The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-18
BIG BALLOON RACE
 STARTS FAvORABLY Ten Airships Leave St. Louis
 for Long Journey BENNETT SENDS MONEY Prize of s3oO0 Is offered to the Avia- tor Who Flies the Fastest and
 Who Lands Safely In
 Some Place
BENNETT SENDS MONEY

ternational balloon race was launcneo here this afternoon when 10 monster balloons, representing four countries of the eastern and western hemispheres ascended amid the plaudits of thous- ands of enthusiasts. They sailed to- ward the north and northwest. and were out of sight within a few min utes after the words, Let goc were given by the pilots.
 Under ideal atmospheric conditions, amply provisioned for 50 hours or more in the air, and ballasted with the ut- most care, the balloons arose graceful ly and speeded away. There was not a hitch in the arrangements, though the Harburg III of Germany, Lieuten- ant Vogt, pilot, got false start, and the Million Population Club, St. Louis. Louis Won Phul, pilot, narrowly missed colliding with a grandstand.
 The balloons were released at inter vals varying from one minute to 20 minutes. The first to weigh off was the Condor and the last was the Ger mania.
 The balloons, the nations they rep resent, pilots. aids and the time they ascended follow:
 LtBt or the BHiloOus
 Condor, France; Jacques Faure. pilot; Ernest G. Schmolck. aid. at 4:40:25.
 Million Population Club, United States; S. Louis Won Puhl of St. Louis. pilot; Joseph O'Reilly of St. Louis, aid, at 4:53.
 Azurea, Switzerland; Capt. Emil Mes ser pilot; Leon Giovidan, aid, at 5:07.
 Harburg III, Germany: Lieut.. Leo- pold vogt, pilot William F. Assman of St. Lotus aid, at 5:l4.
 Isle De France, France; Alfred Le Blanc, pilot; Walther Demumm. aid. at 5:24.
 St. Louis No. {. United States; H. E. Honeywell of St. Louis, pilot; J. W. Holland of St. Louis. aid, at 5:26.
 Helvetia, Switzerland; Col. Theodore Schaeck, pilot; Paul Armbruster. aid. at 5:27;30.
 Dusseldorf II, Germany; Lieut.. Hans Gericke. pilot; Samuel F. Perkins of New York. aid, at 5:Ss.
 America II. Unfted States; Allan R Hawley, pilot; Augustus Post, aid, al 5:47.
 Germania, Germany; Capt Hugo Won Abercron. pilot; August Blanckert, aid at 5:54.
 Bennett Sends Money
 James Gordon Bennett cabled from Paris today that he had mailed his check for s3o00 as a prize for the win = ner of the race. The $175o already in the hands of the committee for prizes will be distributed in other prizes.
 It was 4:So o'clock when Faure an nounced ready. Sand bags were removed one by one and the contents of the bas- ket of the Condor re-arranged for bal ancing.
 Then Faure and his aid, Schmolck, took their places and the balloon was moved to a position in front of the grand stand.
 Faure got away with only ten bags of ballast. He tried to lift with more sand, but seeing that this was impossible, he well to his friends. with a request that the band play the Marseillaise, and gave the signal to let go.
 The balloon arose almost perpendicu- larly and fioated gently toward the north west, while the crowd cheercd. Faure and Schmolck kept up conversation through a megaphone until they were out of hearing.
 von Phul was ready for his start as soon as the club officials were through with Faure. As his balloon ascended it veered toward the grandstand and for a moment 1t looked as if a. collision was certain.
 von Phul and his aid worked rapidly dumping out sand until the grandstand was cleared.
 The Aurea got away with nearly 50 bags of ballast, while the others did not do so well.
 Colonel Schaeck and his Swiss balloon Helvetia took a course almost due north from the Aerodrome.
 on in Bunchcs
 Alfred Le Blanc, H. E. Honeywell and Hans Gericke got away in quick succes- sion. A. R. Hawley had considerable difficulty in getting a sufficient quantity of gas and though he was ninth in the order, the Germania, with Captain Aber- cron, was ready several minutes ahead of him, but was held back until its starting time.
 President Cortlandt Field Bishop of tho Aero Club of America, was in direct charge of the contest. The race Is for distance, which is to be air line measure ment from St. Louis. The winner will receive the James Gordon Bennett cup and 5000. The second and third prizes are s15OO and $1250. Under the rules a landing Is made if the basket touches the ground or if the drag rope becomes en- tangled in trees or trails along the ground for more than 15 minutes, or If the balloon descends In fresh water.
 If a balloon descends in salt water Il is disqualified.
 The velocity of the wind when the race started was 8 miles an hour. and the d. rection southwest to northeast. Weather Observer Hayes expects the balloons to take a northeasterly course after they have reached the higher attitudes.
 All of the balloons were well equipped for remaining in the air many hours,