New-York tribune., 1909-06-06
SIX BALLOONS In RACE
THE NEW YORK LEADS At
INDIANAPOLIS,
Al Wafted Southpdrd by Steady
Wmd-Contest for Aero
Club Trophy.

Indianapolis, June 5.-Nine balloons cast
loose late this afternoon at the Motor Speed
way, five miles northwest of this city and
sailed off due south in a straight line over the
city. Surrounding the aviation field. guarded
by the state militia. immense crowd watched
the start.
Six of them we're entered in the national dis
tance race for the trophy of the Aero Club of
America and three in the contest for the cup
offered by the Indiana Aero Club to the pilot
and his aid who should be able to stay in the
air the longest.
The sky was clear, with the exception Of
few clouds and there was an easy, steady wind
TO the south.
The first starters. rising at 3:45 O'Clock. were
the three entered in the Indiana endurance race
Dr. H w Thompson, of Salem, Ohio, and w
F. Mast of Canton, Ohio. in the Ohio; DR..
Goethe Link and J. R. Irwin, of Indianapolis
in the Indianapolis. and c. A. Coey and John
Bennett of Chicago. IN the Chicago. the largest
balloon on the field. All rose easily
The national distance race started at
O'Clock. and the contestants sailed off in a file
to the south.
The summary of the starts in the national dis
tance race follows:
IN m-The New York A Holland Forbes
pilot and Clifford B. Harmon aid. both of New
York got away gracefully caught the wind ana
sos D -nl-The second starter the Indiana,
Carl G. Fisher pilot and G. L: Bumbaugh aid.
both of Indianapolis. rose and followed the New
York but ar lower altitude
SIS p m.-The third starter, the ST, Louis
Ill a L. Lambert pilot and II. E HoneyWeii
aid both of St. Louis, sailed near the ground
in getting away. barely clearing the grandstand
In minute. however. it slowly rose and sailed
south
A H Morgan pilot and J. II. Wade. jr- aid
both OF Cleveland rose in almost a straight hne
and then struck off across the city to the south
5:21 p. m.-The fifth starter. the Hoosier, cap
tain T. s Baldwin, of New York. pilot and
Charles Walsh. of Mount Vernon, n Y; ald'
got away on a low drift and rose slowly on
dumping ballast. sailing south,
5:26 p. m.-The sixth and last starter, the
University City. John Berry pilot and John NC
Cullough aid, both Of ST Louis rose straight 10
a good height before catching the drift. and then
followed the other contestants south
The United States government is represented
at the races by Major H b Hersey. of Wash
ington, who is connected with the weather bu-
reau Just before the start he and W T Blythe.
in charge of the local weather bureau, gave the
pilots maps supplying them with the latest in
formation as TO probable conditions in the higher
attitudes.
Just before the start the balloons were paraded
before the grandstand in of the boxes of
which Governor Marshall and his party were
seated.
The weather bureau predicted light and vari-
able winds for the evening Some Of the aero
nauts equipped their baskets with life preservers
precaution against dropping into one OF the
Great Lakes or river.
MAJ for Hershey had reports at o'clock from
a number Of stations east and west. and after
studying them carefully, informed the aeronauts
that if they did not ascend higher than two
thousand three thousand feet they would go
south. and probably land in Alabama. If they
ascended to a height OF two To three miles,
however he thought they would reach currents
that would carry them directly northeast. a.
H Forbes of the New York. expressed desire
to reach the higher altitude, saying he was
familiar with the current and wanted to get
into il.
The Ohio which was the first balloon TO start.
was also the first TO land coming down at 81
D. m. near Nashville, Brown County. a distance
Of about thirty-ffve miles. The pilot reported
that he was short of sand and could not stay
up longer.
The pilot of the indianapolis dropped note
from his balloon over the town OF Bargersville
twenty-five miles SOUTH this evening, saying
conditions were good and that he would stay up
Much interest centred in the balloon New
York, It believed that Mr.. Forbes would
seek the highest altitude possible, but as far
the balloon could be followed with iield glasses
II appeared to be not more than mile up and
pursuing the southerIy course taken by its pred
ecessor.
The following messages were received TO-
night from the aeronauts:
Nineveh. Ind, June 5.-At 7:15 p. m. we are
talking with Honeywell and Lambert, dre
'--' FISHER AND BUMBAUGH
Trafalgar Ind. June Berry University
C,ityl very high. Bumbaugh and Fisher On
diana) going up. Lambert est. Louis I'D going
up very high Forbes GNew York; very ioTI-
Morgan (Cleveland (stall ballooning. All bal
looms on parallel line except Berry, trailing The
Hoosier lowest position. The New York ten
miles to the northwest and Fisher south.
WALSH AND BALDWIN.