The San Francisco call., 1909-10-25
GIRLS TRAVEL HIGH
IN GASBAG CONTEST
Miss Margaret Miller Sails With
Mars and Miss Geneva
Schaffer With Baldwin

OAKLAND. Oct. 24.-women aero
nauts held the interest of crowds in
Oakland yesterday and from the time
that the City of Oakland and the Queen
Of the Pacific. monster balloons, left
their moorings for their race the house
tops were dotted with spectators who
were speculating on the feelings of
Miss Margaret Miller of the first gasbag
and Miss Geneva Schaffer of the second
Botn were taking their first trips in the
air. and both left the ground without
show of fear.
Miss Miller won, as the balloon in
which she was went farther than the
queen of the Pacific. Distance was the
condition of the race.
The race was held under the auspices
of the Oakland aero club and was a
contest between the City of Oakland,
sailed by j. c. Mars of that club, and
the Queen of the Pacific of the San
Francisco aero club. a cup was the
trophy raced for. The Queen of the
Pacifc was compelled to come to the
ground before reaching the waters of
the bay. The city of Oakland sailed
over the water, nearly reached San
Francisco and. being borne back by
west wind, landed finally near the
KEY Route pier at the foot of B street
in West Oakland.
SOCIETY GIRLS CONTEST
The chief interest was in the women
who acoompan MED the gasbags. Each
had a host OF friends at the starting
grounds at Telegraph avenue and Six
tv-third street Miss Miller is promi
nent Oakland society girl, being the
daughter of James Miller, president of
the Oakland pottery works and well
known capitalist. She has made name
for herself as a Spanish dancer in New
York and recently returned to her Oak
land home. Miss Schaffer is equally
popular in San Francisco society cir
cIes Many girl friends of the pair
were at the start, wishing them good
luck Several wagers were offered by
their admirers. most of which were
taken quickly by James Miller.
The young women were to have put
their aeronautic abilities to a test sew
eral weeks ago at a previous race, but
the wind was blowing gale in San
Francisco, where the start was made,
and their friends refused to let them
enter the baskets. Both were much
disappointed and were eager to start
today.
BALDWIN STARTS FIRST
Miss Schaffer, with Captain Ivy Bald
win. made the first start shortly after
? O'Clock in the Queen of the Pacific
She was dressed in her street gown,
with a white veil wrapped about her
head. Her mother was few feet from
the basket when the word was given to
start and smiled her encouragement.
A girl friend held to her hand as the
balloon left the ground until the hands
were separated by the pull of the gas
bas. 1t shot up into the air, while run
in the basket. while Baldwin busted
himself with the ballast to make the
balloon rise as he wished.
II am not afraid at ALL" said Miss
Schaffer Just before she went UP. II
wanted to go before, but they would
not let me, and il was great disap-
nointment to me that / could not go.
! have been looking forward TO this
trip with much pleasure for weeks"
RIVAL GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT
Her rival. Miss Miller. was. at hand
when the first balloon went up. Good
bv. Miss Schaffer. good by" she cried.
sI'll see YOU in heaven" and she waved
her handkerchief. In a few minutes
she herself climbed into the basket OF
the City of Oakland and prepared to
leave the earth.
Miss Schaffer was undaunted and
ohewed gum nonchalantly while the
assistants made preparation TO cut
loose And when the big gas bag be-
gan to mount she leaned out of the car
and waved her handkerchief to her
friends. She, too, WIS garbed in simple
street dress a rose veil was bound
about her hair to keep it from dying
in the wind.
AIR CURRENTS CAUSE TROUBLE
The Queen of the Pacific had 10 min
utes start Of its rival, but the wind
was so light that il did not get far
away. Baldwin let out ballast until
the balloon was nearly 1000 feet in the
air. A light wind from the cast then