AERONAUTICS: Storm

Near Brussels on a field converted by heavy rain into a morass, 11 balloons (entries in the James Gordon Bennett cup race) tugged and tore at their moorings, buffeted by a high wind. Weather bureaus warned that the tempest, which was accompanied by lightning, would continue. Officials sought to postpone the competition but found their rules inflexible.

An American balloon, constricted by her anchor rope, burst before the starting signal came. The remaining 10 cast themselves off upon the mercy of the furious elements.

Seven of the great bags were swept up, off, out of sight. Three were dashed to the ground, smashed or destroyed by lightning.

Dead. Lieut. Olmstead and Lieut. Choptaw of the U. S. Army Balloon S-6.

Lieuts. Von Gruningen and Wehren of the Swiss Balloon Geneva.

Penaranda Barca of the Spanish Balloon Polar.

Injured seriously. Gomez Guillamon, assistant to Barca in the Polar.

The storm continued lashing the North Sea. Only two craft were reported safely landed. Five remained missing.

Members of the Brussels Aero Club discussed changing the strict starting rule. Others favored abandoning the competition entirely.