The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-12
Topeka III to Start in the Inter
national Race.
Attempt to Lift the Lahm Dis.
tance Cup.
TELL THRILLING TALE
Pilot Jacobs and Aide Emer-
sons Narrow Escape.
Dropped So Rapidly Ballast
"Flew Upward"

Announcement was made today by
H W. Jacobs, president of the West
ern Aero association, that Topeka II,
the balloon that entered the national
race at Kansas City Monday. would
be entered in the international race
in Kansas City in October. IN the in
ternational race Topeka II will be
scheduled as non-contsstant and will
attempt not only to make better dis
lance than the other balloons, but will
attempt to break the American dis
lance record of LIP miles.
Barring the accident to Topeka II
in the national race, the pilot and aide,
who returned to Topeka this morning,
believe that they would have won the
national race. Now that they have
entered with one of the largest and
best balloons in the country, they are
positive that in the international race
they will make q showing of note.
If they break this years records in
October, they will be given the Lahm
cup.
Previous to this international race,
the Topeka II with Pilot Jacobs and
Aide Emerson will make several as
cents from Westlawn park in Topeka.
In addition to these flights, a triangle
race is being worked up between st.
Louis, Topeka and KansaS City.
The st. Louis and Kansas City bal
loonists and aero clubs are enthusias-
tice over a race of this kind and some
time next month the time and place
will be selected.
The details of the experiences of
Frank M Jacobs pilot, and Raffe
men to friends on their return to To-
peka this morning, would make
Jules Verne desert his stories of fancy
and write facts.
ing around a terrific thunder storm
that brought three balloons to earth,
and the display. of nerve by Pilot
Jacobs when he climbed up into the
gas after his aide was lying uncon-
sciOus in the bottom of the basket are
experiences that come seldom in the
lifetime of expert balloonists.
The fact that the gas valve in the
balloon failed to work properly when
needed by the Topeka crew was the
cause of the loss of a place in the in
ternatiOnal race. Pilot Jacobs and
Aide Emerson honestly believe that
they could have gone at least 300
miles farther. After they had success
fully lodged a thunder storm and be-
gan to sail in a direct easterly direc-
ton. choosing Kentucky or the Vir-
ginias as a goal. the accident to the
valve befell them and they were
forced to descend.
When the accident occurred the
crew had 10 bags of ballast and a
good pressure of gas. This they figured
would carry them through the next
day in good shape-and far into the
next night
But the escape from asphyxiation
from a tremendous altitude through
the bravery Of Pilot Jacobs is a pleas
ure that sooths the disappointment of
a place in the race.
Stories of the Two Men.
To give the story correctly it is
necessary to have Pilot Jacobs tell of
how Emerson jockeyed through the
thunder storm and have Aide Emerson |
tell of the manner in which Jacobs
saved both their lives through his
quick action at time when the bal |
loon was climbing into the sky at a
rate of 1000 feet In seven seconds.
In speaking of the altitude ex-
perience, Aide Emerson said:
Before sunrise the morning after
our first night of flying we were drift
ing along in fine shape at a speed of
about thirty miles an hour. We had
plenty Of ballast and were congratu-
lating ourselves on our condition after
the escape from the Thunderstorm
when the sun came up.
Immediately after the sun came up
and shOne through the clouds below us
the gas in the bag expanded and We
began to rise slowly. Then we rose
faster and soon the needle in our in
strument showed that we were 10000
feet in the air.
Then We began to rise so fast that
the air came rushing down on our heads
and the gas from the balloon shot out
of the appendix and almost suffocated
us.
AT this point Pilot Jacobs pulled the
rope attached to the valve at the top
of the balloon. Ordinarily this will re-
lieve the gas from the top of the gas
bag and we would descend But at the
first jerk, the pilot discovered that the
valve would not work. He pulled
harder-still it wouldn't bulge.
All this time we were going up
faster. Our Instruments registered
their limit. 1900 feet, and we were still
going Our ears bulged and panied.
Our lips became blue and we gaspei
for breath. Our hands were blue and
swollen and we felt pains in all parts
of our bodies. And still we flew up
ward We up as fast as one would fall
to the ground-who ever heard of any
one falling upward? But that was
what we were doing.
Finally Jacobs and 1 both pulled on
the valve rope. Then we hung our
weight on it-and still we could not re-
! lieve the gas.
I'VE looked at each other in bewild-
erment Then we compared notes. We
had heard of balloonists in time of
peril climbing out over the net, up
over the balloon and relieving the valve
in this manner. We had heard of
them cutting and slashing the gas bag
with knives
we decided finally that it would
be best to climb up through the net
out over the top of the balloon and fix
the valve Pilot Jacobs was to watch
the balloon from below and I would
do the climbing.
L placed my hand on the side of
the basket and was in the act of
reaching for the band above me
when I felt a. peculiar sensation.
felt groggy and sleepy and had no am
] bition but to lie down in the bottom
of the basket and Sleep
Pilot Jacobs Story.
This is the part of the story as far
as Aide Emerson is concerned. The
Pilot Jacobs
Emerson InnLzed at me . -..5n...a