Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-19
JAUNT TO NORTH POLE
Walter WelIman Outlines Plans
for His Trip.
ON A VISIT TO HIS FAMILY
Confident Balloon Will Land Him at
Destination.
TO CARRY SLEDGING OUTFIT
Intention to Make an Early Start Next
Year-Biggest Airship Ever
Planned.


Walter Wellman Of this city, who, in his
capacity as a member of the staff of the
Chicago Record Herald, has been assigned
to travel to the meeting place of the meri-
dams long1tudes and tack his card on the
north pole, is in town visiting his folks
after an absence abroad extending over
seven months. After brief stay here Mr.
Wellman will return to Paris to superin
tend the construction Of the biggest airship
ever planned, which he believes will carry
him and his party from Spitzbergen to the
heretofore elusive and inaccessible pole In
from twenty to thirty hours.
Mr.. Wellman the artic emplorer Is con-
fldent that the big navigable balloon will
land him at his destination right side up
with care, and Mr.. Wellman the newspaper
man is enthusiastic over the prospects OF
big beat"
There's a great story In this" Mr.. Well
man said today, land it is a wonder that
other newspapers haven't assigned men to
cover IT."
Printers Ink Working to Surface.
But that be it said is merely the print
ers' Ink working to the surface In Mr.. Well
man the reporter. Mr.. Wellman the ex-
plorer can readily understand why 1t Is
that the beauties Of such story as the
discovery Of the pole are being shameIuny
neglected in journalistic circles
With Mr. Wellman on his return TO TINS
country came Maj. Hershey of the Uniteo
States weather bureau, who VIII De one OF
six men to accompany the explorer on ine
aerial dash for the long-sought geographi-
cal POLE The balloon will be big enough
to carry the seven men for a couple OF
week. II necessary, with supplies TO keep
the lamp of life pickering for more than
two months.
1t is, of course, Mr.. Wellman's intention
to return to Spitzbergen in his airship II
such happens to be possible But tnere
are so many chances that 1t may not prove
possible that a complete sledgtng outfit
with canine motive power will be carried
along. SO Mr.. WeiiGnan figures out that
even il his vessel proves unairworthy
after the pole Is reached. he and his com
panions with the dogs and sledges and
provisions, won't have very heavy odds
against them In their return journey TO
SpitZbergen or some other ice-oound maven
on the far northern outskirts Of civiiiza-
ton.
Is a Practical Proposition.
The progress made in France during the
past year in the construction of balloons
has convinced Mr. Wellman that the diri-
gible airship is a practical proposition.
He doesn't by any means go as far as
Santos Dumont, who after a balloon as
the other day delivered himself Of con-
siderable enthusiastic conversation, in the
course of which he predicted that before
the year is out dirigible aeroplanes
would be household pets all over the world
and that in the course of more years people
of all degrees-rich and poor, lame and
halt, policemen, nurse girls and colfege pro-
fessors-will fly around about their bust
ness as generally once upon a time they
wheeled about on the now nearly obsolete
bicycle.
But, just the same, Mr.. Wellrhan doesn't
look upon the aerial route to the supreme
north as beset by any more breads and
dangers than Is the untrod path over the
shifting ice foes from Peary's new-set limit
to the pole. In fact he considers the aerial
method to be the only feasible one, and it
is his purpose to demonstrate such to be
the case. II demonstration be possible.
Mr.. Wellman explained that the base of
SUPPLIES at Spitzbergen had been abandoned
only after 1t became apparent that the sea-
son was too late for a successful flight.
Winter begins the latter part Of August
at that far northern point and 1t was de-
early start. According to present plans
Mr.. Wellman hopes to be able to leave
Sptzbergen between April and July, de-
pending entirely on weather conditions and
the state Of the preparations.
Biggest Airship Ever Planned.
After the return to Paris from Spitzber-
gen Mr.. Weilman Immediately began prep
arations for the construction of the new
America" which, as indicated, will be
the biggest airship ever planned. And it
is of interest, too, that the America, al
though built in France, will be the product
of American skill. With the first balloon
Mr.. Wellman had some difficulties and de-
lay in getting work done in just the way
he wanted 1t, and he believes that with his
own shops and American labor all through.
the all-important work of constructing the
America will go forward with more speed,
fewer bitches and to the satisfaction of
himself and others who will trust their lives
to the great motor-driven gas bag
Mr.. Wellman speaks in the highest terms
of Maj. Hershey. The latter, he says, has
won the admiration and respect of even
the daredevil French aeronauts by his
performances in a balloon. Six ascensions
in eight days is one of the records of
Maj. Hershey, and on one of the trips the
major, according to Mr.. Wellman, departed
from Paris in the face Of a high wind
alone in his balloon, when everybody
warned him that the attempt was fool
hardy on that day and under such condi-
tons. But, the explorer mentioned, Maj.
Hershey had no trouble making a trip Of
$50 miles and descending unaided. This in
ballooning, 1t seems, Is considered to be
some pumpkins.
Possibilities Of the Trip
Mr.. Wellman added, in speaking of the
possibilities of the trip in the new America,
that while 1t is hoped the pole will be
reached in twenty or thirty hours 1t is
more likely that the up-trip would last
from two to four days. The air line dis
lance to the pole from Spitzbergen is not
so great. but the proposition is in every
way a sealed book. Only one explorer ever
started for the pole in a balloon, and he
never came back to tell what he had seen.
But, even II the conditions are not favor
able after Spitzbergern Is left behind, Mr..
Wellman believes that. IL the airship
stands the weather and the work, four
days should cover the up-journey. The
manner of the return Is another PROPOSE
ton, and only the circumstances of the
moment will determine 1t.
According to the explorer. France, the
country foremost in the development of the
motor car for military purposes. and of the
submarine for the purposes OF modern war
fare is building fleet OF aerial cruisers
to be used for military purposes in time Of
war. He thinks the United States military
authorities should keep abreast of the times
and give careful study to the new prob
lem. With the constant advancing devel-