Omaha daily bee., 1907-10-22
GAS BAGS IN RACE
Nine Balloons Start in international
Contest from st. Louis.
GERMANS TAKE UPPER CUR. T.
English and French Pilots Sell
Middle Course.
AMERICANS CLOSE TO EARTH
McCOy-Chsndler Car Barely Clears
McCoy-Chandler Car Barely Clear
Crowded Grandstand.
ALL START TOWARD NORTH
Predictions that Landings VIII Bs
in south Dak0tn, Minnesota or
NTichiKnu--wind North
and Northwest.


Alton at .. m. travelling north about ten
miles an hour.
ST LOUIS, oct. 2.-Drifting along in
direction Just west Of north when lost to
view in the haze OF the falling night and
with a freshening southeast breeze behind
them nine big balloons are competing to-
night for the honors attached to the win
ming of the second international aeronauue
cup race. brilliant moon is shining
throughout the middle west and conditions
seem ideal for record breaking flight.
stiffer wind would have been more well
come to the occupants of the wicker cars
which hung like tiny specks beneath the
great giobular gas-alied bags, but the Ave
mile breeze OF the lower afr gave promise
Of splendid racing currents In the higher
attitudes.
The Germans, acting upon this theory
reached for the higher courses right from
the start The French and English aero
nauts were more conservative and selected
a middle depth. while the Americans raced
away at an altitude which seemed to take
them Just clear OF trees and house tops.
so low, In fact, did two OF the American
teams balance their cars that there was
grave danger of the baskets striking
crowded grandstand and intense excitement
prevailed. The 81. Louis, one of the larg-
est balloons in the race, came so close to
the stand that II was seized by a squad OF
soldiers swept back to safer starting
point and sent away two minutes after the
official word to go was given.
Nine balloons In Race.
In the big race there are three balloons
representing America, three representing
Germany, two for France and one for
England. The basket of each balloon con-
tains two ceupants, the pilot and his aide.
with a prospect Of the breeze holding to
the southeast and south many predictions
were made tonight that the final landing
place of the balloons would be In Minnesota
or one Of the Dakotas Others held the
opinion that the upper currents would send
the air craft further to the east to find
place OF descent east OF Lake Michigan.
The record OF the race, established last
yeaf by Iseutenant Lahm of the United
States, In IA night from Paris TO frying
BALES in fne north OF England, Is 402 miles.
hut each aeronaut In the contest today
confidently expected to exceed that dis
taKce.
The start OF the race was spectacular in
the extreme and was Witnessed by a throng
gathered in Forest park variously estimated
at from e0O0O TO 10000 persons All St.
Louis gaEed slyward during the late after
noon. but q heavy pail OF smoke obscured
lu0 view AfOnl liit kItaNeE hleAaiSNns iAN
astlon OF tho Germans in taking the higher
attitudes assisted materially In making the
start the splendid spectacle that it was.
FLOATING away along three levels as many
as eSA Of tho balloons were visible at one
time, the American contestants being the
FIRST to disappear in the haze along the
horizon.
German starts First.
The German balloon, Pommern, a bright
chrotno yellow. was the first away, the
start being made Just thirty-fve seconds
after the scheduled hour of O'Clock The
other contestants followed at intervals of
ave minutes. AS each was sent away the
great crowd broke into cheers. and until
they we're well out OF view, the occupants
OF the basket were kept bowling and wav-
Ing their hats in acknowledgment OF the
demonstrations OF good wishes and good
luck. The American teams came In for
the greatest share of the 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 srandstand played the national anthem
of the nations represented the various
foreign balloons aseenddL For the Amer
lean teams there were the "star spangled
Banner" and Yankee Doodie;" for the
English, "0od Save the King" for the
French, The Msrseillalse," and for the
Germans. die waeht am Rhein."
The st. Louis the last of the contestants
10 set under way was greeted By "Yankss
Doodle" az first. and then. amid renewed
cheers ana shouts Of slee. the band STRUCK
up the popular air, Il Don't Know Where
Am Going. but Am on My Way" There
was another incident connected with tn,
st. Louis apart from this bit OF humoi
and the narrow escape from collision witt
the grandstand, Just before the big bas
was dragged into starting position a dov,
aiishted on the very pinnacle and remained
there until the balloon was we'll under
way. This was regarded a good omen
by the local enthusiasts
pstailh OF Contest.
The contest Is 0faclally known as the
second International aeronautio club cuI
contest and the prize massive silver
trophy and $3.50 IN cash. win be awarded
90 the pilot whose skill and daring lands
his car the farthest from the starting point
AS each Of the balloons is OF similar deslgl
and material the race will go to the aero
naut-French. English. German or Ameri
= can-Who is capable Of taking the best ad
vantage Of favorable winds ana who losei
the least ground under adversely. The rac'
also marks the entry OF the United States
into active competition with the Europeai
nations m a sport which has been left al
most exclusively to them In the past.
IL was through the winning OF the cul
last year IN a race from Paris by LAeuten
ant Frank p I.ahm Of the United states
army that the contest was brought tint
YEAR 10 this country. The three American
teams which win start this afternoon arr
al that are allowed under the rules OF th'
competition but so great has interes
grown ~ the science OF ballooning IN tn
United States that the Aero club OF Amer
tea, which is in active charge. could easill
havs entered many times the number o
balloons permitted.
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