Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-13
MEETS
WOMEN EXPERTS
FAMOUS AER0NAUTS RESIDE
IN THIS COUNTRY
MISS VAIL AND MISS THOMAS
HAVE NOTABLE RECORDS
Gas Being Manufactured for Sundays
Voyage Proves of Excellent Quail
ty, to Competitors lm-
mense Relief

Dick Ferris has discovered, through
his balloon race, that two prominent
feminine aeronauts are now residents
of Los Angeles county. One, Miss
laMarguerite Vail, now a resident of
Pasadena, is a member of the Ladies
auxiliary of the Aero Club of America.
She accompanied her aunt, Mrs. Leo
Stevens, in the "Centaur" on the
famous balloon race of the North
Adams club in which women only par
hcipated. -Four balloons carrying eight
women were entered, and Mrs. Stevens
and Miss Vail won the cup by making
a landing in New York, 634 miles from
the start, after being twenty-four hours
in the air.
Miss Vail has made number of other
air voyages. She is greatly interested
in the United States, which she has
seen start in several races, and knows
Aeronaut Wild, who will pilot that
balloon.
Another fair aeronaut who is now
resident of Los Angeles is Miss Lillian
M Thomas. She has made numer of
aerial voyages in the east, including
trips with Capt. Thomas S. Baldwin in
his famous "Old Glory"
Capt. Mueller is greatly pleased with
the quality of the gas he is making in
the big tanks at Chutes park. 1t is
flowing even better than he had antici-
pated. Di,': Ferris has attended per-
sonally to the purchases of the mate
rial used in making the hydrogen gas
and has insisted on the best of every
thing, although by doing so he is piling
up expense in what, he says, will be
losing venture financially.
IF every bit of the grand stand is
packed Sunday afternoon" he said yes
terday, lit still would be impossible for
lTHf
other things to be gained besides the
money end, and if this particular race
should happen to capture world s
record stand to make my profit in
future by exhibitions. Anyhow, 1t will
boost Los Angeles, and that's popular
now"
Tickets were placed on sale yester-
day at the leading hotels. Mr.. Ferris
advises the crowd to be on hand by 1
O'Clock. as favorable conditions will be
taken advantage of for start as early
as possible. Capt. Mueller will take
with him in the American" Joseph X.
Hutchinson, q newspaper reporter, VINO
will represent the Los Angeles news
papers, Frank Leroyxez, the Chutes
park balloonist, probably will accom-
pany Aeronaut Wild. Capt. Wild is an
experienced newspaper writer and Will
write his own dispatches.
Juhilant over Gas
Ferris and the aeronauts are jubilant
over the success of the gas manufac-
ture, which, on account of the varied
problems the trip offers, has been a
vexatious matter. "a poor quality of
gas might mean the death of one or
both of the parties in the desert" said
Dick Ferris yesterday. IAN extra lift
ing power is necessary because of the
heights that must be attained to pass
the mountain ranges. With this must
be combined successful resistance to
the extremely cold weather which may
be encountered at high attitudes over
the Rockies.
Another problem is how to insure a
good quality and amount being on hand
toward the end of the journey, for 1t
may mean Just that which will permit
a saving of sand sufficient to allow
passing over the great lakes, in case
they are reached. All this has taken
serious study on Capt. Muellers part.
1t was decided to make mixture OF
two parts of hydrogen gas, to give lift
ing power, with one part OF coal gas
for staying qualities.
1.-THE gas question was only one of
our troubles, but 1T takes a big worry
off my mind to know that 1T has been
met so successfully. 1 don't know
whether or not will be able to sleep
until I know that both aeronauts have
landed safely. believe they are going
to hit New York or Canada"
The work of filing the balloons began
last night, and it is expected to be com
pleted by tomorrow. Capt. Mueller and
his assistants have been working night
and day to have everything in read1-
ness for Sunday"