The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-10-06
TAKES SHOT AT
RACING BALLOON
FIRED WHEN RACER is NEAR
PADUCAH, SAYS PILOT.
Peoria-St. Louis Race Contestant
Lands Near Cairo at 1880
Tuesday Morning.
PROBABLY WON THE RACE

Cairo, ILL.,, Oct. 6.-James w.
Bemis and G. E. Smith. the pilot and
his assistant of the balloon Peoria,
one of the two big gas bags which
started in this direction in the race
from st. Louis, arrived in Cairo yes
terday and were guests at the Halli-
day, where they were seen by a re-
porter.
Both balloons started from the
grounds in st. Louis at 4 D. m. Mon
day and Mr.. Bemis claims that he
won the race, his balloon landing
about 1880 yesterday morning in a
clover field at Levings, a station just
south of Grand Chain on the Big
Four railroad, in Pulaski county, a
distance of about 100 miles from st.
Louis; while the other balloon, the
Missouri" landed near Jefferson
City.
The Peoria" had a remarkable
trip, passing over three states in its
flight, crossing the Mississippi four
times and the Ohio river three times.
1t assembled to an altitude of about
20OO feet at the start and headed
southeast, and after sailing along in
this direction until Z p. M, cross cur
rents of air sent it towards the south
west. 1t re-erossed the Mississippi
at Grand Tower, sailed across the
state TO Metropolis and crossed the
Ohio. 1t was over Paducah until
daylight, when it was again driven
into Illinois.
1he balloonists floated over East
Cairo for a short time in the mora
ing and could see the lights of Cairo,
according to Mr. Smith. 1t was about
O'Clock in the morning when they
passed over the river again at Mound
City and drifted north landing at
Levings as stated, descending gently
and without mishap.
Mr.. Bemis stated that he and his
companion sailed about 400 miles
during the night. although they
landed only 1875 miles from the start
ing point on an air line. The great
est altitude reached was $500 feet.
Mr. Bemis claims TO have heard a
bullet speed by the balloon during
the night when his aid, Mr.. Smith.
was asleep. This was while the bal
loon was near Paducah. Ky.
Mr.. Bemis had his balloon brought
to the station at Levings and shipped
to st. Louis, while he and his COM
panion came TO Cairo and left for St.
Louis yesterday afternoon.
Won Many Things.
Mr.. Bemis stated that the cup he
won in the race was of silver, stand
Ing about four feet high and was
valued at $40O. He thought it would
make a pretty nice ornament for his
home but added that he thought it
would be rather expensive If he had
to fill it. He also said he won wag-
ers on the race, two suits, fourteen
hats, six pairs of silk hose and $50
cash beside many other things too
numerous to mention. The capacity
of his balloon, the Peoria, is $4,000
cubic feet while that of his oppon-
ent in the race, the Missouri, piloted
by Harlow b. Spencer. was 10000
cubic feet.
Doubt As TO Winner.
st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 6.-The win
ner of the st. Louis Centennial race
for balloons of 10000 cubic feet ca
pacity must be decided by official
measurement by the st. Louis Aero
club.
The two contenders, the Missouri
and Peoria, landed within practically
the same distance from this city to-
day the former at Hibernia, No.
about 120 miles west of here and the
Peoria at Leyings, Ill, north OF
Cairo.
The Peoria's pilot, ]. w. Bemis,
reported that he crossed the Missis-
sippi river four times and the Ohio