The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-21

those fortunate enough to reach the
fenced enclosure, which was guarded
today by several hundred soldiers of
the regular army.
All of the nine balloons were deliv-
cred at the grounds yesterday and this
morning they lay limp heaps of
the pipe through which specially
manufactured gas was to be pumped
later in the day. The work of inf1a-
tion required great care and it was
turned on that the once fiat masses of
cloth rounded themselves out into
great yellow and drab globes, those
two colors being the favorites of the
foreign balloon makers. As gradually
the balloons took shape the stout
ebbing of cord about them was care
fully adjusted and inspected. Baskets
were not tied in place until the last
foot of gas was forced into the big
bags and the neck tightly sealed
Dangling from this neck in each bal
loon was a white cord with a small
bag of the same color attached. This
cord controls the gas valve at the top
and is pulled whenever the aeronaut
red is known as the rip-cord and
when pulled rips out a seam so that in
landing the balloonist may defate the
bag in an instant.
What They Will Garry.
The baskets belonging to the sew
eral balloons were objects of interest
among the spectators The equip
ment of each varied, but in general
the aeronauts will carry with them an
aneroid barometer to register eleva-
ton; a paragraph or self registering
aneroid barometer; statoscope
which registers the rise and fall of a
balloon, compass, dry and wet ther-
mometers, set of maps, small electric
flashlights for reading instruments at
night and life belts to be used in case
90 Coll Itr3cr into l.
passenger, be he pilot or aid will wear
very heavy clothing the first night
out, at high altitude is expected to be
extremely cold. For food practically
all of the teams will carry supply or
sandwiches which will be eaten dur
ing the first day out and the second as
well, if the flight should continue that
long. Canned meats and several
1oaves of bread are to be taken along
for a third days provisions and to be
used in case the landing place should
be remote from village or farm house.
Leblanc, the Frenchman, and Mix, his
aid, are taking DIP fishing tackle and a
revolver, and declare that if they
descend in an attractive spot they will
spend two or three days fishing and
Sleep will be next to i'm
possible for the air travellers, most of
the baskets being too small to permit
ing such as to require the vigilance of
both members of a team.
The start of the race was placed as
late in the day as possible in order to
meet the wishes Of the aeronauts. 1t
was desired by all that the first and
most important stage of their flight
should take place at night. The heat
of the sun expands ballooning gas to a
marked extent, and when the con-
comes at night it means a
drop to a lower level and the loss of
several bags of ballast. By starting
with the setting sun the first loss OF
gas is reached after nearly twenty-four
hours in the air and in this period the
pilots expect to cover the greatest part
of their Journey.
The start of the international cup
contest today marks the beginning of
an aerial carnival which will continue
and dirigible balloons are here to COM
pete for valuable prizes offered for the
various classes.
Tuesday there will be a contest for |
heavier-than-air type, with total cash |
prizes of $500. Wednesday there will |
be a contest for airships and vehicles |
Of the lighter-than-air type with total !
prizes of 81 500. Thursday the contest of
flying machines for the Scientific Amer |
lean cup will be held. Friday will be |
''free-for- -all'' day, in which any kind |
Of air craft that will get above the |
ground may participate in the contest !
to win the Lahm cup, which has just /
Chandler in their long balloon flight !
from ST. Louis to West Virginia.
Wind Is FIuky.
st. Louis, Oct. 21.-The wind during |
the morning hours today was f1uky and |
At sunrise there was !
steady blow from the east which prom
sed to send the balloons due west, but |
as the day progressed there was a shift i
toward the south. then again to the
east and at noon there was five mile |
breeze from the southeast. The indi- |
cations were at that hour that the wind |
by nightfall would veer to the south |
west. This means that the balloons |
would travel first to the northwest and |
then drift back toward the east and /
the region of the great lakes. the only |
bodies of water the aeronauts have had |
any fear of.
The temperature at noon was climb |
ng steadily up in the fifties with a !
reading of 55 degrees at A |
o'clock, the starting hour. Not a cloud |
vas in the sky.
The balloons in today's race are not
lirigible. They have no steering ap
1aratus attached to them and are
3oursed by the wind. At different al
itudes there are different currents of
lir and by rising or descending the
teronauts are in a manner able to
somewhat shape their courses through
he medium of air currents.
RECORD WINNING VOYAGE