""\u25a0"• HOSE intorcsted m balloflns .or In the general
* eubject of aerial navigation, and that includes
I pretty nearly everybody nowadays, are turning
t i.c'.r attention to St. Louis, where the . second
great balloon race of the world will start from an in
olosure in Forest Park on Monday, October .2l, at 3:30
o'clock in the afternoon.
It Is to be the second long distance flight for the
International aeronautic cup. won by Lieutenant Frank
P. Lahm of the Aero cliib of America in the first inter
nation:'.! race from Paris last year. Should the cup be
won three times In succession by an American It will
become the permnrent possession of this country. All
International contests nre conducted under the aus
pices of the International aeronautic federation and in
accordance with rules governing the cup races.
As notr arranged. 11 balloons will take part in the
event. America will liave three, England three. Ger
many three and France two. Italy and Spain had in
ter.deJ to compete. J^ut failing to comply with certain
established rules of the contest Jt became necessary to
eliminate them. The balloons to be used will be of
the ordinary type, but will bo amons: the largest and
Lest In the •world and will be started on their course
under the most favorable conditions possible to obtain..
The contest wUI be for distance alone, unless the
Jack of wind should make It necessary to award the -
prize upon duration. It Is not likely, however, tho
latter course will be necessary, and the winning of the
race will depend- moch upon the skill of "the aeronaut,
his knowledge of varying air. currents and the judg
ment he uses In keeping his balloon in. the currents
that will carry him most swiftly in one direction.
Each ballooawiU have two occupants, the pilot, or
chief aeronaut, and his companion. The balloons will
be of the larger type and will be inflated with gas es
pecially manufactured for the purpose near the ascen
sion grounds. Tliey will be sent up a few minutes
apart, and once In the air there will be no further
communication with the earth until the race Is fin
ished. "With ordinary conditions the winner of the
trophy may b© expected to travel through cloudland
for at least 24 hours, and his landing may be from
200 to EOO miles, or more, from the starting point.
The best distances recorded in the international
baloon race, which started from Brussels on, Septem
ber 15 of this year, with 34 competitors, were made by
the English balloon Zephyr and the Swiss . balloon
Cognac. Both exceeded 650 miles.
Contestants in the Race
As soon as possible after coming to the earth the
pilot will communicate by telegraph the exact time
ar-.d locality of his descent, and when all the reports
have been received and properly verified the winner
•uill be announced. An the cup is now held by the
Aero club of America, all balloon enthusiasts are
particularly eager that It should remain here. Conse
quently esp«clal rnterest centers in the men who are
to take part In the race. These, with the clubs they
represent, are:
France— Aero dob ef France, two balloons; pilots,
Alfred Leblano and Bene <H*nlen aids, M. Mix and
Charles Levee. Three entries ,wer« originally re
ceived from France, but only two pilots were named
up to August 21. after which time names could not be
filed.
England — Aero club of the TTnited Kingdom, three
balloons; pilots and oompanions, Hon. -C. S. Rolls,
Griffith Brewer, Professor A. K. Huntlngton, J. T.
C. Moore-Brabazon, Lord Royston and Mr. Brazon.
Germany — Deatscher Luftschlffer-Vervand, • three
balloons, the Dusseldorf, the Pommern and the
Schwaben; pilots and aids, respectively. Captains yon
Abercron and Heidmann and Oscar Erbeloh. No com
panions have been named to go with the Erbsloh and
Heidmann. Abercron and Erbsloh were pilots in last
year's races.
America — Aero olub of America, three balloons; pi
lots. Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm, with Major Henry B.
Hcrzey, as alternate, in his own balloon, the United
.States; Alan H. Hawley, in his balloon, the St. Louis;
pud J. C McCoy Sn his balloon, the America.
While it is practically decided that the race is to
l>e for «i!stanc« only. It is possible that
may ariss which will modify the race In some par
ticulars. Tuder article 2 of the International • rules • is'
this provision: "Tb« contest shall be for. distance, but
th!s may be changed into one for duration, subject to
the asmospherle conditions. The decision is to be
made by the contest committee, which alone is em
powered to make any change up to the moment of de
parture."
Article 3 of the rules determines the nature of the
apparatus to be used, and reads as follows:
"The contest shall be open to aerostats of the third,
fourth and fifth series of the general rules of the
OVER Tffß MA GBbLAPf CQURSE===Eirst of the Warships to Come to the Pacific
(Continued from Preceding Page.)
Amid the many attractions of the city all thoughts of
bad weather were dismissed. On July 14 the; French
residents celebrated the fall of the Bastlle. The grand _
opera season was opened with the ./performance of
"Carmen" at the Urgulza theater. The audience \u25a0 num
bered the leading people of Montevideo. and. one was
carried beck in his mind to the Metropolitan" opera
house of New York. At midnight a ball wai glven-at
the French club, where an enthusiastic toast was of
fered to the United States end her navy. On all sides
was risked: "When is your battleship fleet coming?"
"Why are they going to the Paciflo coastr* "Do-you
£aar trouble?' These questions: came; as a result of
rse late cable news from the: United; States upon the
Japanese question. The Americans of Uruguay dis
played the greatest enthusiasm over the St." Louis*
visit and spent a large share of their time In entertain-,
::ig the officers and men. .^
On July 16 the St. Louis departed from this "charm
ing c-:ty and sailed southward for Punta Arenas,,.or
Sandy point, Chile. Favored by excellent'weather,* she
ancliored off the eastern sentinel of the straits.'ofjMa
cellan. Cape Virgin liarhU*.in the midwatcn^of July; 22,
to await the turning of the tide, jAt 6 o'clock,-under
forced draft and a three knot "set,'/'the ships Jumped
along through the narrow channel and arrived-'oft
Piinta Arenas about noon. Here lay the most southerly
fcHy of the* civilized world,et: the-foot-of-the snow
capped Cordilleras. Jt' was winter,"- and \ the cold, crlep
ELEVEN BALLOONS TO RACE FOR THE BLUE
RIBBON OF THE AIR
International aeronautic federation, and to motor aero- '
stats; to the latter on condition that by-previous,per
formances they have given signal and conclusive" proof
of ellgillbity. Should the \club holding' -thei "cupj wish
to admit apparatus of other series It must obtain, 1 prior;
to April i; the authorization" of the International'
aeronautic federation,* which shall determine the'eon
ditlons of admission! Tho admission of any aparatus
for aerial locomotion other than -aerostats and; motor
aerostats shall ; be determined directly by the Interna- ;
tlonal aeronautic federation within; the- same time." '
On the day following the departure of -the balloons
in the., international' contest; : however, • there . will be
contests for aeroplanes rand stperable^ baloons \hear_ St.
Louis. Prize money, amounting to ?2,000 for each series
hastbeen amassed. . "V "
For two. days and., nights -following ; the; start -from-.
St. Louis practically the entire population of the l United
States and Canada will become . sky gazers. Everybody^
will keep an eye turned heavenward,. In; the expecta-;
tlon of seeing one of the big sbaldons-, drifting '.along, ,
for no one, not even : the pilots \themselyes,\wiir.know \u25a0
what course the air craft may take," once "they ? have ;
reached the upper, currents, y . * .'. -- : ~- . . '•'. j
No doubt scores of unreliable reports ; wlll;coj*ie from,
all parts, of th c f country, 'because? to -the"; untrained
a bird far up ' in the air " or"." the i fragment < 'of; a ; cloud .
may look very like f"a"->.- balloon -to,.' the person .who
expects to feee a balloon, and'even ; a story that some
body saw something^ that ; looked' like a' balloon is
usually sufficient to^inspire^ some " other :*: * somebody , t0 ...
dash, off a \u25a0.telegram": that a large -passed' over
the town, . sailing Bo'lotf that it ; narrowly escaped' the '
church spire. \u25a0'; , /'-,'\ ;.'\u25a0 .-.' c' : .-\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0,\u25a0.:\u25a0 .- "^-.: '\u25a0 . \u25a0'.'\u25a0,\u25a0 ' .-'M
With favoring 1 winds and, othcr^ronditlonSi lt ; is no*
at all unlikely : that ; the winner "of '- the race ' may, com*
down very ; close to ; tho : , 'Atlantic 'coast. -Every j vlllagw s
and< hamlet between* Boston- and' St.* : Louis will be on
the lookout,, and unless \ the' landing ; is , made^ ln isonie;
spot remoter from. telegraph'or. ? .telephone ; wires-ithe
record 'of each contestant; will; be Iknown'tn New Tork
within one hour : after .thevvpyage Is > finished.' —''
' ThcreJ is , littlo probability,-;'; that -"tho balloons will
travel west from St.- Louis.*.^During; October the pre
vailing..-' winds "at / that> pohitjare .from the? west and
southwest, hence It is cxpect*tl -; that the general;direc
tion of tho race will.be" towafd'thc. cast and northeast.
The' distance from . thej- starting \ ; point ; . to Velther- ocean
is so groat 1 that there^lsTllttle-apprehension "on that
score, but it is, not -at' all. Impossible^"- should .the >winds
blow steadily "from ,the southland that
some of the. aeronauts ; , may * find, 'themselves _ very : close
to the:shores of .thergreatUakes'beforcrthey'are ready
to descend.. In ; that? event? they | must C between
cutting: short the Voyage or, taking chances; on drifting
out-over the w^fter,',' trusting, to i good fortune and favor
able currents to carry- them* across. ;,;, .
It is a proverb among aeronauts that tho . balloon
has one enemy— the sea— -and' the desire ;to* get as far
as possible ; from that': enemy, was ;one " of .the" reasons
for selecting , St. 'i Louis as the: starting point for the
.international \u25a0contest.. Nevertheless, Lakes Huron.. Su- !
perior and Michigan are -aln»pst ; directly,- northeast of .
St.^ Louis,^with Lakes Erie and Ontario and; Georgian'
bay.- a little to "the^ eastward,; and so situated "that: a
southeasterly^ wind "would ' carry the ; balloons t directly!
into that locality; and -while the lakes are less menac- .
Ing. than-' the ocean, ; their expanse is sufficient-to.ntake
an: undesirable hazard/particularly. In' the > last i half -.of'r
an' aerial ""voyage, when- ballast may 'be well nigh"
exhausted and the gas somewhat diminished.
Difficulties Obviated r . \
\u25a0 - Many ','_ difficulties, s- physical --:'.< and \u25a0 otherwise,', which
aeronauts encounter -In a;European ;race are not-found 4
in America. During, tho! international contest-ini; Paris
a year; ago .there was'. theS constant 'menace "of \u25a0'large
bod les of water, on ,va rious sides, 'and \u25a0 there was also* the
possibility, that - the^ aeronauts^might. come • down • mV a'
section of ;. country, r where i they- could'- not ' • understand
the language and where the ; people : might ' not ; be alto
gether friendly.^ to air, traveler.' - V; \u25a0 • ':-,;,'"/'
To - guard against ' any -possible .troubles of -this •sort
each ; pilot .was ; provided •'with a^ long ; list of questions f
and explanations," printed lin i English, German,* Frenoh,
: Russian and Latin,* so that, no matter In which direction
air reminded one. of December in -New; England. Low
and _ flat, ' this * city of 10,000 - people presented a bleak
apearance. Deserted ships and; old ' coal hulks Just
managed tckeep afloat ln»' the harbor/ A'South sea
whaler stood- in to sell her catch^and ' procure fresh
\u25a0 grub. Merchants brought vicuna, Juanaco* and other
•kins _ aboard.' . Curious •it was to" see a Hester street '
representative down hr this far; away) place selling^ his .
. wares , : with > such i sagacity I and ' Innate' cleverness^ that"
even ' our corriedjan, ,' David ,' Warfleld, * would ' have f been':
'duped. v American" engineers and' electrlan* 'are Install-:
ing 'modern machinery and • electrlo light plant* ashore."
Mining . men [ are preparing ; to'J reap « ! harvest from the
placer; gold "mines on the" 1 neighboring : isle of Terrm'del
\u25a0 - Fuego. And .with *uch* progress' a 'few more yeawTwlll
. make T a 'great J change. ,; Here; In'? 1898 ' the Oregon ! and ;
Marietta stopped to /coal, and had there been none on
t ' hand i Captain Clark's . famous -; battleship might \ have
remained- here;durlng the ' Spanish .'war. ':'- Wh'en">th'e big
.Atlantic ' fleet 'arrives •it ( ',wlll (coal ? from navyj colliers/
: because ; there lls ? never ' enough coal to :<• supply more
- than , one } ship.' ' 'After " receiving} 6oo .tons j, the) St. Louis
* left] this ."grayeyardTof ithef'deep"/andicohtlnuedion\to'i
the westward. Great frozen peaks .loomed upo n either
"side; thousands of feet high, a tortuous channel brought
"the ship close to ; the 'bluff A mountainous shores, and ! not
i a.; ripple stirred the blackish .green waters, .whose
"v. bottom f :lay .r hundreds'^' of T fathoms^ below." a During Jthe'
'{ afternoon v threel ; Inches]* of i snow^ fell a upon | the| decks
" and the snowball' fight on the; forecastle seemed almost
• imaginary.V' At^4 'o'clock.^ with 1 the" Bun'below^ the horiton*
- and darkness setting in, the ship was. brought to anchor;
.- ia i. Fortesque * bay/ wlthiu '.' a * stone's V throw Cof \ahore."
Two ; crews ; manned . the whalebdats : and ; landed ' upon the
frozen beach. 3A* teak tablet Lwas \u25a0\u25a0 securely^ placfed' along
\u25a0wlthlthe" others put Jup^years- ago )td^ mark ithe date !of '
passlng/.through Jthe :, straits, i'ipn'ithe'i mornlnglof i July.
[ 24 1 the I remainder; Tof J this r ' dangerous ? trip % wa*^ begun.
:In Xt Long > Reach ;v; v channel Ithe X cry \wenttr. up VGlader* 1
': ahoy l'\- ; Every A man Jumped from below^ to'*ee/ the great '
? peaks a»4 \u25a0 glaciers *of iTejrra'del • Fuego.T L f But j two mile*
distant, these strange, frozen phenomena presented a
I grand sight,l and \i t is ; doubtful \u25a0if i the f Alps can] furnish"
r more ! fbeautif vl '* examples ' of " nature^ than ?these "ot ' the \u25a0
i Landtof; Fire,"* InHhe straits fof \ Magellan. %'\u25a0
, ;At i* sunset t the ; ship { entered i the Jbrpad ;; Pacific {and
headed " northward r for Valparaiso, 'Chile. V With S fine
weather,* smooth * sea* and '", •" full i mobn;^ the I long 1 coast
lot untll^ July X%9?:\ .Then r Mount
Aconcagua was sighted *60 mile* distant, *t*ndlng over
; 22,000 J s feet Vabove .the : ; bmu- .the J greatest % altityde Uof
South America. harbor opened out and the
St. v Louis ' steamed 'i into her orowded | anchorage. Near
Iby lay a - five I masted, full -. rigged *hip ; flying \ the j colors
I of Germany, i Astern wl th ; the old transport Itata, which,
, as ; at filibuster fduring ,; the % Chilean t revolutlpn iof 1 18»1«*
'I sailed I from Calif ornla with arms \u25a0 for President • Balm'a
u cedaA, violating* the % law*^^of 1 neutrality ;$ she s,wa* | later
: captured by a United States warship * and escorted
g north.> 3, Now junder JtheiChlleanii flag; she; pile's > along, the
coast, ln the ? merchant; trade.^%yalparaiso , ltself 1 has not
|underV6nejmuch?changejßincVfthefearthauak
s year > ago. 3 Stores i and i houses * remain 'tn| their c rumbled
\u25a0\u25a0 • s tat e. '-. \u25a0 vVl nal d el J Mar \u25a0 bears a sad . rnsemblanc e ito g the
S former |, b eautyi of S this | sub urb \u25a0' before ,,' the V earthquake.'
2 Filling ,up] her bunkers,vttie 1 cruiser continued' lts north
s ernW journey fon f A'ugust % 2 -.\ for ¥ Callab;! Peru^; ;;; Fair
, weather- followed >the lupHbeJ coasts Not even
|;"a? drop <of train ,j vtir led Ithe f agreeable [monotony^ of 1 thl*
£ ideaii climated? August^6 brought the ;Bhip«to3her/de*
i?: tination 5 In? th* t {'Land * of 5 the % R!i!Jßg| Suiu'^ Bevef al
:---±>;r^ : \u25a0.":v-^-'v'- r s^;»:::f*>:v:yy ; i % - \ >:.\u25a0: -.,-\u25a0:>:-:>-.;• V> .\u25a0\u25a0•;.: yi>>v
-his^ t>*Hobn might drift from Pari3. he \u0084waa prepared
to explain Twhy and '• howl he had dropped : f rdm the ; sky
and -to , make ,, known ; his :: Immediate /wants wherever
his balloon chanced to come; downi \ ' .^, "
, .The .printed \u25a0 slips, .after -explaining the . natur%£of
the international contest, "asked . the name of the coun
try,'- name of ' the ; nea rest town' and railroad station,, and
asked also that the aeronaut be taken ; to the mayor, \u25a0to
, be ; provided ,with a cart for conveying the balloon : and
for such various other things as might be. needed. In
the forthcoming race from St. Louis this precaution will
not be s- necessary, because 'there Is -no: spot ibetween
the Mexican! border, and the > arctic regions of Canada
where the English language is not spoken and under
stood.*' ; •\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0- \u25a0-', \u25a0
1 French, English and German aeronauts who are to
compete arrived :in New York early, this month and
most, of, them v went at once to St. Louis,, where 'they
began preparations for the big contest. -Several ;days
were ; required in : unpacking and "overhauling .the bal
loons, i and the foreign \ will .'devote all * the
time possible? In ,-\u25a0 studying % prevailing *alr currents . and
maps of the country. They also needed ; some time for '
making general • preparations, ; such -as* selection of pro
visions ; and other equipment I to : be 'taken on I the" aerial
•• i trip. scientific, instruments of one kind and an
" other for ;\u25a0 measuring j altitude," - temperature, speed: and
other aspects of i the upper regions are taken , along.**-
Eatables" and : drinkables are, . of course, a necessity
In the air as well as Jon :the earth,: but sleep is not,
\u25a0 , at least, the aerial ;; racers-; do : not Intend to close their
eyes from the time" they startuntil the balloon is safely
landed i and ' aboard *a ; train ; readyi for., shipment to the \u25a0
nearest .city. Every. s ; minute '" from ? start- to \u25a0: finish ,re- -•
quires vigilance* on "the part of .the pilot, and there
is toorhuch .interest, as t well as i peril 'in the trip to
* permit^of 'sleeping. Every experienced aeronaut ' real
~ lzes : that i balloons : as well as ; the airl current < have their
irratlc- moods; and while\tho"raen slept they might bo
ropped , or lifted thousands of feet, with unpleasant re
.; suits. UPerhaps clothing Is,- of "course, requisite, because
the ' higher ; altitudes } are very . cold and it sometimes'
necessary: to L remain for; a long time .in? the upper:
stratum of air in t order ito get the benefit iof certain
currents... - ' i ' ' ' '\u25a0> '"/*•
-The • first : contest .for the International aeronautic
cup was-held. In ; Paris. .September .30, 1906. and at
ttractedi.' greater attention" -among "those Interested In
aeronautics thari^ .'any' previous event;of tho -kind." For
weeks I preceding: theVrace it 'was the .most talked of
sporting event "in i Europe, ? and nearly all .. European
i; countries % put - forward : their." foremost aeronauts as
-competitors, i ,'V \u0084 / V
: :On the day. of the . race practically all Paris turned .
out* toU witness' the; start^and "'until ;the big balloons;
had- sailed * out sof sight \ little business , was , done Xn.\u0094 the
-city ? The" start was from 1 the Tulleries gardens, where
- opportunity- was afforded '• for vast i throngs to see ; tho
preparations - fforr r the sxart and "to follow the] balloons,
as one after another, they rose gracefully; and drifted -
away 5 into the clouds. ??,The ; place ,de ,1a Concordle, the
\u25a0i Quals and Tthe ; lower; part of the-: Champs ; Elysees > were
' crowded as ' never, 'before ..a nd /hundreds of* thousahcls;
gazing ' into /the ? sky * long after ; the ; la3t . bal
loon ' had shrunk In sight ; to the merest speck. -,}; . '
-\u25a0 Following the raceicame 'the '\u25a0•. anxiety and: eager
ness to know ; the : result and the fate -of > the various
'" competitors. 4 The city *; of . Paris ,that V night and v un til \u25a0
all the aeronauts v were I heard % from ;, tho following \ day"
was > in \a.'l state ; of/ nervous disturbance.' i 'The interest
was , as great as ; might' have • been > shown '- In ".' the \u25a0 result
of ; a i vital^ national -election,'' because- in - addition; to
national S rivalry *j for?' the : victory -it i. was : an v event . of
''-'\u25a0 unusual and the possibility " of ; disaster in-
H \ tenslfled'.' the J'common! desire ' to have -. the first « news
\u25a0from each pilot after, his landing. .'-\u25a0•' ,
Lieutenant" Lalim's Victory
' Although unexpected', by \*otm,. who.; believed more
: experienced "aeronauts ?of - Europe r.would have ? the \bet
iter Ichance,.. the first international ; contests was Iwon by
an 'AmerlcanV ln "the balloon iUnlted; States. ''Thelvlctor.
; was P. ' the 4 Slxth -United
\u25a0 States " cavalrjviwho - was 4 given • first I place .upon : his
'achievement : of -416 '\u25a0; miles , in 1 26 hours , and 15 ? minutes.
V Sixteen balloons ' started , in the < race and several of
Peruvian 'meri-of-Var ; and the : Italian gunboat : Dogall
'•lay 'at' 7 anchor.'' 1 ""Havo CyouV seen % the f cruisers?" the
Officers - w*fe ; asked^on's every \u25a0: side. ; Peru '\u25a0: was awalt
d ing ; with ianxlous i expectation ] her t new } scout ; cruisers, >
'thesAlmirante ; Grau 1 * and Coronet BolognesL Having .
"been recently 'built in*: England,"' they * were ;on their ;
i way -to M Callao.j -3 Each day. /; tlie ; i wireless telegraph
| flashed icalls/c and j'on f August : 9 ; an : answer / came . back
; from 1 , thel Peruvians admiral.*;- Spanish; messages passed
back f and iforthXuhtil at 1 noon of* the next day jthe^two >..
"'ships?: proudly? stood vinf the ;; harbor. Every .- available
tug, \u25a0ailboaVilaunoh:and»canoe<filledithe[bay.-;,Thou-.,.
; sand» !of % patriotic ; people i thronged ".the docks .< in _\u0084 their
catchla first glimpse of ithelrjmodern navy.
h Bhtps Iwere ! full I dressed ' With! hundreds of \ flags, and 'the
Halutln* batteries of ;theßt; Louis and DogalljpaldiUielr -
: respect* to:thetrlmfcruls«r«!now:completlng; their long v
i voyage.' :\%yivz\ •'.Vivftr!^ reverberated ; over ',the .. waters. ;
T- Gun^ after V gun < was |flred fas ? the * slate colored ; ships
|pa«sed"on|to Hhelrf anohorage; f enthuslastlo r/wel- ;
v coin« J showed I the tpatriotio .; spirit tiwhich ; oharacterlzes
s the clUxedsfofi these South "American republics.:: ;;•>-. x.
': '•<"' August V- l*.^-"All :** hands .,-' coal ">i ship I,*/ Again tne
S bunker* iwere^irl^ need rr O f j-sWllling
tumbled tth«lcoaiyaboard f late! into; the n nighty
*ful¥el«ctrioßwinches Crumbled ,, steadily, ; along, i: blocks
|and|tackleslfgToanedlas^thejbegrlmedland : , tire v- blue-;
Jackets i kept •up * the^continuous v stream f. of * coal ,; bags.
luntllithelorderifcamejAo^'knockKoff.".; atHs%suchi a<
that a transpire* s* aboard;* our^c modern .cruisers < :
'f every I fortnight making ;\u25a0 a * long .voyage. . What i
-•cornea's aboard ? in Ton*|hour ."* ls f dally i consumed , by i the ;
lgreatl«unuice«ibelowJandfsl.ooo|goea\up|ini*moke;;:^.
• Leaving fC*4laoUnlthe4next | morning,l the Jsblp^et^
lUedmownltoUhet^SO^iml^liounieyitoiAoapulco.-tMexii
$At | the l equatorl the iweatier* proved itoibt ! 4»«ghtf ully
Scool,lt>ttt'ttt«^ l 4oldruin* > gwr6aght[*lcomplete r change.
Ss. S^JEmsiaGflL- Sundaa _Call
them drifted across the channel and lanfle'iTlh Entflaafi.
Lieutenant Lahm came town near Scarborough. Saoto«»
Dumont." who represented th 3 Americas In tn» contest,
mot with *n accident shortly after the start an 3 finished
third 'froxdiUst. Following" are the names or the 1904
contestants and the order In which they finished:
Lieutenant Frank P." Lahm( America). Desoen*
made 15 miles north •of Scarborough. Ens 1 ., at Ro*>La
Hood bay. C Distance,. 647 kilometers 98 meter*.
2. Slgaor Alfredo Vonwiller (Ita^y).
8. Hon. Charles Stuart Rolls (England).
4. Count Henri de la Vaulx (France).
6. . Captain A. Kindelan y Dcanl (Spain).
6. Jacques Balsan (France).
7. Prof- A. K. Huntlxrgton (England).
8. , Lieutenant Emillp Herrera (Spain). .
9. ' Captain Hugo yon Abercon (Germany).
10. Count da Castlllon de St. Victor (Franc*).
- 1L Frank Hedges Buffer (England).
12. Scnor E. G. de Salamanca (Spain).
13. Baron Yon Hewald (Gormany).
14. Alberto Santos-Dumont (America).
16. L. Van den Drlescho (Belgium).
16. Ing. Scherle (Germany). \
The cup haying been won by an American. It Ciea
became neceßsary that the next contest should be
held In this country, between April 1 and November
1. 190?,. and tinder the rules each Country belonging
to the International aeronautlo federation was invited
:to compete. In order to becarae toe permanent pos
sessor of the cup a club must" Be victorious la three
consecutive contests, so that shoufd some one of th*
American defenders win the. St. Louis race and the 190S
contest, which would again be held In America, the cup
would find a permanent horn» with tha Aero club oJ
America.
. immediately after the contest In Paris imembers of
the Aero club of America began arranging for the next
"contest. Cottlaodt Field Bishop, president of the club;
Alan R, Hawley b&Qi others interested io aeroaautlo
sports vtßttod- various sections of toe. country looking
for the. xnc*f favorable place for tho start. Cincinnati
and other inland cities were talked of. but anally, la
January last, St. Louis vras selected as having a greater
number of advantages than eny other available locality.
As a result of this selection a prosperous aero club
was quickly organized in St. Louis, and many of the
wealthiest men took lively Interest In tha affair. The
club was organized on January 7. with 37 charter mem*
bers,~ and within three weeks 400 members were en
rolled, with a long waiting list. Slora than 109
of the members are worth from $1,000,000 to 1100,000,*
000, and ample funds have been provided to do what
ever Is necessary to make the start of the race a suc
cess. The club ha* v taken charge bt ell the Dreliml
naries and arrangements have been made for providing
sufficient gas of a special grade for Inflating all the
balloons. The gas -will bo, pumped under pressure
through a two foot main from a gasometer holding
4,000,000 cubic feet of coal gas.
: The ascension grounds selected are In the ea*t and
of Forest park, one of the largest parks. In the world,
and immediately opposite the starting place a building
has been leased for a temporary clubhouse. A large
part of the park is to be inclosed and seats will be
provided fox thousands of spectators who desire to
witness the start at closa range. Everything possible
ls : being,done in St. Louts to make the event a grand
.aeronautic carnival, something entirely new to America.
and something to be remembered by all who are there*
The Aero club has obtained pledges from leading
hotels that they will not raise rates during the event,
and. the railroads were Induced to raclfa special rates.
St. Louis is preparing for a large crowd.
.- In addition to the International event, in which only
, ordinary baloons will compete, the Si. Louis Aero
club' has offered ?5, 000 In other prizes to be competed,
for by any -who may; have an air craft to enter. In
this. competition dirigible, or balloons propelled by
motors,-,may take part, as well as aeroplanes, or any
othertype of.baloon or airship that has demonstrated
that It Is anything more than an experiment.
The grand prize of $2,500 Is offered for the dirigible
balloon or any "aerial machine that makes the best
showing,. provided It- makes the six mile course, turn
* Ing " two goals within 30 minutes.
There is also to be a prize of $1,250 for the dirigible
\u25a0balloon .which makes the best: general showing, and a
; similar prize for the aeroplane or any other style of
! machine -which gives the best account of itself In the
competition. .'The winner of the grand prize will not
be allowed to compete in either of the other events.
.In case the grand prize of $2,600 Is cot won by any
of the competitors, the money, is to be divided equally
/ among the dirigible balloons and aeroplanes or otber
aeriar vehicles,/ each class getting $1,250. This will
be divided Into second/ third and fourth prizes, a* fol
lows: 1 Second, ,1625: third. 1100; fourth. 1223. Th«
first prize in each case will remain at 11.250.
" But the citizens of St. Louis do something aside
from the^ general prizes offered to various kind* et
balloons.' Four, prizes have been announced, as fol»
lows for those who compete , in ' the race. ,
..In that contesttheflrst prize is, of course, the Intern***
tlonal cup.-but'to those who come next to the mv&
•winner the following prizes have been announced!
One thousand dollars to the contestant making *•*»
'\u25a0 ond place, offered by Adolphus Busch.
' \u25a0 . Seven hundred and fifty dollars to * th* eostaatast
: making third place, offered by tix» United Street r%ll*
(brays company. :,-;
? Five hundred dollars -to the . eonteatans making j
fourth place, offered by 8.." Nugent . & Bro.
i Two hundred and fifty dollars to\the contestant xs*lß»
Ing fifth place, offered by tha St. Louis Time*
•j > in the international race the winner of the cop vffi
• be . the pilot whose ' balloon ' comes down . the greatest !
distance from ; the starting point, and those landing .
i. next in order Iwlll take the other four prixe*. XI UJU J
not unlikely that additional prizes may be anaotQo*4
! before the day of the race*; " /
The cool, agreeable weather merged into an ovaallk*
atmosphere. ..' "The • men "behind the _ furnace" - stuck at
their posts in a sweltering temperature of ; ISO degrees.
"With :a" roar of blowers above.f a' hfssing of . uteaza in
the valves \of = the multitudinous pipes, . and \u25a0\u25a0 a blinding
glare of white heat from th© open furnace doors, bared
stokers, 1 dripping with perspiration, survived four hours
of '.this ' flreroom exlster.ee without a murmur. Taxing
a man's endurance to ; the utmost— such a 11 f *— th»
men below " gave -"a : sigh of ; relief when . th» engine
room gong brought the vibrating engines to a stop as
the ship arrived .o ff Acapulco, Max., August , 22. Again
more i coal! < f , Email * lighters were towed alongside by
the steam launches and the black oomb us tible never
came aboard faster. The Mexican tutrbor was hot and
uncomfortable, * small town • with mountain , back
ground •» offered \u25a0' a * few attractions >Co : the : "borne going
Jack." ; : On 'Sunday : morning. August 25, \u25a0 the St. Louis
sailed away; and 'said goodby to : foretgn shores, bound
for-; San 'i Diego. ?Cal. The- week's -trip to the United
States »; passed ; quickly. , The vwlreless housa was the
icenteri of attraction : when.,thQ ; first .message' arrived
from PolntLoma. ' Now, the sand shores [of Lower Cali
= fornia'j became ;al source >of observation <to both the
"slopers'j and : eastern] shipmates. t v Durtns the mldwatch
of : August ISI ithe/shlp ;ar.chored outside of, San Diego
: bay land] received ,V, quantity r ;'of . fresh, pro Visions..-" With
.VMall ! ho !" '• the \ last } leg s "of * the 1 14.000 ; mtlo vo> ; age was
brought itoi an I end I at } noon "\ of \ Labor -day. Rounding
Seal rocks. the'Presidio v and those other familiar Padfio
landmarks, the St. Louts passed' through tha Golden
gate^and 5 slowly^ steajned * into i, tKo home . port of Saa
'Francisco! - f ourTarmored 1 crul3er back \ from * the
far east and two built in these water; with a division
of the St.Louls class, and the arrival of th 9 bis 1 Atlantic
!fle«t^nnd«r/Ad.mlral * Evans."' all': Interest ' will speedily
be Centered "In ' tho coming muvcinsnt a on the naval
chessboard 6f:th«-Paclflp.*^fe ; • - - v "{-" '" .
izgVr'ttS* r\u25a0- •\u25a0 - \u25a0 \u25a0 • \u25a0 .--