The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-31
HeIium Filled Planes Are the
Center of Attraction.
Milwaukee to See Start of Big
Long Distance Race.
LUCK TO PLAY HUGE FACTOR
Southeastern Canada Seems the
Most Likely Landing.
Few Take Camping Goods, Rest
Preferring Lightness.

Milwaukee. Wis. May 31.-Thirteen
baEoons today were tusging at their
r,soorinEs ready to get off late today
in the thirteenth national balloon race
OF vnicl three will represent the
United states IN the international con-
tests to be held in Switzerland ia
Au-Lst.
The course of flight will depend
upon the -whims and fancies OF winds
thousands Of feet above the ground
Indications early today were that the
final destination of most of the air
travellers would be southeastern can
ada
As the bags struggled to tear loose
from their ToOrings. the United States
weather bureau. which sent corps of
special agents here to observe condi-
tious. reported that the balloons would
encounter a wind from the northeast
at the start but that this would change
10 a wind from the southwest as
greater attitudes were reached.
such winds would mean that 1he
bags soon would tdke a steady flight
northeastward across the Great Lakes
and into CaDada-
Several of the baskets attached to
tho balloons were OF a waterproof
fioatahle type, arranged by the pilots
in anticipation OF a possible forced
landing in one OF the Great Likes.
brit others were just the ordinary
woven reed type. which wout1 FIJI
wiki water as readily as a sieve.
Only Few to Camp.
8 few OF the men who are daring
the pcriis of ar currents thousands
OF fcet above the earth carried with
them outfits for camping in case they
come down in the wilds Of Canada
but- a majority We're sacrificing such
factors OF personal safety in favor of
lighter equipment.
Indications were that the weather
would be fair when the first gas bag
was released for its flight of un-
charted areas. but this meant little
To the pilots. for they fully realized
that at any point they might encoun-
trr stofHS
All admitted that the break Of luck
Would be a great factor in deciding
the winner. pointing, as an example,
70 the flight OF the American pilots.
McISibbcn and Won Hoffman. in the
last international race when they
travelled the greatest distance but
were disqualified because thew landed
i'm the ocean after being unable to
IN" ke shore when victory seemed
within their grasp
Navy Entry Is ATTRACTIVE.
The balloons probably attracting
the greatest attention were the naval
entries which are flying Independent
~ and are not eligible to any of the
prize money or homors. These two
bags we're inflated with heIium gas
AMI we're the first free balloons to
navigate the air thru the lifting power
o. iElS nOnlnfLamuah bic substance
WEich government officials claim will
rev oiutiohize the flight of tighter than
az craft.
The pilots Of these ships of the air
were disqualified from prize honors be
cause of the advantage they have thru
the greater lifting ability OF he1ium
gas Another interesting feature of the
helium filled balloons will be a newly
invented radio equipment which will
be given a thoro test. Fighting the
civilian entries will be three army bal
looms. Gas mains to the starting field
were opened at midnight last night
and early this morning all of the bal
looms were filled ready to begin the
journey.
Danger of Explosion.
Whether the public would be per
nlitted to view the start still was uri-
decided.
The local gas company yesterday re-
fused 60 furnish gas IL spectators were
admitted because of danger of an ex-
plosion.
The first balloon TO take the air will
be the smallest ertry-that of Raw
Donaldson, Of Springfield. Ill The
others will follow in the following
order:
Major oscar westover. Washington. ca
pacity 50. 900 cubic feet
Ralph Epson. Detroit. capacity 65.O00
.captsiR John Berry. st. Louis. capacity
$4,000 cubic feet