The New York herald., 1921-09-19
Man CARRIED AWAY
BY RACING BALLOON
Thrilling Rescue Is Witnessed
by 10000 at Start Of Ben
nett Cup Contest.
COAT CAUGHT IN ANCHOR
Belgian trant Saves Victim
Fourteen Craft Get Away
in Strong Wind.
COAT CAUGHT IN ANCHOR

Special Cable to THE NEW YORK HUeAIp
CoSyri0hs. 1927, 6v THE NEw Yonx HERALD.
BRUSSELS, Sept 1S.-The start Of
fourteen contestants for the James
Gordon Bennett international trophy
this afternoon was marked by the
thrilling rescue by Lieut.. dc Muyter OF
Belgium, last years winner of the
race, of field assistant who got caught
in the ropes and was carried upward
with the balloon anchor through his
coat. a strong wind carried the bal
looms westward and they may come
down in the North Sea or land on the
British or French coasts. Ireland and
the Atlantic Ocean are not outside the
range Of possibilities.
Lieut.. de Muyter's chances OF win
ming the race may have been destroyed
| by the incident, owing to the extra
burden added to his balloon, Belgica
| H.. as the assistant had to be hauled
into the basket and carried away. Up
to midnight none OF the balloons had
been reported.
This handicap to. Lieut.. dc Muyter
was regarded as strengthening the
chances OF Ralph Epson of the United
States. Upson's balloon was found in
tests yesterday to be badly constructed
and Lieut.. de Muyter, in q sportsman
like manner, placed one of his own.
the Belgica L.. in which he won last
year, at his disposal.
L%,ti., f50 nN0 rerrcrS witnessed fhn
start OF tho race. Many women tainted
when the unexpected passenger was
seen swaying between earth and the
clouds in danger either OF losing his
| grip or crashing into the treetops skirt
ing the field from which the gas bags
left.
Lieut. dc Muyter's balloon was the
eighth to leave. In the strong wind
| the pilot did not notice the workman
clinging TO the ropes with the anchor
point gripping his coat until faint echo
| Of the warning shouts of the crowd
caused him to look over the side.
| Although he was experiencing diff
Guilty with the appendix valve. designed
| to prevent the explosion OF the gas
when the pressure is increased because
of expansion, Lieut.. De Muytar put the
mans safety above his chances OF win
ming and immediately hauled him into
the basket. Then he continued the flight
| over Brussels. mounting higher and
higher as the fierce ground gusts swept
| away from the starting field.
With the wind blowing toward the
northwest the Americans all made good
| starts. although Upson. upon whom the
American hopes are placed, predicted
| that the race would be short and un-
satisfactory, and that probably the ma
jority of the balloons would descend
along the Channel coast rather than
take chances with the open seas TO the
| north.
This was not tho idea. OF the British
Balloonist Baldwin In Banshee H., who
shouted TO the crowd:
you'll hear from US when we land in
Ireland
Two other balloons. the "Italian Tri-
| omphale TX. and the Belgian Liege-
Yscr. met delay when they crashed into
the trcetops, but both succeeded in con-
,lnung the Night by throwing out bal
last and cutting the branches which held
their basket. The decreased ballast,
however. was considered to have dinlin-
ished the chances of both bags compiet.
Ing satisfactory course.
BRyssEiB, Sept. is.--The fourteen big
! balloons starting, went away at in
ervas OF ten minutes. The English
balloon Banance. pilotcd BY the Eng
lsh acronaut Bsidwlu. was sent of
ii 400 Y. " with The wind blowing
| between thirty and forty milea an hour.
/ TIC strong w'nd gave the pilots con-
4 siderablc trouble. and Uselii an Italian
entran'. withdrew owing to damage TO
! his balloon.
\ Ralph Upson. American. In balloon
! loaned to him by Lieut.. De Muyster.
! he Belgian aeronsut. was third to get
| away and promptly disappeared In
| outhwesteriy direction.
| Bernard Van Hoffman. flying the City
| OF ST. Louis. got away at 4o5 T.. NJ. and
| Wade r. Van Ormand. In the City OF
| Akron, at 100 r. NJ.
! Owing 10 the wind the balloon or the
\ rronch acronani. ". Eiernair,e. was
siis.aea. u. MeY.r.hlcssAhe was able
f.4