The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-21
Second International Aero.
nautic Cup Race Today.
First Balloon Will Go Up at 4
O'Clock This Afternoon.
THE PRIZES OFFERED
Are a Massive Silver Trophy and
$4,000 in Cash.
First Contest Of the Kind Held
i'm America.

Chicago, Oct 21-Prof. Cox of the
weather bureau issued the following
this morning:
Special forecast for balloon races:
Fair weather will prevail through
out the central states during the nex'
SO hours. Light westerly winds at 81
Louis will shift to southeast and
south by tonight and the winds will be
generally southerly along the course OF
the balloons tonight. becoming fresh
and brisk and shifting to southwest
Tuesday morning.
ST. Louis. Oct. 21-With brilliant au-
tumn weather and snappy racing cur
rents in the blue depths of the SKY, nine
mammoth balloons, representing 1our U oi
the great nations of the Worlo, VIII
start this afternoon on a journey Wnlch
should add an important chapter 10 the
history of aerial navigation
The contest is officially known as the
second international aeronautlc cup
trophy and $500 in cash VIII oe
awarded to the pilot whose skill and
daring lands his car the fartnest from
the starting point AS each OF tne nal,
the race will go to the aeronaut-
French English, German or American
who is capable of taking the best ad-
vantage of favorable winds ana VINO
loses the least ground
The race also marks the entry of the
United States into active competition
with the European nations in field
which has been left almost exclusively
to them in the past.
1t was through the winning or the
cup last year IN a race from Paris by
Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm of the Uni
ted States army, that the contest was
brought this year to this country. The
three American teams which will start
this afternoon are all that are allowed
to enter under the rules of the COM
petition but SO great has interest
grown in the science of balloon1ng In
the United States that the Aero club
of America, which is in active charge,
could easily have entered many times
the number of balloons permitted.
Hersey to Pilot.
Much interest attaches to the fact
that the balloon in which Lieutenant
Lahm set the record for the race at
402 miles last year, will start today and
will carry as pilot Major Henry B.
Hersey Of the United States weather
a4ahm. The latter, who is i'll in Paris,
is unable to take part. Two German
balloons that were in the first competi-
zion, the Dusseldorf and the Pommern,
are also among today's starters.
The first of the balloons will be sent
away at p. m., central time and the
others will follow at five minutes inter
walls. The aeronautS are wishing for a
breeze
down to the horizon of the upper deep
before the next starters are cut away,
but it is generally expected that four
or five Of the big. inflated balls of var
nished cotton will be in view at the
same time. Those who will witness the
event purely as a spectacle are hopeful
for a such a condition and would rath-
er like to see the balloons shunted
about on variable currents until night
closes in on the squadron of air ves-
sells. Variable winds, however, are the
terror of the long distance balIoonist,
an so mile hurricane being far prefer
able in the judgment Of man gifted
in the handling of sand ballast and
gas taps.
First away will be the German bal
loon Pomnern, with Oscar Elrbsloeh as
pilot and Prof. H. n. Clayton of the
Blue Hill observatory, Hyde Park,
Mass, as aid. The two other German
contestants will start in fourth and
eighth places. Americas three teams
will start second, sixth and ninth;
Frances two teams go third and sew
Lotus II, will be the fifth to ascend.
The Official order of start is as follows:
The Starters.
p. m.-German balloon Pommern,
1000 cubic feet capacity, Oscar
Erbsloeh, pilot; Prof. Clayton aid.
4:05 o. m.-American balloon, United
States, 72.25o cubic feet, Major H. B.
Hersey, pilot; a. T. Atherholt, aid
4:10 p. m--French balloon, L'Isle de
France, 1000 cubic feet, Alfred LIE
Blanc, pilot; Edgar W. Max, aid.
AIS p. m.-German balloon, DusseI-
dorf. 1900 cubic feet, Captain Hugo
You Aberchercron, pilot; H. Heide-
mann, aid.
1890 CUBIC feet, Griffith Brewer, pilot:
Lieutenant Claude Brabazon, aid
4:25 p. m.-American balloon, Ameri- !
ca, 1700o cubic feet, j. c. Mccoy, pilot; |
Captain c. DeF Chandler. aid.
4:30 p. m.-F'rench balloon, Anjou, 79,- |
500 cubic feet, Rene Cashier, pilot; |
Charles Levee. aid.
ABS p. m.-German balloon. Abercron. |
10000 cubic feet. Paul Meikel, pilot; |
Rudolph Denis, aid.
4:40 p. m.-American balloon. st. |
Louis, 1900 cubic feet, Alan R. Haw- |
ley, pilot; Augustus Post, aid.
All of the teams entered are regarded |
mo having an almost equal chance for |
day they are the French team of Le |
Blanc and Mix and American teams /
headed by Major Hersey and Mr. Haw- /
ley. While Major Hersey will sail tho
will command a new balloon which has
made but one ascension-in Paris-and |
which was built especially for this race
Preparation for the Race.
Early indications are that the start i
Of the race will be witnessed by per-
haps the largest crowd ever assem-
bled in st. Louis.
Forest park, where the ballooninr
grounds are located. offers an excel
lent point of assembly and the people
of the city have talked of little but
balloons for two weeks past The
crowd began to arrive in the park in /
the early hours of the morning, many
parties bringing luncheon and pre-
pared to spend the day
The preparations for the big race