Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-19
SPORTING CALENDAR
FOR NEXT WEEK

sO'n ~ w. ~
among the sporting events carded
for the coming week is the great in
ternational aerial competition, TO be
held in st. Louis. Ballooning as a
sport is rapidly gaining in the public
favor and the gathering in St. Louis
on Monday of the leaders in aerial
navigation from al nations will at
tract worldwide attention. AS the
automobile succeeded the bicycle as
a means OF recreation. so the farmer
Is likely to be transplanted at no
distant day by the balloon. A big
delegation of Aero club members
from New York is already in st.
Louis. and balloonists from a score
OF other American cities and from
several foreign countries will partici-
pate in or witness the contests for
the championship trophy of the air.
The opening day. Monday. will be
marked by the start from Forest
Park, the site of the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition. OF the race for the
James Gordon Bennett international
aeronautic cup. This trophy is en-
blematic of the balloon racing cham
pionship of the world. In order to
become the permanent property of
any one club. 1t must be successful
ly defended for five consecutive
years
In the first international race from
Paris last September the cup was
won by Lieutenant Frank p. Lain.
of the United States army, who rep
resented the Aero Club of America.
In next weeks contest the United
States will have three contestants.
England three. France two and Ger
many three. Italy and Spain. owing
to failure to file applications in time.
will not compete. The contest will
be for distance, the balloon covering
the most ground before alighting to
be the winner. 1t is possible that a
lack of wind may make IL necessary
to award the prize on the basis of
duration. or time spent in the air.
but this is unlikely.
In addition to the principal trophy
$1,000 will be awarded to the second
balloon in the race. $3.50 to the
third, $500 to the fourth and $3.50
to the fifth A supplementary prize
OF $500 will be given by the Aero
Club of America for the balloon re-
naming longest in the air.
Lieutenant Frank p. Lain. the
winner OF last years contest: ]. c.
Mccoy and Alan r. Hawley. all aero
nauts of note. will pilot the three
great gas bags which represent the
Aero Club OF America in the contest.
France is represented by two of
It's most daring air explorers. AL
fred lie Blanc and Rene Garnder The
Aero Club of the United Kingdom
has sent Hon. G. S. Rolls. Griffith
Brewer and Professor A. K. Hunting
ton as pilots, with Lord Royston as
an alternate. Captains Won Aber-
corn and Heidmann and Oscar Erb-
sloh will pilot the three German bal
looms
1t is possible that Lieutenant
Lain, owing to recent severe ill
ness, may not be able TO pilot his
balloon, the United States. and in
that case Major Henry E. Herzey
will act as his substitute.
While all the foreign competitors
are formidable. the United States has
apparently the most to fear in de-
Tending the blue ribbon of the skies
from the French aeronauts. In the
entire world there are not two more
hardened ballooning sports than AL
fred lie Blanc and Rene Gassier.
designated by the Aero Club de
France TO defend it's blue and butter
cup design at the st. Louis contest.
In addition to the race for the
Bennett cup. there will be contests
during the week for all sorts of
aerial craft. in which st. Louis Aero
club has offered thousands Of dollars
in cash prizes.
Other sporting events Of the com
ing week include the following:
Monday y.--Racing meet Of the