The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-22

tnelr 1uii charges of gas the clingine
sana bags were lowered mesh by mesh
ohlI at last they rested in groups OF
iour and five On the long p lead
ing from the webbing to basket ring.
Iarefully watched by two score OF
neIpers each balloon was allowed to
close to the sides of the baskets where
they remained until the. word. to start
was imminent Then enough of the
paiiast was lifted off to allow the bal
rooms 70 noat a foot or more above the
ground. Al the last, word all restrain
ing hands We're removed and each bal
loon IN turn rose gently to meet the
breeze.
Aside from the. international char
acter OF the race there was a distinct
military atmosphere about the event
Ihree nundred soldiers of the United
states army. from Jefferson Barracks
were In control of the b~allooning
grounds and trained men from the
imitation and ballasting of the cars.
Bugle notes filled the air at times and
just two minutes before the start of
the first balloon %reveille was
by a squad of trumpeters.
The hght of many test balloons dur
ing the two hours preceding the race
gave amusement to the. great crowd
gathered at the starting point. Hun
dreds of various colored toy balloons
were also set at liberty with candy
boxes and other articles attached to
their tiny threads.
Start Made at 4:OO:35.
The big German bag Pommern was
first to start. When he pressure or
gas in the balloon caused the covering
to bulge diamond shaped through the
webbing the supply pipe was cut away
and the neck securely tied The
basket which had been prepared with
great care stored with delicate instru-
ments for recording altitude, tempera-
ture, air pressure, and the rise and
fall of the balloon and provisioned
with sandwiches. hard boiled eggs
timed meats and water bottles suf-
ficient for a three days journey in
cloudland was hauled directly be-
meath the bag and it was the work of
a few moments only to onnect the rig
ging which led first from the webbing
to the basket ring and from the ring
to basket.
The Pommern was lightened of all
but ten of its sand bags and hoateo
for a few minutes jus above the
ground half a score of men, however,
keeping a light grasp of the basket.
The Pommern's pilot gave the word to
cast off and as the yellow ball of gas
gave a sliding leap into the air, the
band played, shouts came from the
multitude, and the eventful race was
The ten sand bags taken on the
Pommern fight chung to the outside
OI IST DdSkGI IKE So ldhy ICSCACo
Up and up. and drifting but slightly to
the north and west the Pommern had
been in The air but a few moments
when more sane came sitting down.
The United States, the first of the
representatives to get away,
was pushed into starting position just
after the Pommern a cleared the
ground. The United States is the bal
in which Lieutenant Lain made
victorious ascent last year. and the
e --L -s-Lk A~ rvnCrnI
called forth a spontaneous cheer.
The balloon was away on the in
slant of 4:05 O'Clock, n was cheered
the occupants of its basket were
out Of range.
Barely Cleared the Trees.
The United States swept away at a
low level and barely cleared some
trees in the balloon enclosure
L'Isle de France the first of h
contestants, to get under way, |
and regarded as one of the most likely
in the rae was third to get
he starters word, and took a course |
lust above that followed by the United
The Dusseldorf, another of
German contestants, was fourth
way. and followed the Pommern to
higher attitudes, where they were
Joined later by the Abercrom. the last
IF the German trio and the smallest
in the ace
The only English balloon, the Lotus
I, went up without a hitch. The first
attending a possible mishap
lid not come until the start of tho
sailed by j. C. Mccoy and
De F. Chandler. When re-
eased the American stood stationary
or several moments and then glided
If directly toward the big grandstan6
at the edge of the starting
In their effort to acknowledge
demonstration in their honor. the
.eronauts did not notice the danger
shouts of warning went up from
crowded stand. Then Chandler
for the ballast bag and was
bout to heave it overheard, when a
.ust of wind swept the basket clear OF
lodging heads of the alarmed peo-
lie. This excitement was repeated
With the ascent of the ST. Louis. The
americans were to keep as near
earth as possible, and it was this
lesire which nearly caused disaster.
he St. Louis moved SO threateningly
the stand that it was recap
ured when two feet above the ground
nd dragged back for a new and higher
I. Hawley, had slowed all of his BAL
asst inside of his basket n it was said
o be due to this that the new start
fas decided upon rather than an at
to tighten the car.
Six of the competing balloons were
till visible when the st. Louis ascend
d and the crowd waited and watched
n the coming night until the last of
he yellow globes had disappeared.
AIRSHIP RACES POSTPONED.
lie Contestants Could Not Get Ready
for Today. l.
ST. Louis, Oct. 22.-The dirigib1e bal
BON or airShip races scheduled for to-