East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-10-18

will be the scene next week of events
that are expected to mark an apoch
in the development and progress Of
aerial navigation. Balloonists rep
resenting France, England, Germany
and America, will meet in competi-
tlons intended to demonstrate the re-
cent forward strides made in the
conquest of the air.
The occasion will be the second
long distance flight for the interna-
tional aeronautic cup, offered by
James Gordon Bennett. The first
contest for the cup took place In
France last year, and was won by
Lieutenant Frank B. Lahm, of the
United States army, one of the rep
resentatives of the Aero club of AM
erica. In order to wrest the honors
from America, IL possible, the aero
nautic clubs of three European coun-
tries have sent representatives to take
part in the competition here next
week. The cup is valued at $4,000
and is emblamatic of the balloon
racing championship Of the world
Nearly all OF those who are to take
part have arrived on the ground and
are now engaged in making the ne
cessary preparations for the flight. II
the atmospheric and other conditions
are favorable the start will be made
from this city Monday. The men
who will take part i'm the race, with
the clubs they represent, are:
America-Aero club Of America,
three balloons; Alan r. Hawley in
balloon st. Louis, 22OO cubic metres
capacity; ]. C. Mccoy, balloon, Amer
ica, 2200 cubic metres capacity; Ma
jor Henry B. Hersey, who takes the
place OF Lieutenant Lahm, prevented
from competing because of Illness.
Germany-Deutscher Luftschiffer-
Verband. three ballons; Oscar Erbs-
loh in the Pommorn, 1850 cubic ca
pacity; Captain Hugo Won Abercorn
in the Dusseldorf, $3.50 cubic metres
capacity; Paul Nickel in the Teschu-
di. 1900 cubic metres capacity. Each
of the German contestants is a noted
aeronaut. Baron Hugo Won Aber-
corn has made 80 trips and was in
the international cup race last year.
Oscar Erbsloh also is a veteran aer-
cnaut and has made many ascen-
sions. Paul Nickel is a silk manu-
facturer, and was the first balloon
pilot to cross the Alps.
France-Aero club of France, two
balloons piloted by Alfred LIE Blanc
and Rene Gansier.
England-Aero club of the United
Kingdom, one balloon: Griffith Brew
er in the Lotus H., capacity 215O GU
bic metres, the same balloon used by
Santos-Dumont in the international
contest last year.
In addition to the international
event in which only ordinary balloons
will compete, the st. Louis Aero
club has offered $4,000 in other prz-
es to be competed for by heavier
than air" machines, in which dirig-
ible balloons. aeroplanes and gaso-
lene flying machines will take part
The grand prize of s250O is offered
for the siX-mile course, turning two
goals, within so minutes. There is
also offered a prize of $1,000 for the
! dirigible balloon which makes the
best general showing, and similar
prize for the aeroplane or any other
style machine which gives the best
account of itself in the competition
These contests are to take place
/ Tuesday, the day following the inter-
national event, and will be under the
general supervision of the st. Louis
Aero club
Long Distance Race the Event.
1t is the long distance international
race, however, that most public inter
est will center and 1t is safe to say
that he residents of all the territory
within a wide radius of st. Louis will
be on the lookout for the great aerial
flyers that will take part. 1t is ex-
pected that the general direction OF
the race will be toward the east QI
northeast as the prevailing winds al
this season are from the west and
southwest. The distance from here
to either ocean is so. great that there
is little apprehension on that score
but 1t is not al all impossible, should
| the winds blow steadily from the
south and southwest, that some OF
the aeronauts may find themselves
very close to the shores of the great
lakes. The greatest balloon flight for
distance that has ever taken place
in America was started many years
ago from this city, the aeronauts
landing in the vicinity of Buffalo, N.
Y.
The aeronauts who have arrived
here, both American and foreign, are
loud In their praise of the complete
ness Of the local arrangements. The
start will be made from a large park,
in which has been installed the need
full plant for Initiating the bags. Pipes
have been laid to various parts Of
the rounds, with taps at convenient
points. The coal gas will be pumped
under pressure through a main from
a gasometer holding 100000 cubic
feet Of gas. Ample provision has
been made also for the initiation Of
the dirlglble balloons with hyrdo-
gen gas.
A Criminal Attack.