Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-09
PLANNED TO SEARCH LAKES
Life-saving Stations Had Been
Asked to Keep Watch.
BUCKEYE GETS SECOND PRIZE
Lshm Lands Near La Crosse, Wis,
and Has Thrilling Experience.
AMERICA FAILS TO KEEP CUP
Hext Race VIII Be Held In Germany.
while Trophy wouId Have Re-
mRined Here but for
Berlin II.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct. SIN win
ming the James Gordon Bennett trophy
in the international balloon race which
started from this city Thursday, Lieu
tenant Hans Gericke. pilot OF the Berlin
II, was lost to the world for the third
time.
The Berlin II landed In the wilderness
near Hocomb, Wis, az o'clock Satur-
day morning. thereby travelling seventy
five milts further than It's competitors
in the race.
Last night, after all the entries in the
race had been htard from. a telegram
was sent by the Aero club OF Kansas
City to Fred c. Ainsworth, adiutant gen.
eral Of the United states army, asking
that all life-saving stations, signal corps
and others in the government service in
the Great Lakes region bt requested 20
look for the German balloon.
Shortly after this telegram was sent
a message was received from Lieutenant
Gericke telling OF his landing at Lady
smith, Wis, at I o'clock yesterday morn
ing, having Travelled ass miles. Gericke
and his aide, r. o. Duncker, who came
from Germany with the pilot landed in
wilderness, uninjured. but we're unable
to reach a telegraph station before mid
night.
Three Times Lost.
Lieutenant Gericke was also given up as
lost last year N the international race
which started from St. Louis In the
German balloon, Dusseldorf ii, he was
In the air forty-two hours. travelling lio0
miles and landing In the wilderness of
Canada, from which he and his aide
emerged four days later after a narrow
escape from starvation.
Gericke's second time TO be given UP for
lost was last summer. when he went up
from Berlin In the German elimination
race. He drifted out over the North sea-
He was sighted in England. but was
again lost from view over the North sea-
He finally landed in Franco
Buckeye second. -
The nearest rival OF the German
balloon in this years race was the
Buckeye. plloted by Lieutenant Frank
Lahm of the United States army. II
landed near Ia Crosse. wis, 80 miles
from Kansas City Lieutenant Lahm and
his side. J. II. Wade. landed in a swamp
suffering greatly from the cold. They
had encountered a severe storm after
passing over Chicago and drifting out
over Lake Michigan. They met a south.
ward current which oompletely changed
their course They tried to rise above
this but succeeded only In finding
current which carried them westward.
They we're both worn out and exhausted
with their nine-hour vigilant and decided
that they land.
The French balloon, Condor H. Emil
Dubonnet, pilot, and Pierre Dupont,
aide, after swinging over Lake Michigan
an hour or more Friday drifted back TO
within twenty miles OF Des Moines, Ia,
and 205 miles from Kansas City.
In winning this years race Germany
has taken the Bennett cup from America,
into whose possession It would have
permanently fallen II this country had
been victorious. Amortca had won the
championship for two successive years
and a victory this year would haYe ended
this international series. The next race
will be held In Germany