The Washington times., 1906-11-18
Now Constructing New
Airship in Paris For His
Flight Next April From
Spitzbergen.
TRIP IN 80 HOURS
HIS EXPECTATION
Rejoins His Family in Wash
ington After Absence of
Seven Months in
Far North.

When the North Pole is finally dis
covered, which. in all probability,
VIII be within another year. il viii
be by means of an airship and not
the sledge. is the opinion Of Walter
Wellman, the Arctic eXplorer,who re
turned last night TO Washington
from Spitzbergen, from which point
it lad been planned by him to sail
last summer for the pole. With Mr..
WelIman returned Major Hersey, of
the United States Weather Bureau,
who had permission of the American
Government to accompany the eX-
plorer on the trip as meteorological
expert.
Commander Peary won the envy
as well as the plaudits of all Arctic
explorers, according to Mr.. Well
man, by gaining a point 'farthest
north" and coming within three de-
grces, or approximately 200 miles,
cf the much sought geographical
point But Peary's failure to reach
the pole because of the adverse ice
flow conyinces Mr.. Wellman that the
point can never be gained By the old
method sledges, ana the airship or
cirigble balloon is 10 carry the sue
cessfuI explorer. That explorer, Mr..
Wellman confidently believes, viii be
himself, and he hopes TO accomplish
/ II next summer
Will Get Early Start.
Mr. WeIIman and Major Hersey absn-
doued their base Of supplies at Spitz-
bergen only after il became apparent
I mat they could make no successful flight
this season. With the close u August.
winter began, and they decided TO wait
tin next sumner and get an early start.
Mr.. Wellman hopes to be of from spIiz-
bergen by the latter part Of EeNt july,
and. il all conditions are favorable, he
will locate the pole possibly within
( twenty OF thirty hours atter his start
/ Whether he will return TO Spit,oerssl
/ is another question. as Ee may be at the
mercy of the air currents aud may
finally land with hIs ship in Alaska
/ Greenland or even Siberia his gas
sllppIv would be exhausted within nIteeh
/ days al most and then 10 would pS a
/ inter Of eIedgiue Food supplies 10
( last not more than seNehty-hNe das CNll
4 be carried so, unless he can make MS
/ way out OF the polar circle Ml.Hln w. W.,
I months aud a half his life may be iol-
Teited and the world none the wiser con
Cernfne the discovery Of the long sought
( goal.
Building New AiTship.
..te 1,r+er mart af August Mr.. Well
man hacked uD his balloon, sas54ng car,
and other parapheTnaiia, left his sup
plies under the charge Of caretakers AZ
/ Spitzbergen, and started back for Paris
There he Immediately began the con-
/ structiOn OF a plant Tor the manufacture
of his new America larger and
more 'air-worthy'' vessel than his first
one. Having the work well started Air.
WelIman left it in the hands OF trusted
! lieutenants. and in company wllh
/ Major HeTsey, sailed for America IheY
arrived yesterday morning IN New YORK
on the French liner Savoie. from Havre,
and reached Washington last night Mr
Wellman Immediately Joined his family
at 2439 Columbia road, where, with his
wife and hve daughters. he enjoyed y
happy reunion, after an absence or
seven months.
When he arrived home he found some
unique decorations in mis- honor. Sus-
pended immediately over the ululnS
table was a complete model of the air
ship in which he intends 10 make his
dash This model WAS sent TO his
family last spring. Il was decorated
with 4 row of American flags.
Without any apparent disappointment
over ais failure 10 reach the pole las
summer. and enthusiastic over his pros
peCts Mr.. Wellman discussed his cN-
perieuces and hopes with q fimes re-
porter.
T. New AiTship Equipment
Mr WeIlman's plant for constructing
his new airship is located just oltside
Paris. and lac expects 10 oversee all Tie
work personally this winter lie viii
leave Washington early in December
and return only when he Is ready 10
start again for Spitzbergen early next
April
I'VE trusted to French contractors
before said Mr. Weifman This time
we will DC our own contractors. our own
/ superintendent foremen. and even
! labOr9T, to considerable extent. At-
/ cordingly, We expect TO get what gs
want
| The taIloon that was made :ast WIN
/ ter was l65 feet in length. while tas
| new one viii he the largest balloon
/ ever constructed
Mr.. Weilman's base Of slppiies
/ beeH esta blishsd about go miles f=
/ he pole and a similar distance frcm f..s-
) 80 degrees or nearly 1880 miles north of
Washington and about 25fn miles east,
| being slightly east Of the Green Wtch
| meridian.