Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-22
AERONAUTS
STRIVE FOR
RICH TROPHY
10000 PERSONS. SEE START
AT ST. LOUIS
CURRENTS OF AIR ALONE DECIDE
SPEED
Germans Seek High Attitudes, Hoping
to outdistance RivaIs-Americans
So Low Their Craft Narrowly
Clears Grandstand

By Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 2.-Drifting in a d.
rection west of north, where they were
lost to view in the haze of falling night,
and with a freshening southeast breeze
behind them, nine big balloons are COM
petipg tonight for the honor attached to
the winning of the second aeronautic cup
race.
A brilliant moon is shining throughout
the middle west and conditions seem
good for a record breaking flight. A
sitter wind would have been more well
come to the occupants Of the wicker
cars, which hung like tiny specs beneath
the great globular bags, but the five
mile breeze of the lower air strata gave
promise of a splendid racing current in
the higher attitudes.
The Germans, acting upon this theory,
reached for the higher courses right at
the start. The French and English aero
nauts were more conservative and select
ed middle depth, while the Americans
raced away at an altitude which seemed
to take them just clear of trees and
housetops. So low, in fact, did two of
the American teams balance their cars
that there was grave danger of the bas-
kets raking a crowded grand stand, and
intense excitement prevailed.
The. st. Louis, one Of the largest bal
looms in the race, came so close to the
stand that it was seized by a squad of
soldiers, swept back to a safer point
and sent away two minutes after the Of
fetal word to go was given.
In the big race there are three bal
looms representing America, three rep
resenting Germany, two for France and
one for England.
Two with Each Balloon
The basket of each balloon contains
two occupants-the pilot and his aid
With prospect of the breeze. holding
to the southeast and south, many predic-
tions were made tonight that the firal
landing place of the balloon winning would
be In Minnesota or one of the Dakotas.
Others hold the opinion that the upper
current would send the craft further to
the east, to find place of descent out
or Lake Michigan.
The records of the race established last
year by Lieut.. Lahm of the United
States, a fight from Paris to Flyingdale
In the north of England, 402 miles, is
confidently expected to be exceeded by
each contestant in today's race.
The start was spectacular In the ex-
treme and was witnessed by a throng
gathered in Forest park, varfously esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 10000 persons
The scenes attending the watching of the
start and the preparations OF the race
were unique in American history.
The day was brilliant with touch of
autumn chill in the air. In the inclosure
of Forest park given over to the aero
nauts, the nine balloons were arranged
in two rows, five being on one side OF
the central lane and four on the other.
For four hours before the starting hour
gas was pumped simultaneously In each
bag from a skeleton of specially con-
structed pipes leading from a gas tank
in which was stored 100000 cubic feet
Of the lightest coal gas that, according
to the aeronauts, has ever been manu-
factured. When half filled each balloon
resembled the rounded cover to some
giant caldron.
Over each half globe was thrown the
webbing which was to support the bas-
kets and their occupants. Clinging to
the meshes of the webbing and holding
the balloons safely to the ground were
a number of green bags The balloons
remained half filled until an hour before
the race when the gas was turned on
full force from the huge main and the
bags expanded to their rounded fullness.
None of the balloons was fitted with
djrigible devices and the contest will be
throughout a test of the skill of the
navigators in taking advantage of the air
currents as they are encountered and in
handling the ballast to the best advan-
tage.
AS the balloons receiNeu then iuii
charges Of gas the clinging sand bags
were lowered, mesh by mesh, until at
last they rested In groups of four and
Ave. and long ropes leading from web
bing to basket ring. Carefully watched
bv two score of helpers each balloon was
allowed to ascend enough to draw these
bags close to the sides of the baskets,
where they remained until the word to
start was imminent. Then enough CT
the, ballast was lifted off to allow the
balloons to float foot or so above the
grornd. At the last word all restraining
hands were removed and each balloon in
turn rose gently to meet the breeze, and
the race was on.