Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-10-06
Big Gas Bags Get Away From
Kansas City in Race For
the Bennett Trophy and
lahm Cup.
GERMANY AND FRANCE
OUT TO BEAT AMERICA
indications Are That Both Dis
tance and Altitude Records
viii Be Broken; Aeronauts
Out to Win,

my Morning Jeurnai Special Leased wirel
Kansas City. Mo-. oct. 5.--Before a
favorable twenty-mile wind from the
south and southeast. eight racing bal
looms sailed away from here today In
the contest for the James Gordon Ben
nett trophy and the Lahm Cup.
Six of the air crafts. three repre-
senting the United States, two Ger
many and one France. are entered in
the Bennett race. an annual interna-
tional event. The three American bal
looms in this contest and two other
American balloons are after the Iahm
Cup. A ninth balloon. 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
the American II. had trouble getting
cleared of the ground, but by dump
ing little ballast, both were soon able
to gain good altitude. The Berlin
III, did not rise well until after II had
cleared the aviation field, and Its drag
rope raked two or three spectators off
the circus seats. but none were severe
iy injured and the bag was not long In
rising to u height OF 500 feet.
With the exception OF the last two
bags to sail. the Kansas city ii. and
the Topeka II, all OF the balloons flew
almost due north. The Kansas City
and Topeka entrants were caught up
by wind from the southeast and
carried northwest. II was almost dark
when the last two balloons sailed.
All the aeronauts were we'll pleased
with the starting conditions. They pre-
dieted long flights. and one or two
were willing to venture that the rec
ord of l.i7l.9 miles established by
the America II last year would be
broken.
An immense crowd saw the balloons
start. All the seats on three sides of
the aviation field were filled. approx
imately $4,000 persons being on the
grounds, Besides these spectators.
took In the start from hills.
house tops and box cars surrounding
the field.
The French balloon. The Condor
came In for the loudest applause Of
any Of the foreign entries. II is q beau
tlful new bag and is conceded to have
a good show In the contest. The wife
and a sister of Emile Duboonet. pilot
of the French balloon, were present.
the only women relatives OF any or the
flyers
For time today II looked as IL
the Berlin | would not sail owing to
the failure of It's pilot Lieutenant Leo
pold vogt, TO arrive. He had not
reached here when the gas was turned
into the bag, hut so certain wan his
aide j. o. bunker, that the aeronaut
would be here, that his balloon was
filled.
Shortly after / o'clock Lieutenant
yogt arrived at the field In taxi-cab.
perturbed, but ready TO
fly. The failure of his flying garments
and his kit 10 clear the customs house
IN New York had delayed him. Other
flyers came TO his rescue and soon as
was provided with an improvised
equipment. True, his sand box said
soap" on one end and was secured to
he basket with a clothesline. and the
other equipment was equally crude.
,ut when the starting signal was given
ne was ready to go.
II an American balloon wins this
ace. the Bennett trophy viii become
he permanent property of the Aero
Tub of America. The country that
wins the trophy three successive times
$ entitled to keep H. Americans have
Won the last two races. Lieutenant
.ahm. who is flying the Buckeye In
his race, won the trophy the first year
I was'sofftrca IN 1908.
The Lahm race Is for Americans nm
Y, and Is a distance event, as is also
he Bennett race. The cup is now In
he possession of Allen r.. Haw1ey.
I his record Is not beaten In the next
wo years. he becomes owner of the
up
The following are the regular cash
'rizes I'm the Bennett race:
First prize, $i.500
Second prize. $1,000.
Third prize, $500.
In addition the Kansas City Aero
hub today announced It would give
he following In uprizes,
First prize. $3.50. -'s--.-.
Second prize. s225. --' -~--
Third prize. si25.
No cash awards are offered IN the
.ahm race.
But three identified bags had been
ccounted for up to midnight. They
,ere the Condor. flying the colors OF
rance. which passed st. Joseph.
To-, at s o'clock; the Topeka III. that
allied over South st. Joseph, Mo-,
I 7:45 o'clock, and the America III.
1hIch was reported at Savannah, Mo-.