The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-06
BALLOON|STS RACE FOR TWO TROPHIES Eight Entrants Make Fine
 Start ALL FLY DUE NORTH Tremendous Crowd of 25,000 Persons See Start From the Ground. Many Cash Prizes Offered
 for Winners
ALL FLY DUE NORTH

Kansas City. Mo, October 5.-Before favorable 20 mile wind from the southeast eight racing balloons sailed away from here today in contests for the James Gordon Bennett trophy and the Lahm cup.
 Six of the aircraft. three representing the United States, two Germany and one France. are entered in the race which is an annual event. The three Ameri- can balloons in this contest and two other American balloons are after the L.ahm cup, A ninth, which acted as pilot in the international race, is at tempting to break the altitude record Every balloonist got good start The pilot balloon Pennsylvania l and .he America II had trouble getting clear of the ground, but by dumping a little sand both were soon able to get in good flying altitude. The Berlin II did not rise we'll until after 1t had cleared the aviation field and its drag rope raked two or three spec tators off the circus like seats, but none was seriously injured and the bag was not long in rising to an approx innate height of 300 feet.
 With the exception of the last two bags to sail, the Kansas City III and the Topeka II, all the balloons flew al most due north
 The Kansas City and Topeka entrants were caught up by wind from the southeast and carried northwest. It was almost dark when the last two sailed. All the balloonists in the Ben nett and Lahm events said they fully expected to cross the Canadian border
 A tremendous crowd. about 25,000 per sons, saw the start from the grounds. Besides these thousands took in the start from the hills and box cars sur rounding the field.
 As each balloon left it was greeted by the band with the national air of the country the racer represented.
 For time it looked as if the Berlin l.. would not sail, owing to the failure of it's pilot, Lieutenant Leopold Vogt to arrive. He had not reached here when the gas was turned into the bags, but so certain was his aide, J. o. Bunker, that the aeronaut would be here that the bag was filled
 Shortly afterward Lieutenant vogt Sr- rived at the field. The failure of his fly ing garments and his kit to clear tie customhause in the east had delayed him.
 Other pilots came to his rescue. Soon he was provided with an improvised equipment
 If an American balloon wins this sace the Bennett trophy will become the per manent property of the Aero club or America The country that wins the trophy three successive times is entitled to keep it.
 Americans have won the last two races The Lahm race is for Americans only, and is a distance event as is the Ben nett race. The cup is now in the pos session of A. Hawley. If his record is not beaten in the next two years he be- comes the owner of the cup.
 Following are the prizes in cash of fered in the Bennett event; First s5OOO second s1oC0, third $500. In addition to these tine local Aero club announced it would give the following prizes: First Si50 second s225 and third $125.
 No cash awards are offered in the Lahm race.
 Interest centered in the Bennetts race on account of it's International charact ar. Then, too. there is a chance that Amer ica will come into permanent possession of the trophy in this race. By the rules of the contest the trophy becomes the property of the first club that wins it three times successively. Representa- tives of the Aero club of America have won the last two contests.
 The contest for the Lahm cup is dis tance event for Americans only.
 The entrants in the international con- test are France. Condor, Emile Lubon- nett, pilot; Germany Berlin. I. Lieilt Leopoud Vogt, pilot; Berlin 1T, Lieut. Hans Gericks. pilot.
 United States. Buckeye, Lieut.. Frank P Lahm, pilot; Million Population club Wm. Assman. pilot; America II, John Berry, pilot
 The entrants for the Lahm cup only are.
 Topeka IT. Frank NJ. Jacobs. pilot
 Kansas City IT, Captain II. F. Honey well. pilot
 Penna II. Arthur T Atherholt, pilot