The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-12

lion Population club, John F. Berry, pilot. is reported here to have landed at 2:45 o clock this afternoon at LaCross, Ind.
 Kansas City, July 11.--To St. Louis pilots belongs the right of joining Alan R. Hawley in defending the honor of the United States in the James Gordon Bennett cup race which will start from here October 5.
 This was decided tonight when six If the balloons which started from here yesterday in an elimination race to se- rect two entrants for the Bennett con test were reported landed. The two leaders in the race now are the St. Louis " and the Miss Sofia, both of St. Louis. The only balloon still in the air is the Million Population Club, and it, too, is from that city.
 So regardless of the record set by the latter bag, St. Louis wins The race now settles down to contest between tl,e three St Louis balloons for the first two places.
 The location of the Million Popula . tion Club balloon Is unknown. Not since early today, when it passed over Moline, H., going a a rapid speed and travelling high, has the aerial craft been heard from. It was then headed northeast. Fear is expressed that it may have started to sail across Lake Michigan,
 Thus far Lieut.. Frank P. Lahm, wno piloted the St. Louis ", has made the longest flight. He landed at 4:15 o'clock thIs afternoon. three miles southeast of I ID... Il. of South Bend distance of 5g1 miles. Like several other aeronauts, Lahm was cauhgt Tn a storm. His descent was Ii .ade without accident
 Toward the Great Lakes regions ', here treacherous air currents and wa ter constantly menace aeronauts, the Million Population club Is believed to be speeding tonight.
 The balloon still in the air manned hY aeronauts af long experience and ert oNufb nfticI9ls here beiieve the, , " ald take d chance on crossing one or more of the Great Lakes if necessary to win the race.
 rhe locations in whcih the balloon. landed today and tlie unofficial dis tances made by them follow:
 Miss Sofia, William F. Assman, pilot and John M. O'Reilly, aide, represent . ing the St. Louis Aero club, landed near Franklin park, suburb of Chi CHBO, ulSIdnCef 44J miles.
 Buckeye, J H. Wade. Jr., pilot, and R. M. Hitchcock, aide. representing the Cleveland Aero club, of Cleveland, land ed four miles east of New Holland, H. ; distance, 315 miles.
 Topeka II, Frank NJ. Jacobs pilot. and R. Emerson, aide, representing the Vest ern association, of Topeka landed near l.a Harpe, H., distance 19O miles.
 N.w York, Clifford B. Harmon pilot, a QIii Ai1V1IgtnS poSt q in he, Kansas City Aero club, landed near IindH. la, distance. 150 miles
 The balloon Missouri, which left here shortly after dark last night in an at tempt to break the distance record for 4r,eGD-foot balloons, came down near Coal Ci;y Ia.. about 145 miles from here A message from J. Cowan Hulburt said his dide, Henry Weber. and himself landed safely, but encountered a storm. They failed to touch the record, which is 325 miles.
 Inc New York. the Buckeye and the Kansas City were also forced to descend because they encountered severe thun- dcrStorm.
 Altitude of 5000 Feet 1'fe New York was sucked into the ccnter of the storm and so violently was tac basket shaken that both men were forced to hold to it's sides to keep from being thrown out. Their balloon rose to an altitude of 5000 feet. When they final ly attempted a landing they were dragged in the basket for more than mile be- ftrt the balloon stopped
 IIor eywell and his aide descended s ortly after l o'clock this morning and scpt in their basket until daylight. They ca:r'ed 90 sacks of ballast when they aliehted. but so fiercely was the storm raging that they could not rise above it.
 Immediately upon landing Captain Honey well and his aide started to return lle e and the occupants of the New York ieaded for New York
 Net since early today, when they were ly iI.; northeast on the western edge of Illinois, in the vicinity of Moline, has any occupants of either of the two balloons s.;li ir the air.
 Two Sent Messages
 Jhe Associated Press received mes sages from both while they were in that vicinity.
 ieut Frank P. Lahm. pilot of the St. L,uis ", was faring badly when he dIoI ped message at West Liberty, la. west of Davenport His balloon was with in e feet of the ground and his guide ro,e was dragging. A later report said Lanm's balloon had descended at Lapay, ud'ana.
 As the Mllllon PopuiatloH tlup pallpph passed over Moline, Ill. the pilot, John Nj Berry, dropped a message. saying ms craft was flying high and nicely.
 Until a telegram reached the officials of the Kansas City Aero club tonight an nouncng the landing of the Buckeye no direct word had been received from that balloon since it left yesterday. The mes sage was brief simply saying storm en- forced landing four miles east Of New Holland, Ill.,, at S:15 o'clock this after