The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-24
WELLMAN ON His POLAR TRIP.
WILL USE AIRSHIP FOR ANOTHER
"FARTHEST NORTH" ATTEMPT.
Explorer Having Dirigibie ALTO o
structed by French Builder With W
Gasoline MOtOrs-Expects TO Begin
Journey From Spitzbergen in An. ust.

Explorer Having Dfrigible Balloon Con-
structed by French Builder With Two
Gasoline Motors-Expects TO Begin
Journey From Spitzbergen I'm Aue ust.
Walter Wellman, who hopes to reach the
North Pole in a big dirigible balloon some
day next August, sailed for London this
morning on' the Kaiser Wilhelm II. with
several members of his exploring party.
He was waited or last night at the Waldorf
Astoria by a committee from the New York
Motor Club, which wished him good luck in
that one time salutation of the automobilist,
we hope you'll get there and get back,
Mr.. Wellman made an address a few
weeks ago at a NewYork motor club smoker,
When he gave some Of the details OF his
plan for going "farthest North" and last
night he gave some additional information.
He will begin his aerial journey for the
pole from Spitzbergen as early in August
as the big diTigible balloon can be made
ready. The airship will be 1874 feet long,
will be propelled by two gasolene motors
Of 25 and So horsepower respectively,
and will AVE a car So feet long. 1t is being
built by Louis GODDARD Of Paris, who has
contracted to have it ready next month.
The airship and the necessary supplies
will be sent to Trurnsoe, Norway, and from
there the ship Frijhof is scheduled to carry
the airship' to Spitzbergen, sailing about
June 5. The Frijhof will return to Trumsoe
in the latter part of June to take the TO-
mainder Of the party to Spitzbergen,
The gas bag of the airship will have a
capacity of 22i 900 cubic feet of gas, which
will give it a lifting power Of IL, 1000 pound;
A food supply for seventy-five days will be
carried and $500 pounds of gasolene, which
will give a -steamlng radius" OF 500 miles.
As the distance from ~SpltZbergen TO the
Pole is 800 miles, this leaves a margin OF
safety of 600 miles. The speed Of the air.
ship will range from 10 to 10 miles an hour,
as one or both motors are used, hgurng
on absence Of favoring or deterring Winds.
Mr.. Wellman expects the airship to remain
rs to 400 feet from the surface by means OF
a steel guide rope, which will trail on the
surface of the ice. A wireless telegraph
outfit will be carried and wireless stations
will be established at Spitzbergen and at
Hammerfest, Norway. with which Mr..
Wellman expects to keep in constant COM
munication.
When he was asked what he expected to
find at the pole Mr.. Wellman said he thought
he would find nothing but ice. as he thinks
with him a small New York Motor Club
flag, which he has promised to nail to the
pole when he gets there. Four others
will accompany Mr.. Wellman on the air.
ship, these being Major Henry, B.. Her
sey, U. s.. A; Maxwell }. Smith. CASTOR
Hervieu Of Paris and a French aeronaut
vet to be selected. Major Hersey will rep
resent the United States Weather Bureau
and the National Geographic Society and
will be the navigator and scientific man
Of the party. Mr.. Smith will attend to the
wireless telegraph instruments and Her
vieu and his compatriot will attend TO the
motors and machinery.
Others who will make up the party but
will remain at S~pitzbergen are DR.. w. n.
Fowler of Button, Ind, physician and
former member of the United States Coast
| SURVEY; FRAMES H, Buzzacot of Chicagp;
Alexander Liwenthal, who will have charge
of the erection of the aerodrome at SpltZ-
| bergen and the imitation of the balloon;
j. Colordean, who will have charge Of the
motor sledges to be taken in the alrshlp
and a force of ten mechanics.
If conditions prove unfavorable this year
Mr.. Wellman will defer his trip until 1907.
He hopes to make the trip to the Pole and
back in ten days. If the winds are %unfavor-
able for returning to Spitzbersen, the air
shin may be sent over the end of the globe
| and a landing made in Siberia. Mr.. Well
man has great hope of accomplishing his
| project, as his aiIship will be built for sta
bility and carrying power rather than speed:
which has been the sole consideration OF all
! aerial dirigible craft 80 far.
Mr.. Wellman received the following letter
| from President Roosevelt yesterday:
HI WHITE House,
WASHINGTON, D.. CO. April %, 1905.
My DEAR MIR. WELLMAN: earnestly wish
you all success in your enterprise, and trust
With warm regards, believe me, sincerely
| yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.