On the basis of cosmic ray (CR) ground-based observations from the world stations network during the solar proton event of September 29, 1989, the method of spectrographic global survey was used to investigate variations of the particle distribution function in the rigidity range from a few to tens of gigavolts. By analyzing results obtained on variations of the angular distribution of different-energy particles and time profiles of CR intensity, it is concluded that it is impossible to describe the process of solar CR propagation in terms of the simplest ideas of the motion of particles in the outer electromagnetic fields of the heliosphere. To explain the results obtained, it is speculated that a particle beam accelerated in the flare propagates along the heliospheric current sheet, as a result of which in interplanetary space polarization electric fields are produced, through which an energy exchange occurs between solar CR and background particles of solar wind plasma and galactic CR.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union