Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-20
BIG BALLOON RACE STARTED
Gas Bags Released Mt st. Paul
Float on TO south
east.

ST PAUL July l9-Up to II o'clock last
night three Of the five balloons that started
in the race here late today had been heard
from. The first to land was the King Ed.
ward at Hampton, Mimi, only about thirty
miles south Of here. The America came
to earth five mites southeast of Owatonna,
Mimi, and the United States landed at
West Concord. MINI. No word has been
received of the Pommern or the Chicago.
Five balloons sailed from Lexington Ath-
letlc park this evening in ap attempt to
surpass two worlds records, that for dis
tance and that for endurance
The balloon race which came as the final
event Of a week that has been devoted to
festivity and pageantry incident to the con-
clave OF Shriners in this city was wit
messed by thousands of people
The race, novel to the northwest passed
off without an accident to mar its success.
At 4:19 o'clock the King Edward was re-
leased. 1t was too heavily ballasted how
ever and though Lieutenant Bennett threw
out sand It was clear that the balloon was
going so slow that the basket would striks
the other balloons and possibly injure many
people. The King Edward was brought
back to the starting place. more gas was
pumped into It and finally It was moved
distractions and at 4:53 released. As the
balloon rose Lieutenant Bennett poured out
ballast. and stin rising tire King Edward
passed over the grandstand toward the
southwest. As II struck the higher currents
OF air the balloon turned toward the south
and when It vanished from sight was sail
ing southeast.
The American, owned by L. N Scott OF
Ga o. m
cubic feet, was released at 500 o'clock.
Captain P. S. Hudson Of Louisville was
pilot Of this craft and his assistant was
Horace B. wild OF Chicago. who poured
out a bag of sand as the balloon arose.
The next to sail was the United States,
owned by Dick Ferris Of Minneapolis. This
balloon was piloted by Captain A. p. Mucl-
ler, who was accompanied by w. G. Shep-
hard, Minneapolis newspaper man. As
the United States rose Sheppard poured out
three bags of ballast and the balloon sailed
off toward the southwest
DR.. Julian Thomas Of New York, owner
and pilot of the Pommern, which won the
st. Louis race last year insisted on sailing
this race alone in order that he might
stay in the air as long as possible. His
balloon was released at 6:l5 p. m.
The Pommern. like the balloons which
preceded IT, started toward the southwest.
Mr.. Thomas let out several feet OF trail
rope and thus held the balloon to the lower
currents of air. so that II turned toward
the south and east more slowly than tho
others had done. AS his balloon sailed
away the three which preceded 1t were out
OF sight.
Twenty-six minutes later the Chicago,
which made the remarkable flight from
Quincy, Ill, to Clear Lake. s. D., few
weeks ago, was released. Pilot Coey was
accompanied by George L. Bumbaugh of
Springfield, ILL.,, pilot in the South Dakota
flight.
AS the Chicago rose Pilot Coey settled
himself comfortable f. the basket. waved
the crowd goodbye and took several kodak
pictures of the recedng scene. By the
time the Chicago sailed the wind, which
early in the afternoon was dangerous. had
died away and the air was almost still.
Pilot Coeys balloon followed the same
general direction which the others had
taken and soon disappeared from view.
The pilots who sailed today went we'll
provisioned. as they think that the dis
tance Of St. Paul from a large body OF
water gives an excellent opportunity OF
beating the worlds record. To the winner
a cup has been offered by General Manager
Goodrich of the Twin City Rapid Transit
company.