Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-01
Twelve BALLOONS
STILL IN BIG RACE
Ten Sighted by Observers in
Three States Sailing in op-
posite Directions
FIVE HEADED FOR LAKE ERIE
By the Associated Press

by the ASSCclAeu tTPSS
Chicago, June 1.--Tcn Of the twelve
oalloons still in the thirteenth national
race which started At Milwaukee yes
terday, have been sighted by observers
Five passed over Southern Michigan
early today headed in the direction of
Lake Eric. n sixth was seen over Bryan.
o.. sailing in the same direction. and
three others passed over Sangnmon
County. Illinois. dying southwest. ON"
Of these came 50 near earth at Peters.
burg that tho pilot yelled AT farmers,
but the balloons number wa~ not
recognized. Another flying high in the
air. passed over rawncc, ard another
was reported from Pana.
The balloon pilotcd by !. s. Mcktb-
ben. Of st. Louis. passed over White.
side. Mo-. at 9:lO \. NJ. and dropped
messages. II was going in n south
westerly dircction.
When darkness dropped its shroud
across the earth last night seven OF
these pilgrims of the sky were floating
In directions almost directly opposite
the others and carly today no report
Of any landing had been made.
Five Of the bags which shot high
into the air caught northeast cur
rent and disappeared toward Canadian
skies. Others. retaining their ballast
Tor the early hours Of tho flight. encOun.
tered opposite currents in the lower air.
Divergent Courses Interest
At points far distant today eyes were
turned skyward for n glimpse of the
floating bags whose voyages depend
upon the whms of the winds.
Tho opposite courses taken by the
balloons which shot high into the upper
currents from those which skinned the
earth intensified interest in the national
air event. The bags which caught the
northwnrd drift were expected to ron.
tinuc that course until they landed
somewhere in Canadian wilds. but the
destination Of those which driftcd
so,ithward added interest 10 the race.
Where they would go If relieved Of bal.
last to negotiate III" upper air was tn"
question.
Roy Donaldson. of Springfield. H.,
first starter in the rnce across the sky.
watched his twelve rivals disappear as
his bag descended after flight of only
q few thousand feet
Eleven of the twelve remaining CON
testants were actual competitors in the
race 10 determin" Americas entries II
the international race which starts in
Switzerland this year. The twelfth bag,
navy balloon. filed with hrlium.
started on an experimental flight to test
radio devices secretly. II was manned
BY Commander !. =. Nortlect and Chief
Rigger J. F. Shade. who expected 10
remain in the air az least ten days.
TO land somewhere far NJ in Canada.
With the great lifting power of the
helium. this bag was one of the five
which burst away from the earth to the
upper currents and started OF toward
the northeast.
The other four high starters wcr"
Major Oscar Westovrr. of WASHINGTON.
and Lieutenant James +. Nicely, If Rcss
Field. Calf. in army bags; Ralru
Epson. of Detroit. and Bernard Won
Hoffman. Of St Louis. civilian entries.
The remaining seven who started on
the southward drift were: Captain
John Berry. army; Lieutenant W. F.
Reed. navy; J. :. Mrkibbcn indie
pendent; Warren Raser. independent &:
Captain Harold f.. Weeks. army ; Ward
Z. Van Norman. independent. aud n.
r. Honeywell. independent.
Stealing across the sky ms gently aS a
cloud. one Of the contestants drifted
over Chicago shortly before 8 o'clock
last night.
Five Pass Near Chicago
Although the silver bag was scarcely
400 feet above th" earth and repeatedly
seemed about to crash into tall buildings,
none of the thousands VINO watched It's
progress could decipher any markings.
About two hours earlier four bal :
looms. flying nt about the 1000 foot
level, passed over WaUkegan. One OF
then. bore the insignia Of the navy
while the markings on the others could
not he made ont.
Later the ~. :. l2l" wa, seen owe,
Gary. Ind. while Ilinsdal". n Western
suburb. and Pana. H.. ahout 80 miles
south of Chicago. also reported having
seen bags flying at moderat" heights,
All of the balloons reported up rc
midnight were drifting slowly south
ward below stormy skies, the weight OF
moisture on the envelopes probably hav.
ing n tendency to keep Them near th'
earth. The United States Weather Bu.
reau here reported a ten-luilc drift
toward the South a. the 1000 foot leve
over the entire Aviation Forecast Xon'