Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-28

North Hero, Oct. 25.--Deseending from
II height Of 20,oO0 feet, thoir ballast nearly
gone, Pilot Lieut., Ernest Do Muyter and
Aide Lieut.. Matthew Labrousse. occupants
Of the Begica. the Belgium entry in the
international balloon race. found them
selves lowering over Lake Cham plain
OF an early hour this morning. They
had been in the car ovor 40 hours They
had no life preservers
what remaining ballast they had was
quickly thrown over, but not until tho
basket Of tho balloon was dragging in
the water at the south end of North Hero
west shore.
\ strong west wind blew the balloon
ashore
The Belglca with the six other entries
left Birmingham. Ala. Saturday after
noon at 4:30 o'clock and drifted rapidly
northward and over the Great Lakes.
During Sunday night the gas bag foated
over Toronto and proceeded then in u
southeasterly direction at a great height
storm Of snow and rain being encoun-
tored. During the early hours this morn
ing the Belgica drifted over New York
State, and finally over Lake Champlair.
The Belgice WAS the second one Of the
entrants reported TO have landed before
noon of to-day. The rule of the contest
is that the balloon which lands the farth-
est away from Birmingham In a straight
line wins the race.
MANY TO THE RESCUE
About 20 men aided IN getting the gas
out OF the balloon and this attern Don
It Ia being loaded or to a train for
New York. after being rolled up. The
men had considerable baggage with
them, and food. They were tuckered
out as they said they had not slept at
all since leaving Birmingham on Satur-
day at 1870 y. m.
They were wrapped up in blankets
and taken by Bishop Broderick to
Camp Ethan Allen. where they Will
probably spend two or three days
resting and recovering from their ex-
perience.
Both men served in the war, and
have been decorated for bravery. They
wore their army uniforms and medals
awarded them by their country,
Aeronuats of four nations are enter
ed in the balloon race. Belgium,
France. Italy and America. Contes-
tents are seeking to break three rec
ords, the national distance record Of
LIZ miles held by Alan r. Hawley of
the Aero club of America: the inter-
national long distance record OF 1900
miles held by French balloonists. and
the national endurance record Of 10
hours in the air held by American bal
loonists,
In addition to the James Gordon
Bennett International trophy cup the
winner VIII he presented with two
cups, one offered by the Civilian club
Of Birmingham and the other by the
Birmingham Age Herald. Cash awards
totalinE $500 are TO be distributed.
The two Belgian aeronauts worked
valiantly oPatnst their difficulties
early yesterday morning. but about
nine they could go no further and
were Obliged to descend into the lake
Up to nine O'Clock tonight It would
appear that the Boleica was the winner
Of the race with three more entries to
hear from.
LANDED MILE FROM SHORE
The balloon landed Il mile from shore
just opposite the home of L. II. Hazen
ut the south end Of the island. Henry.
\. Hazcn, son, promptly went out
In the choppy water in a canoe TO the
men The two army men. however.
stayed in the basket of the balloon. which
was slowly blown shoreward until the
water was shallow enough for them TO
wade in. The basket was nearly full of
water and the balloon was rapidly de-
hating The men were in water up to
their shoulders when they began to wade
IN.
The Hazon family rushed hot coffee
to them when they got ashore There
was a big crowd awaiting them and II
was rapidly augmented and automobiles
began to arrive soon. Only one of the
two Belgians can speak little English
and much difficulty was experienced in
getting details of their trip.
New York. Oct 25.-Thc balloon
"Audiens," the first Italian entry in the
international race for the Gordon Bennett
trophy, piloted by Major Vallee. descended
this afternoon at Homer, Cortland
county.
Maj6r Vallee telegraphed the news to
the Aero Club of America tonight. The
messages said the balloon had been up
more than 4S hours and the descent was
made without accident. Major Vallee
expects to reach New York tomorrow.
Ralph Epson. pilot of the Goodyear
H." which landed at five o'clock this
afternoon at Arnherstburg, Ont, across
the river from Detroit. in a telegram to
the Aero club, said he was forced down
by a heavy snow storm encountered at
20 600 feet
Lieutenant De Muyter, pilot OF Bel
gica,' the Belgian entry, also sent word
that he landed on North Hero Island,
Lake Champlain, saying his descent was
forced because he was out OF ballast.
Kansas City, Mo, Oct 2o.-The balloon
Kansas City II, piloted by Capt H. f..
Honeywell, a participant in the interna-
tional flight FOR the James Gordon Ben
nett trophy landed to-day on Tongue
Mountain. near Lake George, y. Y,
according to telegram from Captain
Honeywell received tonight by George
Myers. president of the Kansas City Aero
club.
Springfield, H., Oct. 25-The French
balloon Lorraine, entrant in the inter
national balloon race landed near Mason
city, Ills" last night according TO
telephone message received here this
afternoon, Bad weather caused the
descent, it was said.
OBSERVE FLAME BURST :
THROUGH FIRE HOSE