Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-05
BALLOONS READY
FOR GREAT RACE
HUGE AER0STATS SAIL TODAY
AT INDIANAPOLIS
Club Pronounced Most Elaborate
in the World by Visiting
Aeralsts
Especial to The Herald.l

Especial to Ihe Heralu.l
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, June 4.-"The
greatest sporting event in America" as
the first national balloon race is termed
by the aerial enthusiasts who have
gathered here, began to assume form
this evening with the imitation of the
big aerostats which will compete FOR
the championship of the air in this
country. The national race will start
about 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon,
and the balloons in the handicap event
will be sent away at o'clock.
Members of the Aero club of America,
under whose auspices the contest is
held, are greatly pleased with the ar
rangements for the race. When it was
first proposed to hold the race from In
dianapolis and A. Holland Forbes Wis
tied the city a few months ago as the
official representative of the Aero club
he found nothing but a farm when
shown the place where it was proposed
to initiate the balloons.
"You can never get this ready" he
said to Carl G. Fisher, president of the
Aero club of Indiana, but Mr.. Fisher
guaranteed that the grounds would be
in readiness. AS a matter of fact, the
completeness of the details arranged
has surprised all the visitors. No more
elaborate aviation grounds can be found
anywhere in the world. Five miles of
six-inch gas pipe were laid and covered
with a capacity that will fill one $4,000
cubit foot balloon an hour The high
pressure main from the gas plant con-
meets with a filling pipe system direct
ly in front of the grandstand. Ten bal
looms may be filled simultaneously, as
there are five filing pipes 120 feet long
and 100 feet apart, made so that a bal
loon can be filled at each end. The
pipe system alone cost $4,000
In a few months time grandstandS
and bleachers have been erected, a big
balloon house has been completed as
we'll as a cheerful club house for the
Indiana Aero club, and every other ar
rangement necessary to accommodate
the balloonists and the spectators has
been finished. Steam trains will run
to the grounds from the city every five
minutes and a five-minute electric car
service will be maintained.
Six Mammoth Contestants
Six balloons of 1900 cubic meters will
be sent away as competitors in the ma
tional race tomorrow afternoon. With
their passengers they are:
The Indiana, official entry of the
Aero club of Indiana, piloted by Carl
G. Fisher and George L. Bumbaugh of
Indianapolis.
The New York, piloted by A. Holland
Forbes and Clifford B. Harmon of New
York.
The Cleveland, piloted by A. H. Nor
gan and j. H. Wade, jr., of Cleveland.
The st. Louis III, Piloted by Albert
Bond Lambert and H. e. Honeywell of
st. Louis.
The Hoosier, piloted by Thomas s.
Baldwin of New York and Charles
Walsh of Mount Vernon, N. Y.
The University City, piloted by John
Berry and Paul Mccullough of st.
Louis.
A majority of the balloonists who will
take part in the race are wealthy men
who engage in ballooning for the love
of the sport. A. Holland Forbes is a
rich business man of New York, who
has lately ordered a dirigible for his
wife's use between the metropolis and
their New England country home. His
companion, c. B. Harmon, is leading
real estate dealer. A. H. Morgan and
j. H. Wade are wealthy residents of
Cleveland, who have become enthusi-
astic balloon travellers and who had
the Cleveland built by Leo Stevens
particularly for the national race.
Carl G. i isher is prominent in auto
mobile circles and was largely instru-
mental in making the Indianapolis
speedway and avaiation grounds sue
cess. His aid, Captain G. L. Bumbaugh,
is a prominent balloon builder and
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