The Sentinel=record., 1911-10-06
BALLOONS OFF
 IN'BIG RACE
EIGHT MONSTER AIR CRAFTS SAIL BEFORE FAVORABLE
 WIND FOR TROPHY
Six Are Also Competing in the Ben nett Cup Race--Amcrioa Has Chance to Own
 the Cup.

Kansas City. Mo, October 5--Be- fore favorable twenty mile wind from the south and southeast eight racing balloons sailed away from here today in contest for the James Cor don Bennett trophy and the Lahm cup.
 Six of the air craft, 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 balloons in this contest and two oth- er American balloons are also after the l.ahm cup. A ninth which acted as pilot in the international race, is attempting to break the altitude record.
 Every balloonist got a good start. The pilot balloon Pennsylvania I, and the America II, had trouble getting clear of the ground but by dump ing a little sand, both were soon above to get in a good altitude.
 The Berlin II did not rise well un- til after it lhad cleared the aviation field and its drag rope raked two or three spectators off the circus seats, but none was severly injured and tho bag was not long in rising to an es- timated height of 800 feet.
 With the exception of the last two bags to sail, the Kansas City III and the Topeka II, all of the balloons flew almost due north. The Kansas City and Topeka entrants were caught up by a wind from the southeast and carried northwest. It was almost dark when the last two sailed. All the balloonists in the Bennett and Lahm events said they fully expect ed to cross the Canadian border.
 The balloons left in the following order:
 Rising from the ground at 5:53 D. m, the Berlin I sailed away. Pilot Lieutenant Vogt aide Lieutenant Martin Schoeller.
 At 5:56 D. m, the Million Popu- lation club, John Berry, pilot, Paul McCulloch, aide rose to great height and started northwest.
 The Buckeye. Lieutenant r. P. Lahm, pilot; J. H. Wade, Jr.. aide ascended at 6:01 D. m, and went straight north.
 The German balloon Berlin IT, as- cended at 6;1l D. m. This was the last of the entrants for the James Gordon Bennett cup to leave the grounds. Lieutenant Hans Gericke, pilot r. o. Duncker, aide.
 The first entrant for the Lahm cup, the Kansas City II. ascended at SIS D. m Captain H. E. Honey well, plloE John Watts. aide. Tho balloon started due north.
 Getting fine start, the balloon Topeka ascended at 6:20 D. m. Like it's competitor for the Lah mcup 1t sailed in northerly direction. Pilot Frank M. Jacobs; aide. w. W. Webb,
 A tremendous crowd saw the start, about 25,O00 persons being on the balloon grounds Besides these, thousands took in the start from the bills and box cars surrounding the field. As each balloon left in the in- ternational race it was greeted by the band with the national air of the country the racer represented.
 For a time 1t looked as if the Ber- lin I would not sail because of the failure of it's pilot, Lieutenant Leo- pold Vogt 10 arrive. He had not reached here when the gas was turned into the bags, but so certain was his aide, J E o. Duncker. that the aeronaut would be here that his bal loon was filled.
 Shortly after o'clock Lieutenant ,vogt arrived at the field In a taxicab. The failure of his flying garments and his kit to clear the custom house in New York. had delayed him. Other flyers came to his rescue and soon he was provided with all mprovised equipment.
 If an American balloon wins this race the Bennett trophy will become the permanent property of the Aero Club of America. The country that wins the trophy three successive times is entitled to keep it Amer ican have won tue last two races,