The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-11
they TAKE NOTICE
Topeka Let World Know 1t Is
on Map.
Representatives at Balloon Race
We're Surprised.
INCIDENTS OF RACE.
Pilot Jacobs of Topeka IL Isn't
GUTTER.
Said He Would Stay in Race
to Last.
INCIDENTS OF RACE

M Jacobs, pilot OF the IOpehd IL ia
loon that entered the national balloon
race in Kansas City Monday after
And Pilot Jacobs meant it. Every
preparation was made to get the To-
peka II in the best condition possible
even though the crew of the Kansas
gas bag had little hard luck IN start
ing. They are picked out by the
aeronauts in Kansas City to be one OF
the three leaders.
In the first place the blower valve
connecting between the air blower and
the balloon to be used to pump In air
was broken just after the helpers on
the field had allowed the balloon 10
float in the air a few minutes Tor oai-
ancing purposes. The blower valve
was attached to the Topeka II IN hopes
of keeping the balloon up long enough
to win the race. This valve was lor
the purpose of pumping air into the
bottom of the gas bag when the gas
began leaking. Then instead OF allow
ing gas to leak through the appeh1lX
the air would be forced through the
opening and the balloon would hold It's
gas power that much longer.
In attempting to jerk the cord from
around the valve, Pilot JACOBS prohe
the valve The wind whipped II away
from the bag and it was impossible TO
make a new connection at that time.
The second batch of hard luck came
when the helpers on the field hnaily
allowed the balloon to start on its
course. The upper air currents forced
the big balloon to earth while II was
travelling at a rate of twenty miles an
hour across the field and with bump
and a Jerk the basket hit the ground
Tt was necessary to throw out nearly
a sack of ballast to lift the balloon
into the air.
once more, however, it came down
and this time the basket struck the
'OT
minute it hung balanced on the can
vas while Pilot Jacobs and Aide Emer-
son dipped out ballast by the handful.
Then with a jerk it lifted above the
fence and shot up into the AR.
Rand Played yankee Doodle"
This ascension was the first sensa-
4;on Of the day and thousands of peo-
pie screamed when the big bag struck
the fence and looked as though 1t
would dump the occupants on the
sground ant when Pilot Jacobs waved
his cap to the crowd below 1t reas-
sured the spectators and the ST. Louis
Million Population band below struck
up yankee Doodle
The fact that it was necessary TO
throw out nearly two sacks of ballast
at the start when this ballast at the
end Of the race would have meant so
much in miles, was the reason that
the officers of the Aero club are worry
ing today.
But the optimistic view that the To-
4,eIza II seemed to be the best filed
and in the best condition of any OF
the gas bags at the start, has put wild
hopes of victory into the heads of the
Topeka placed herself on the aero
map in big black letters with stars as
= border yesterday. In the first place
this city was represented in nation
al race where only four other cities in
the country competed. In the second
place the Western Aero association of
Topeka added to the races at Kansas
City a second balloon-just for the
fun of it.
This second balloon was none other
than Topeka I, or the balloon that has
been making flights from Westlawn
park this spring and summer.
Shouted for Topeka.
And it pleased and surprised the
crowd. When the announcers on the
field heralded the fact that Topeka
would send up one balloon just to en-
terrain the crowd and then send up a
second gas bag to enter the races,
everyone jumped to their feet and
yelled for the Kansas capital city.
The 10000 cubic foot balloon from
Topeka. or Topeka I, was sent up
about one-half hour before the race
began. It was piloted by W. F. ia
cobs, a brother of Pilot Jacobs of the
big gas bag. F. W. Stein of Atchison
and Carl Dienstback of Germany were
the passengers.
The pilots of the big racing balloons
watched the smaller bag for nearly
dfteen minutes as it rose from the
ground f1oated out over the Missouri
river and finally blended with the
clouds in the distance. Sending this
air craft up just before the race gave
valuable information to the pilots.
It showed them the direction of the
wind. its velocity and the prevailing
currents Of upper air.
With this inflammation the aeraufe
following were made with a better
knowledge of conditions that would
have to be met.
seven balloons entered the races
Monday
The first balloon to ascend was a
sister ship of the Topeka lit was
the Kansas City. The Kansas City was
piloted by Captain H. E. Honeywell,
with John Watts as aide. It arose
from the field at $40 and was cheered
by thousands of people who lined the
bluffs like ants, covered the box cars
in the nearby railroad yards and hung
on the big steel bridge over the Mis-
souri, river like flies. The Kansas City
built like the Topeka II, suffered ar
accident in st. Louis when a building
fell in on the outstretched canvas. Il
was patched in many places, but die
not seem to be leaking yesterday. Il
took the northeasterly direction an6
hung close to the bluffs in order tt
take advantage OF the lower winds
The second balloon to rise above the
field was Miss Sofia of st. Louis. w
r. Assmann acted as pilot and J. NJ
O'Reillv aide The Miss Sofia. rose
higher than the Kansas City and in
few minutes was tickling the fringe,
of the scattered clouds. But its pilo
soon learned that a perfect calm
would stall him in the upper currents
and he allowed his bag to drop to thu
wind which was carrying the Kansas
City.
Then came the Topeka II
It was twenty-six minutes after fvl
when this sunfower balloon wal
turned loose by the helpers. The To
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