Balloon Routes

This image complemented an article in the Indianapolis Star published June 8, 1909 concerning the progress of the national championship balloon race that was hosted by and started at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 5, 1909. It charts the landing position of each of the balloons in the both the events, the national championship and the handicap race. The one balloon missing is the Indiana of Carl Fisher and Captain George L. Bumbaugh because that balloon was still active in the event, albeit shrouded in controversy.
 
The other problem with this map is the finishing point for the University City of John Berry and Paul McCullough who would eventually be crowned the winners of the national championship event. This location is in error because of confusion over the two balloons from St. Louis - the St. Louis III and the University City. While it was reported that University City landed in Blanche, Tennessee it was actually St. Louis III whose pilot Albert Bond Lambert and assistant H.E. Honeywell had landed there but had filed their report from nearby Kelso. In a confusion of communication someone in the organizing staff assumed that the two St. Louis balloons had landed near one another. Later it was determined that Berry and McCullough had landed much further south at Freestone Peak on Lookout Mountain near Ft. Payne, Alabama.
 
Note that Dr. Goethe Link and Russe "R.J." Irvin were the crew of the Indianapolis which won the handicap race.
 
Check out this legend I created just for you:
 
National Championship:

*Reporting error. The team actually landed near Ft. Payne, Alabama
Handicap Race:

 

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