The San Francisco call., 1909-11-01
BIG BALLOONS
NEARLY LOST IN
WATERS OF BAY
Exciting Incidents Mark Third
of the Great POrtOIa
Aerial Races
San Francisco Aero Clubs En-
try Captures Event by
Long Flight

After travelling more than 25 miles
and almost being swamped in the
waters of the bay. Miss Genevieve shaf-
fer and Captain Ivy Baldwin. repre-
ssenting the San Francisco aero club,
won the third OF the Portola balloon
races yesterday in the monster racing
balloon the Queen Of the Pacific. AS
the series now stand, Oakland, repre-
sented by Miss Margaret Miller and j.
c. Mars, have won one race, San Fran
cisco one and one tie It will require
the decision Of a committee TO pick the
winner and award the silver cup the
prize for the races
The balloons rose within a few min
-utes Of each other from the ball
grounds at Eleventh and MarkeS
streets, the Queen of the Pacific max
ing the ascent at 8 p. m. and the City
of Oakland 10 minutes later
Both balloons after travelling in the
same course and ia each others wake
landed in the vicinity of Alvarado, II
miles south Of Oakland, at about $50
p. m. In crossing the bay the Oakland
balloon dropped to the waters edge ana
thereby lost the race.
RACE Is EXCITING
The race was the most exciting of
the series. The San Francisco balloon,
struck by a contrary current of air
shortly after ascending from the start
ing point. was outstripped by its oppo-
nent and would have lost the race had
st not been for the other touching
water first. The race was to go TO the
balloon travelling the greatest dis
tance within two hours without making
a landing.
The city of Oakland, travelling low,
led the way across the bay. Above it
hoated the Queen of the Pacific. Both
balloons shot downward while crossing
the bay. and the City Of Oakland being
the lowest struck the water first Mars
and Miss Miller threw out their ballast
and rose again. but it was too late to
save them the race. A few minutes
later the Queen Of the Pacific followed
in it's wake. The giant balloon
swerved downward until the waves beat
around the basket. Like their oppO-
nents Miss Shaffer and Baldwin threw
out their ballast and saved themselves
from disaster.
The two balloons, heading southeast.
continued travelling at a rapid rate un-
til reaching Alvarado, where both
made successful landings, the Oakland
balloon dropping beyond the hill ana
the San Francisco racer. in the valley
MISS sHAFFER COOL
The Queen Of the Pacific was the
first 10 rise. Promptly at 3 p. M the
guy ropes were released and the bal
loon shot upward, Xeering toward the
southeast Miss Shaffer was the per-
sonifcation Of coolness. swapping her
camera to the very last. She nodded
and smiled to her mother watching
her make the ascent, and then turned
again TO the serious business of bal
looming.
Captain Ivy Baldwin jumped for the
network of the balloon as il rose and
swung himself down into the basket
beside his companion. The Queen of
the Pacific, travelling TO the southeast
at rapid clip, began to rise, and,
when at q height of about 1000 feet.
struck a northwestern current of air,
which began to drive ii back over its
course.
In the meantime the City of Oak
land was maneuvering for q success
ful ascent. Time and again J. G. Mars.
president of The Oakland aero club.
the pilot, would essay to get away, but
in each instance the danger of being
dashed against the surrounding line
of houses forced him to descend The
strain of the constant maneuvering. the
short upward drive, the sudden stop
and the humping, swaying basket
seemed TO unnerve Miss Miller, who
clutched at the ropes for support
Vote for DR. C. c O'DonneIl for cor