Hoosier Inflation

This image was published in the Indianapolis News on May 29, 1909 as part of the paper's coverage of events leading up to the June 5, 1909 national balloon championship hosted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis News was an evening paper and I believe this photo is same-day coverage of a practice event that occurred that day. This event was the maiden voyage of the Captain George L. Bumbaugh-designed "Hoosier," which was piloted by Captain Thomas L. Baldwin in the race. This appears to be the Hoosier after the balloon has completed the inflation process and is apparently ready for its initial flight. However the newspaper is not clear about exactly when the photos were taken or the specifics of the event so it is possible this image is part of a photo essay of events from a week earlier during the very first balloon ascensions from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. My money, however, is on the guess that these are images captured at the Hoosier christening. Follow the links above for articles on those events for more detail and check out another angle on the balloon.