
ing the late afternoon. but a heavy pail
of smoke obscured the view for any
great distance. AS many as six of the
balloons were visible at one time. the
American contestants being the first to
disappear in the haze along the horizon.
The German balloon Pommern. bright
chrome yellow globe containing 1000
cubic feet of gas, carrying Pilot Oscar
Erbsloeh and A. Botch. was the first
away. The start was made just thirty
flee seconds after the scheduled hour of
o'clock. The other contestants fol-
lowed at intervals of five minutes. AS
each was sent away the crowd broke into
cheers, and until they were we'll out OF
view the occupants of the baskets kept
bowling and waving their hats in ac-
Acknowledgement of the demonstration.
American Team a Feature.
The American team came in for the
greatest share of applause, and when
the St. Louis. entered by the Aero Club
of St. Louis, took flight the shouts and
cheers were louder than all that had
gone before. A military band stationed
in the grand stand played the national an
them Of nations represented as the va
rious foreign balloons ascended.
The St. Louis, the last of the contest
ants to get under way, was greeted by
Yankee Doodle" at first and then, amid
renewed cheering and shouts of giee. the
band struck up Il Don't Know Where
I'm Going, but I'm on My Way"
Just before the ST. Louis was dragged
into starting position a dove alighted on
the pinnacle of the gas bag and remained
there until the balloon was well under
way.
The day was one OF brilliant sunshine.
with just a touch of autumn chill in the
air. In the inclosure at Forest Park
the nine balloons were arranged in two
rows, five being on one side of the CEN
trail line and four on the other. For four
hours before the start gas poured simul-
taneously into the bags from a skeleton
Of specially constructed pipes leading
bic feet of the lightest coal gas that has
ever been manufactured.
Solely a Contest of Skill.
The colors of :he bags ranged from an
Opaque chrome yellow, peculiar to a con-
of cotton cloth treated with
gutta percha, to a light drab transpar-
ency which characterized the balloons
made of vanished cotton. The balloons
CiAdlHCo ildil HilSu houl OSlolS
the race. Then The gas was turned on
full force, and the bags expanded to their
fullness.
None of the balloons was fitted with
dirigible devices, and the contest will be
a test of the skill of the navigators in
taking advantage of the air currents by
adept handling of ballast.
AS the balloons received their full.
charge of gas, the c,inging sandbags were
gradually lowered until they rested on the
to the baskets. Each balloon was thea
allowed to ascend CROUCH to draw three
bags close to the SIDES of the baskets,
where they remained until the word to
start was imminent. Then enough bal
last was removed to allow the balloons
to float foot or more above the ground
At the last word all restraining hands
were removed and each balloon in turn
arose gently to meet the breeze.
During the work Of Initiating the bal
looms one of the French aeronauts de-
tached his pipe with the intention, it was
believed, of waiting until the other con-
testants had completely I'll ed their bal
looms so he could get the last gas. which
is the lightest and has the greatest lift
ing powers. When the matter was called
to the attention of Leo Stevens, in charge
of the imitation work. he angrily approach
ed the Frenchman and compelled him i'm
mediately to reconnect balloon with the
gaSpipe.
One of the competing balloons from st.
Louis that piloted by Maj. H. B. Hersey
of the weather bureau Is reported to have
begun passing over Lake Michigan. The
report came in dispatch received today
by Prof. Willis l.. Moore. chief of the
United States weather bureau, from OBJ
server Bowie. at St. Louis, as follows:
Mai. Hersey reported to have started
across Lake Michigan from Zion City.
just north of Chicago, this morning. 1
think he will make a record trip"
A dispatch received earlier at the
weather bureau was from the weather
observer at Springfield, ILL.,. stating that a
balloon was sighted there at 9:15 O'Clock
last night. was showing lights and was
located southwest of that city and moving
north. Prof. Moore said that the reports
received from the balloons indicated that
the whole flight was toward the north
by only little east, bringing them toward
the great lakes. Referring to the scat
tering of the competing balloons, he
pointed out that balloons on different ele-
vations in the same neighborhood may
take different directions.
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