The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-22
Contestants in the Information.
al AerOnautic Cup Contest
Got Away From st. Louis Prac'
tically on Schedule Time.
START OF I'll RACE
Was Witnessed by a Crowd
Estimated at 10000
Which Watched Them Until
They Passed From View.

st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 22.-The Ger.
man balloon Pommern, No. 1, ascend.
ed at 4 o'clock p. m. yesterday af.
ternoon in~augurating the second in.
ternational aeronautic cup contest.
The American balloon United
states, No. 8, was sem away at 4:Ot
p. m, amid great cheering. BY the
time the United States was in the all
the Pommern had struck a current
which took her off to the westward.
me French balloon LIsland de
rance NO. 4, assembled at All p. m
The German balloon Dusseldorf
NO ., at 4:15k D.. m.
English balloon Lotus IL, No. 6,
started at 1920 p. m.
n american balloon America, No.
assembled at 4:25 p. M. The America
barely cleared the ran stand, caus-
ing an interval Of great excitement.
the German balloon Abercron, No.
3, started at ABS p. M ser
The Frencth balloon Aniou. No. &.
started at 4:40 D. m. -
The American balloon, st. Louis,
the last of the contestants, started at
4:42 p. m.
The start of the race was spectacu-
lar in the extreme and was witnessed
by a throng gathered in Forest Park
variously estimated at from 10000 to
100000 persons. All ST. Louis gazed
skyward during the late afternoon but
a heavy pail of smoke obscured the
view from the greater The
action of the Germans in taking the
higher altitude assisted materially in
making the start the splendid spec
tacle that it was. Floating away along
the three levels as many as six of the
balloons were visible at one time, the
American contestants being the first
to disappear in h haze along the
horizon.
The German balloon Pommern, a
bright chrome yellow globe, No. 1, in
the race, was the first away the start
being made just 35 seconds after the
scheduled hour of 4 o'clock. The 9TH
er contestants followed at intervals of
5 As each was sent away
the great crowd broke into cheers
and until they were we'll out of view
the occupants of the baskets were
kept bowling and waving their hats in
tons of good wishes and good luck.
The American teams came in for the
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
that had gone before. A military
band stationed in the grand stand
PLAYED the national anthem of the ma
lions represented as the various BAL
assembled.
For the American teams there were
the Sta Spangled Banner and
Yankee DOODLE for the English.
God Save the King" for the French
The Marseillaise:" and for the Ger
mans, Die Wacht Am Rhein-"
The st. Louis, the last of the contest
ants to get under way, was greeted by
Yankee Doodle" at first and then.
amid renewed cheers and shouts of
glee. the popular air, Il Don't Know
Where I'm Going, But I'm On My
Way"
There was another incident connected
the ST. Louis apart from this bit
Of hurlor and the narrow escape from
with the grand stand. Just
the big bag was dragged into
position a dove alighted on the
very pinnacle and remained there until
he balloon was well under a This
vas regarded as a good omen by local
Enthusiasts. |
Sky Was Clear.
The scenes attending the start and
Preparations for the ace were unique
n American history. The day was one
If brilliant sunshine with just a touch
If autumn chill in the air. In the en-
closure of Forest Park given over to
he ~eronaut the nine balloons were
ranged in two rows five being on one
side of the central lane and four on
he other.
For foul hours before the starting
gas was pumped simultaneously
mo each DdS HUH a hSICLOI VI oPCC-
ally constructed pipes leading from a
,as tank in which was stored 5000, 900
'eet of the IighteSt coal gas that ac-
.ording to the a~erOnauts. has ever been
Manufactured. When half filled each
,alloon resembled the round cover to
giant cauldron. The colors of the
,ags ranged from an Opaque chrome
Fellow peculiar to a construction of
cotton cloth treated with a rubber or
,utta percha composition, to a light
irab transparency which characterized
he balloons made of vanished cotton.
over each half globe was thrown the
which was to upport the bas-
let and it's occupants. C1ingipg to the
neshes of the webbing and holding the
balloons safely to the ground were a
or more green sand bags. Tho
balloons remained half filed until an
Jour before the race when the gas was
on full force from thehuge main
nd the bags expanded to their rounded
illness.
No Means of Guidance.
None of the balloons was fitted with
lirigible devices n the contest will
,e throughout a test of the skill of the
IN taking advantage of the
lir currents as they are encountered