The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-21
BALLOON CONTEST WILL BEGIN TODAY Four NationaIitieS Will Be
 Represented ALL PLANS COMPLETED International Championship For Bal loon Flight Is Held By Lieut.. Frank p. Lahm of United
 States Cavalry.
ALL PLANS COMPLETED

St Louis, October 2O.-After months of planning, weeks of preparation and days of manual labor, all arrangements have been completed for the second interna- tional aeronautic contest, which will be held here this week beginning at 1 o'clock on Monday afternoon. Nine bal looms have been entered representing America, Germany. France and England. The first international contest was held last year at Paris, and Lieut. Frank P. Iahm of the United States cavalry, by flight of 4O2 miles, won the James Cor don Bennett cup, the trophy of the con- test. The cup is an object of art in massive silver, valued at s2500, and was offered by James Gordon Bennett to the aeronaut covering the longest distance in a single flight. If the cup is won three times in succession by an aeronaut 1t then becomes-the property of the aero- nautic club of which he is a member
 The winner of the cup in each inter- national contest, by the terms of the donor. will receive in addition a prize of s2500 In cash, together with one-half of the entrance fees and forfeits. The con- testant finishing second will receive one
 
 third and the contestant finishing third the rest of the entrance fees and for feits.
 Programme For Week.
 Monday will open the programme, nine balloons ascending for the long distance race for the Bennett cup.
 Tuesday there will be a contest for aeroplanes or flying machines, heavier than air. with total cash prizes of $2500. Wednesday there will be contest for airships and vehicles lighter than air, with a total in prizes of s25o0.
 Thursday the contest of flying ma chimes for the Scientific American cup will be held.
 Friday will be free for all' day in which any kind of air craft that can get above the ground may participate in the contest to win the Lahm cup. To win this the contestant must excel the flight of Mccoy and Chandler from St. Louis to West Virginia last week.
 Aeronautic interest centers chiefly in the international balloon race. According to announcement of the Aero club, the first balloon, the Pommern, will be sent up at o'clock Monday evening and the others will follow at 5-minute intervals.
 The Entries.
 The balloons entered in the races follow. in the order of their flight:
 Pommern-(German Oscar Erbstrech, pilot; Al Rotch, aide.
 United States-(America), Maj. H. B. Hersey. pilot: A. T. Atherholt, aide.
 L'Isle De France-lFrance). A. LaBlanc, pilot; E. w. Mix aide.
 Dusseldorff-( Germany, Capt. Won Ab- ereron, pilot; H. Heidemann, alce
 Lotus I.--(England), Griffith Brewer, pilot; Lieutenant Brabazon, aide.
 America=(America), J. c. Mccoy, pilot; Captain Chandler, aide.
 Aniou- (France) Rene Cashier, pilot; Charles Levee, aide.
 Abercron-( -(Germany), Paul Meckel pi- lot; Herr Polantz. aide.
 St. Louis-( (America), A. R. Hawley, pi- lot: Augustus Post. aide.
 The Anjou is the largest. holding 79,o0o cubic feet of gas. The United States and the Lotus l., hold l5.200 feet each The .Ahercron holds 50. .000 feet, while the other five balloons have a capacity of 77,000 cubic feet a piece.