The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-08
Air King, Rutt
 Is Killed
Was Famous Six-Day Bike Rider-Won Three Races. at Madison Square Garden Known as German Flier, "Fantomas' Terror to French.

New York, Nov. 8-So "Fantornas,, ; the gray ghost" of the Hun flying corps, whose daring raids on the French lines has been the talk of the camps on the western front for many months, at last has been brought down and found to be none other than Walter Rutt.
 Perhaps no incident that yet has occurred over on the European battle front has struck home to New York CTS so forcibly as the news of the "winging" of the "gray ghost and the unmasking of his identity as Wal ter Rutt. It at least offers striking proof of the value of athletic training. Much of the nerve and daring dis played by Rutt in his air raids was, developed in the many sensational bike races he took part in here in little old New York. s9J
 Only two other cyclists, Joe Poker and Eddie Root, have won more Madison Garden six-day races than did Walter Rutt. Joe and Eddie four times were members of victorious teams. Three times Rutt finished first in the Garden grind. Teamed with Stoll, he captured the Garden race Of 1907. With Jackie Clarke as parts ner Rutt finished first in 1909. and with Folger as a mate won the race in 1912. Twice the blond Teuton won second prize money-with stoll in 1908 and with Clarke in 1910.
 Possessed Nerve and Dash.
 The same nerve and daring with which Rutt thrilled the six-day bike race fans in Madison Square Garden were displayed by him in his air raids on the French lines. The news Of Rutt's death was received here by cablegram, on Nov. l, In a letter to a friend Chick" Bailey. who is with an American ambulance unif 6 in France, tells something Of Ruftss prowess in the air. The letter was written before the Hun airman was . "bagged." Among other things Bailey says.
 We have a peculia-not to say weird-thing on this front There is a German aviator here who calls hirl- self Fantomas,' or the Ghost Hts name is Walter Rutt, and he used to be bicycle rider iT the six day races in New York. Well, it appears from the notes that he has dropped that he has had three brothers killed In the war, and to avenge them he has adopted the plan of strafing the French from an aeroplane.
 He never fights other planes or makes observations. but just fiies over the French lines at a height varying from 30 to 400 feet, and every time he sees even one poiiu CT wagon CT auto he dives at it, banging away with his machine gun. He attacks sentinel posts and supply trains. and once or twice he has even shot into Aviation camps, winning a unique place as dangerous pilot.
 You have no idea of the amount of damage he does, He certainly has the respect of the Frenehmea here in this sector, where he flies almost ext clusively, He hovers around all day long, and although he has been shot at with machine guns. rifles and anti~. aircraft guns he never seems to Joe touched.
 It certainly is mysterious because he often comes oiose enough for uH to hit him with a stone It was he who dropped the warning about the hospital being boHbada about which told you in my last letter"
 It is hard for New York sporting fans to think of Walter flutt as an "enemy." They need not now, kop Walter is dead. Not as 8 boche a1r- man, but as an old six day bike race favorite New Workers choose to ra~ him. 'Faequiescat in pace.