Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-18
13 BALLOONS OFF
IN THRILLING RACE
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Aerial Armada Sets Sail from In
dianapoIis in ReCord-Break-
ing Air Contests
LIVES AT MERCY OF WINDS
Towns Report Aeronauts' Lights
Among the StarS-EnduranCe
and Distance Goals
LIVES AT MERCY OF WINDS
Associated Press1


INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 17.-Driftiug
northeast from this city are thirtt en-
balloons, the largest number that ever
started In a race meet in the history
of ballooning, and piloted by the best
aerohauts in America-nine sailing to
win a chance to represent America in
the international balloon race which
starts from st. Louis Octobeo II, and
four entered in the free -for-all event
to gain diamond studded cup.
A light breeze was blowing to the
northeast with the exception of the
Chicago Drifter, left the Motor Speed
way at 1858 this afternoon and was
carried rapidly away, but the breeze e
died down and the last balloon to
leave the course, the New York, which
rose at 5:55, was slow in travelling
after its companions.
Only the long delay in sending up
the first balloon, due to the failure to
have the big gas bags properly inflated
and the baskets provisioned on TIM,
marred the start of the great contest,
All of the balloons Travelled to the
northeast with the exception of the
America II, which, piloted oy August
Post, has made two flights in inter-
national races in Europe, took more
easterly course.
Alan r. Hawley is the pilot now
drifting with the America II and Aug
ust Post is at his side.
PWO GOALS SOUGHT
The American championship race IS
both for endurance and distance. Dis
tance is the goal for the four balloons
entered in the free-for all contest.
Seventy-two hours is the record for
endurance, made in an international
race which started from Berlin, and the
distance record is S52 miles. made by
Oscar Erbslobe, who sailed from st.
Louis to the New Jerey coast.
America II. the first started in the
American championship race, was
turned loose at 4:53 with Allan II, HaW-
ley, pilot, and August Post, aide, both
of New York. The balloon rose slowly
and floated almost directly east.
Floating to the northeast. the direc-
ton taken by the Drifter, Miss Sophia,
with William 7. Assmann, pilot, and
Paul Mccullough, aide, rose at sol, the
second balloon to start in the cham
pionship race. Miss Sophia skinned
the ground and her crew was kept
busy throwing out ballast until the
speedway fence was reported
ONE PILOT SAILS ALONE
DR.. L. E. Custer, in the Luzerne of
Dayton, entered in the free-for-all,
started alone at $40, and reaching a
greater height than any of his prede-
cessors, started to the northeast.
The Million Population club balloon
was cheered loudly by the st. Louis
delegation as it was sent up at 5:1s,
piloted by Louis Won Phul, assisted by
Joseph O'Reilly. The balloon followed
the others, going little to the north.
The University City, piloted by Capt
John Berry of ST. Louis, left the
ground at 5:29 and hoated to the north
east. On account of the leaky condi-
ton of the balloon, Berry entered the
free-for-all event instead of the chan-
pionship race. Captain Berry won the
last American championship race WIN
the University City.
AT 5:36 the Pennsylvania, in the
championship event, piloted by Arthur
T. Athelholt, assisted by Conyers B,
Graham, both of Philadelphia, sailed
off in the direction taken by most OF
the other balloons.
The balloons at latest reports were
racing in a general easterly direction,
probably over or toward Ohio.
A dispatch from Winchester, Ind,
near the Ohio line, said six balloons
had passed over that neighborhood
bound east.
These balloons probably 'were the
same that had been sighted at Muncie
earlier in the night. The pilots of four
of them dropped cards Identifying them
as the America II, the Indiana II, the
Buckeye and the Centennial.
No information has been received
from anywhere of the other craft.