Balloons

A fortnight ago 18 balloons shot into the air from Solbosh Plain in Belgium to compete anew for the Gordon Bennett Cup,* presented in 1906/- by the son of the James Gordon Bennett who founded The New York Herald. This cup was won for a third time, and, according to the rules, outright, by Belgium last year; but through the generosity of the Belgian Aero Club in redonating it for competition, this year's event was made possible.

From the outset only three aeronauts had a chance: Ernest de Muyter, who won the race in 1920, '22, '23, '24, Belgium, Wade T. Van Orman, U. S., Lawrence Bienaime, France. A full day after the race had begun, although only six of the 18 gasbags were in the air, this order was unchanged.

On the second day news of Bienaime's descent put him out of the reckoning and the race was actually between the U. S. and Belgium. On the third day Van Orman, piloting the Goodyear III, dropped into the Atlantic after covering 441.18 miles. He and his equipment were saved by the German ship Vaterland. Next came the news that De Muyter had landed at Quemper in France, having covered a distance of 422.54 miles. It was thought that the American's landing in the sea disqualified him and it seemed certain that the Belgian would be awarded the victory-but one balloon remained unaccounted for.

On the third day M. Veenstra, Belgian's second string, came down in Spain, 800.miles from his starting point and was forthwith declared the winner. Later, however, it was declared that he too landed on the sea and it appeared likely that De Muyter after all would be declared the winner, although Van Orman, who had landed unassisted, was preparing to dispute his claim.

*The Cup is awarded either for distance or duration, depending on the atmospheric conditions.

/-Results since 1906:

1906 U. S. 1907 Germany

1908 Switzerland 1909 U. S.

1910 U. S.

1911 Germany 1912 France

1913 U. S.

1914-19 no race

1920 Belguim

1921 Switzerland

1922 Belguim

1923 Belguim

1924 Belguim