Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-15
DARING PILOTS
ARE READY FOR
GREAT VOYAGE
WILD AND MUELLER EXPECT
TO SET NEW MARK
CURRENTS MAY CARRY THEM
ACROSS ROCKIES
Contest That Is Expected to Prove
Sensation Of Age in Aeronautcs
Will Be Started from Los
Angeles Today

III WO racing balloons the American.
piloted by Augusta Mueller and
= the United States, piloted by
Horace B. Wild, will take fight from
Chutes park this afternoon in an effort
to break the worlds record.
Interest in the probable results is
attracting attention to Los Angeles as
an aeronautic center in the east, and
Dick Ferris, the promoter, is receiving
inquiries already from airship people.
The Aero club of California has re-
ceived the following telegram from
the Aero club of America, sent from
New York by Augustus Post, its Sec
retary: THE Aero club of America
tenders it's congratulations to the Aero
club of California on its first trans
continental balloon race"
In case either balloon which starts
today succeeds in a new long distance
achievement the record will have the
official sanction of the aero clubs Of
this country and abroad. This in itself.
Aeronauts Mueller and Wild declare,
will have a tremendous effect in ad-
vertising Los Angeles, especially in
Europe.
Other Races in Prospect
Both are enthusiastic in their belief
that the Ferris race is only the first
of long series of notable efforts to
conquer the air currents which Will
be initiated at Los Angeles.
This race has developed into much
bigger thing than ! had any idea of,
said Dick Ferris yesterday Not only
as to the size of the bills connected
with it. which are all l could have
dreamed of, but more seriously in the
possibilities II one or both balloons
can only get across the Rockies, even
| if they go no farther, it Will be a
great proposition.
'sMueller and Wild are already talk
| ing like real estate men about Los
Angeles. They think it is bound 10
become the most famous all the year
around airship resort in the world lt
doesn't take a great deal of that sort
of enthusiasm in New York, Paris Or
Berlin to attract great many desir-
able people here. Whether we capture
new record or not we are going TO
succeed in stirring up the country more
than / realized when this thing was
started.
II thoroughly expect TO see both ball
looms go over 500 miles, and | think
the chances are for more than 1000
miles Both, in my opinion, VIII even
tually strike the same currents and
should land not far apart. They are
the best racing balloons l could Sc
cure-the 'Pommern you know, could
not be bought-and their records show
that they are built to stay with 1t.
Both pilots have regulations behind
them and are desperately in earnest
to make this transcontinental race.
I have not restricted them in the least,
They can throw away the baskets II
they wish to, and they enter the race
unhampered in any way.
1T seems most probable now that
the course will be toward the south
west into Texas, and may be as far
over as New Orleans instead of y
swoop to the northWard. This would
possibly mean that the Atlantic would
be reached if the balloons can stay up
long enough, somewhere south of New
York. If favorable currents can be
encountered they may hit Texas and
be able to take a long northeast SWoop
that will stand for years as the dis
tance record for the gas balloon.
LAS a matter of fact, we can only say
definitely that the balloons are pre-
pared and equipped to take advantage
of the best conditions in the possible
way We cannot arrange the air in
advance, but the men are equal to any
opportunity, and they are provisioneG
to make the most of it. In spite or
their efforts, they may not pass the
mountains-but they may, on the other
hand. travel 1000 miles. We can't tell
till afterward. Everything that can
be anticipated, however, is in favor Of
a long voyage"
Will Send Up Pilot
The aeronauts will know definitely
the course to take shortly after noon.
when pilot balloon will be sent up to
test the currents. The drift will be
watched closely. If it ascends several
thousand feet and then trends toward
the ocean the balloonists viii feel their
av~I hn mountains utilizing
the lower and purely local currents,
relying upon the flow of the winds over
the mountains to lift them to sutt-
cient altitude. If, on the contrary, the
pilot balloon shows that it Is possible
to make a quick shoot to the noun
tains at a high altitude, that course
will be followed, assit combines height
with the direction of travel desired.
"I think we will play low at the
start" predicts Aeronaut Wild. = VIII
take the highest altitude possible as
soon after starting as I can says
are as variable as the winds, and will
not be final until the big balloons are
in the air.
The final preparations, with the ex-
ception of minor matters, were nnisned
last night The breeze prevented rliing
the balloons as rapidly as the spec
tators thought desirable, but Captain
Mueller was more contented than he
had been since his first day at Chutes
park. 'Everything Is going fine, fine,
he said to those on the anxious seat.
Toward evening the American was
filled SO that it almost left the ground.
and then the flow of gas was checked
to await the dying down of the wind.
This morning the baskets win be adj
iusted and packed, and for the first
time the public will be admitted to
watch the work.
Captain Mueller, who has had charge
OF the preliminary work, has partici-
pated in so many balloon contests that
it is everyday labor to him. The over
.(Continued on Page Eieven)