The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-12
Walter Me||man viii Start From
Switzerland
ARsH|P IS BEING MADE READY
EXPLORER HOPES TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL RE-
PORT SEPTEMBER 1.

! TROMSOE, Norway, July 1.-THE
Wellman- Chicago Record Herald Arc
tic expedition has sailed on the steam
er F'rithjof for Spitzbergen. The
steamer King Hedge will carry ma
terial for gas making and for dwell
ings. Mr.. Wellman is on the Frithjof,
with his principal assistants. He hopes
to make his first wireless test in about
a fortnight. The people here gave the
expedition hearty send-off.
TromsOe is the last Of the cable sta
tions of the far north, and is DISSENT
about 1000 miles from the north pole.
In order that he may keep in commu-
nication with the outside world dur
ing the period of his Quitting at
Danes island and also when he I'M
dertakes his aerial flight to the pole.
Mr.. Wellman has established wireless
There is a station at Danes island,
one at Hamnerfest and a third at
Tromsoe
And when the great airship is ready
for it's journey to the land which has
thus far baffied the efforts of explorers
it will have installed a wireless outfit
which will enable the expedition to
keep in touch with the outside world
during the entire progress.
The Airship.
When the airship which is to bear
Mr.. Wellman and his companions to
the north from Danes island is ready
for flight it will be the largest and
most scientific vehicle Of its character
ever constructed or ever attempted.
The balloon part of the ship is over
1874 feet in length, and its greatest
diameter 52k feet. Its surface is a.
O98 square feet, capable Of containing
224.225 cubic feet Of gas, with a lifting
power Of 10000 pounds.
The car to be attached to the bal
loon is constructed entirely Of steel
tubing and is 50 1-3 feet long. 1t con-
tains the engine room and cabin for
the crew, while attached to it will be-
fuel for the motors. There are three
of these; the first 20 horsepower, the
second 25 horsepower and the third 5
horsepower. The large motors will
drive the two propellng screws of the
ship at a speed ranging from 10 to 10
miles an hour.
The Exploring Party.
When the assembling and testing
operations have been completed in the
great shed at Spitzbergen the five
men who are to make the perilous trip
will step aboard and the ship VOL be
pointed toward it's final destination.
These men are: Walter Wellman,
Major Herzey, representing the ma
tional government and the Geographic
society; CASTOR Hervien, a celebrated
French aeronaut; M. j. Smith, wireless
expert, and Paul Colardeau, in charge
of the motors.
Three men will be constantly on
luty during the flight to the pole
which it is now calculated will con-
sumo 100 hours time-one on the nav
igatiOn deck to handle the rudder and
watch the instruments, one in the en-
CINE room and one to work the wind
lass operating the guide rope and drag
anchor. Three or four hours a day
sleep will be as much as any man will
secure.
Will Start August 1.
1t is the expectation of Mr.. Wellman
that preparations for the final rise OF
the airship will be completed by the
1st of August and that he will be on
his way to the farthest north by the
middle of that month.
By the 1st of September he hopes to-
daring expedition and offer to scier-
lists and the public information con-
which has held the attention of adj
venturous and scientific men for CEN
.,r;oe