The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10
MOMEN CAN NOT
GO BALLOON|NG
Miss Margaret Miller and Miss
Genevieve Shaffer Must
FOregO Aerial Journey
Committee Does Not Care to AS
sumo Risk In First Contest
for POrtOla Cup

-allant Gaspar de Portola does not
want Young ladies TO risk their
precious necks for any trophy he has
10 offer. so as a consequence the bal
loon race between Oakland and san
Francisco gas bags. which starts at .
o'clock this afternoon from the corner
of Market and Twelfth streets, will
carry only men. Miss Genevieve Shat
fer, the enthusiastic and intrepid girl
member OF the Pacific aero club OF
this city. and Miss Margaret Miller,
the Oakland girl and member Of the
oakland aero club. equally daring and
enthusiastic. are the most disappointed
persons over the change Of plans.
Until yesterday IL was thought that
MISS Shafler would ny In the Queen
or the Pacific. the balloon of the Pa
cihc aero club of this city. which VIII
be piloted by its maker, Professor Is1-
Baldwin. And il was also intended
that Miss Miller would soar n the
balloon City Of Oakland, Captain
Park A. Van TasseTs balloon, which
belongs TO the Oakland aero CLUB. But
the TWO balloons are 10 race Tor the
ortOla cup and Portola did not think
3t wise to permit the young ladies 10
sail in the first contest between The
two gas bags.
WOMEN ARE DISAPPOINTED
The race is to be a severe struggle
in the air between tire Two inflated
niers and il was feared that if the
girls were aboard the rival pilots
would be swayed by unseemly caution
10 lower their air craft sooner than the
good OF the sport would require. The
appointment Of the two girls was
keen yesterday. and the only comfor-
that they had was the positive assu-
ance that they may soar in the race
10 oe held from Oakland next sunday.
As arranged yesterday, J. c. Irving.
president OF the Pacific aero club OF
1his city, VIII rise today with Profess
sor Baldwin. and either Robert ".
MARYLAND, president Of tho Oakland
aero club, or Prof. A. Van der Naillen,
former president, viii sail in the City
of Oakland. Captain Van Tasssl's car.
PERFECT THE DETAILS
The details for the race were per
tected yesterday in the lot at Market
ana Twelfth streets. The gasmen
brought in the mains from the streets,
and 10 test the pressure the pilot bal
loon Fairy the smallest balloon in the
world, was inflated. The Fairy viii go
ND today ahead Of the bigger gasbags
with J. c. Mars. pilot Of the Seattle
aero club. in the basket
Tie Queen of the Pacific and the
CITY Of Oakland are sister balloons.
Each has gas capacity Of 35. 600 cubic
1eet. The Fairy has a ca pacity Of 10, ,000
feet.
1T is problematicaI." said Captain
Van Lassel- what course the racers Of
- air VIII pursue 1t depends on the
md. II the wind is . IL is today, the
balloons viii be blown out toward the
ocean in the lower air lanes. but will
rise above that prevailing current and
catch an upper breeze which should
carry them down the peninsula They
should bc in the air about four hours" p"
MISS SHAFFER NOT AFRAID
President J. c. Irving OF the Pacific
GerO club yesterday TOuched earnestly
Tor the courage Of Miss ShaffeF and
declared that il was not due TO any
timidiry on her part. but solely to the
objections Of the Portola festival COM
nittee. which is offering the cup for
the race. that Miss Shafer viii not be
in the basket OF the Queen Of the Pa
cifc
I'm defense OF the courage and en-
1husiasm OF Miss Shaffer" said Irving
in the basket Of the Queen OF the Pa
cifc II Miss Margaret Miller makes the
trip for the Oakland aero club"
Among the spectators at the balloon
grounds al Market and Twelfth streets
yesterday afternoon was Jim" White
side, q veteran aeronaut who. IS years
ago, raced Captain Van Tassel from
RVoodua rd's gardens. The race ended
7yhiteside gaining a broken leg as his
"a Of @