Nine Entrants in the Annual International Contest St. Louis, Sept. 28, Nine giant gas bags bearing the flags of the United States, Argentina, Belgium, France, Denmark and Germany rose fromthe ground at brief intervals here to-day and set off in the Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race, the premier event of its sort in the world, The starting field in this year's race was one of the most representative ever recoiled, with. six countries competing and. only one scratched from the original list of 10 entrants.
This year's race started from an ilimmense field about 35 minutes from e858 section of St.
the Louis, Prevailing winds were such that the bags probably will be blown over the state of Ohio, Alan R. Hawley, millionaire sportsman of New York and one of the country's foremost balloonists, is acting as referee. Mr. Hawley won the race in 1910, when he and Augustus Post, who was acting a his aide, flight of 1,172 miles to the province of Quebec, es Ushing a new world's record. The record established in the race, which N20 started from St. Louis, still stands as the American record, The Gordon Bennett Race is the oldest and most prominent event of its kind. It was first held in 1906 and has been an annual event since then excepting for the period of the world War. The United States has won the trophy five times, Prominent army officers and high Government officials witnessed the start. As a sporting went, the Gordon Bennett Race is outstanding in that it not only attracts the attention of aeronautical enthusiasts but brings with it diplomatic representatives of the countries contesting and offers a social feature not.offered by any other contest. This is the third time the race has started from St. Louis, One US. Entrant First Down Sept. 29, Watchers of the skies to the enst-ward of St. Louis are being rewarded by the sight of one after another of the Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race entrants as they meander slowly or swiftly through the clouds under the urge of the varying breezes.
Of the nine giant gas bags bearing flags of six nations which arose at intervals between 4 sind o'clock others are passing over Ohio and other states to the east of Mlinols Official announcement to-day aid that a U.S. Navy balloon had descended in Dison township 10 miles to the southwest of Laton, O,, at. 0/20 pam.
Aided by light winds, all the entrants drifted slowly during the night and carly morning across western Illinois. They gradually separated and two unidentified bags were first reported sighted over Farina, IL, 100 miles due cast of St. Louis.
Another morning report told of the sighting of another unidentified pair over Jacksonville, Ill, at 3 a.m.
'A French balloon passed over Marshall, ILL, at 7 am, moving due eastward.
'A large white balloon, presumably a United States civilian entrant, was sighted over Washington, Ind, Jat 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The Stadt Essen, from Germany, landed six miles southwest of Dan-ville, Lil, after travelling 170 miles.
The Argentina landed near Fairbanks, Ind, having drifted 180 miles.
A U. S. Army entrant grounded near Salinoville, 0. having, gone about 500 miles.
The pilot of the Argentina sufer-ed a severe fracture of one leg whea he crashed in landing on a farm. His condition is reported, to be serious.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.