Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-16
AVIATOR FIGHTS
TO AVOID SEA
Continued from Page One)

car was stopped the shouts of the
men could be heard.
1--WE are all right and fine" shouted
Mueller, and he told Ferris the details
of the trip up to that time. The ball
loon was then 500 feet high. Before
Ferris had learned all the information
he desired Mueller found the wind he
had been seeking.
"a good, steady wind, the real thing,
not a local current" he called down,
laconically. "Good-by. 1t will take us
to Texas or New Mexico If we get
throug the night safely. That is our
only trouble now, for we have but little
ballast. If the morning finds us happy
we will make the day count"
By that time the American was
HOO feet high and taking the wind
more swiftly, still going upward. AS
long as the lights could be seen Hutch
inson signaled down with the pocket
electric flashlight by which they read
the compass and aneroid barometer,
and Ferris answered with his automo-
bile lamp.
The United States will be sent up at
1890 o'clock today, ito the minute, -
Ferris says. The admission has been
reduced to 25 cents to any part of the
Chutes ball park, including the grand
stand and balloon Enclosure. The gates
will be opened at II o'clock.
A crowd which packed the ball field
saw the preparations yesterday, and
Washington and Main streets outside
Chutes park were filled early in the
afternoon. From adjoining roofs and
at points of advantage throughout the
southwestern part of Los Angeles per-
sons waited eagerly for the start.
The leaks in the gas supply and a
mistaken estimate of the quality of the
city gas furnished caused wait. If
Capt. Mueller had been able to get
away forty minutes before he did he
would have obtained an easterly wind,
as was shown by small balloons sent UP.
inexperienced assistants on the
seating caused considerable trouble,
and collections of a fee for seating
were made after persons were admit
ted to the grounds.
'I was SO busy getting the balloon
off I did not know thing about this
until after it was all over" said Fer
ris last night. "It made me furious,
but 1 could not help it. L certainly
should have stopped 1t instanter If l
had found 1t OUT
Capt. Wild is stimulated to a greater
desire to make a record since he has
seen Mueller's achievement in sue
oessfully getting away under difficult"
ties.
Il shall keep at the game till I
dildSlcl II On the etNliit COeohi
Wild last night. He was bitterly dis
appointed because he did not make a
start yesterday, but asserts he VIII
60 as long as the balloon will stay up,
and whether he wins a record or not
he intends to return some time to Los
Angeles to start again.
1t is not likely Wild, even with the
most favorable start, will overtake
Mueller, but should the latter have
bad luck, Wild may pass him in the
race. Wild will hardly be able to carry
more than fifteen sacks of sand, but he
has every hope of finding the prevail
ing winds easterly as he ascends. and
he will therefore be less likely to be
called upon to sacrifice sand so heavily
at the outset.
Ferris is already receiving offers to
start another race. Among them is
challenge from Roy L. Forsyth to race
his 1909 Auburn motor car against tne
balloon making the best record in this
weeks race. Forsyth says Ferris can
name the distance.