Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-16
BALLOONS START
Continued from Pace One)

with a tempest raging, balloons were
smashed and death was already
lowering above the plain before the
aeronauts departed.
Lieutenant Earnest De Muytcr, o.
Belgium. three times winner of the
cup. was the favorite. He is plotting
the Belgica. The Americans. Cap
tain f. II. Honeywell, w. G. Van
oman and Major Peck, are regard
ed as most likely to keep De Muyter
from gaining permanent possession
Of the trophy. Captain Honeywell,
tecause Of his long experience and
his incombustible balloon with clG-
hOrate equipment, Is second cnol' G
among those specializing on the cut
come.
The filing OF the balloons was
completed at two o'clock in the af-
tcrnoon. A mild north to northeast
trly wind was blowing, but it fresh
cncd up. and Lieutenant De MuTter.
taking off at 4.30, cleared. the build
ings surrounding the Solbosch Plain
with a minimum loss of ballast The
Eelgian promptly disappeared to-
ward the French frontier. with what
seemed to be twenty-five mile
freeze driving his balloon along in
magnificent style.
\ dozen massed bands played the
Belgian national anthem on the de-
larture of DE Muyter. and joined
in the strains of The star Spanglcd
Banner" as Van Ormans Good
year" left her moorings at SIS. Van
Orman and his assistant, G.. h. VOL
Ian. were very confident. The for
n.er said before leaving:
I'VE want first or nothing: we
have provisions aboard Tor twenty
two days"
Van Orman has a special radio set
aboard the Goodyear and he inforin-
ed The Associated Press correspond
ent that between $50 and $50 A. NJ.
Greenwich time. Monday the
Springfield. Mass, radio station. will
try to reach him. He will be listen
ing in on a wave length of 337
metres.
All the Americans carry parat
Chutes as safeguard in the event
Of their balloons being struck by
lightning or otherwise destroyed in
the air.
Captain Honeywelrs Uncle Sam"
made the start at SIS. The captain
was assisted ny the Rev. Woffer Tim
mons, of st. Louis. He made per-
feet start, and as he slowly rose.
Shouted to Ambassador Phillips and
members of the American embassy
close by:
We've got a real sky pilot aboard:
we are sure winners"
A few minutes previous to the
start the correspondent asked Cap
tain Honeywell what club he rep
resented and he replied:
Il am running this race in behalf
Of one hundred million Americans,
and hope to bring the cup back TO
the United States"
Immediately after Honevwell's Ue-
narture the wind shifted to the west.
having practically boxed the COM
pass since noon. The Uncle sam
Loaded cast toward Holland and
Germany.
Captain Paul Armbruster's Hell
N,tia tSwitzerlandD, Van Orman's
Goodyear, Lieutenant Labrousse's
Vile de Bruxelles (Belgium), which
were still visible at twilight over
the horizon. Their course ais
shifted eastward to Germany, which
now is the probable landing place
unless the aeronauts continue on to
Russia.
Major Peck and Lieutenant Grey
were off with the S-lo. United States
at e.S5 to n fine start. The last bal
loon to get away was the spanish
Hesperio, pilot Casas. IL went up at
$40. In the meantime a drizzling
rain began to fall. but shortly after
me last departure atmospheric con-
dluons cleared. Airplanes returning
from scouting flights reported strong
eastward air currents at from 1,5C0 to
1000 feet altitude. with the wind
blowing 40 kilometres
The British balloon Banshee IL
shortly after the start grazed some
1rees at Lindale, on the outskirts of
Brussesl. but managed to rise after
shifting a large amount of ballast.
Nobody was hurt. and the balloon,
which was piloted by Major Baldu in.
VINO had Lord Grosvenor aboard,
was able to continue.