Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-14
AIRsH|P TO POLE
Matter WslIman Soon Ready to
Start on His Unique
Trip.
PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFETY
Steel Boat Suspended Below Will b
Relied Upon Should the Air
Ship Fail.

Chicago, May 12.-Expedition after
expedition has been sent out to solve
the mystery of the north pole, without
success, yet in face of the previous
discouraging failures, Walter Wellman
internationally famous as explorer, lee
turer and newspaper correspondent, is
soon to undertake for the Chicago
Record-Herald a dash to the north pole
in an air ship.
On two previous occasions, in 1894
and 1899, Mr.. Wellman has headed
polar expeditions, and about the latter
part of June expects to start from
Spitzbergen, some 600 miles north OF
Hammerfest, Norway, which is within
SIS geographical miles of the pole, and
it is estimated that the party should be
able to make the trip in 10 or II days
The trip will be made during the
long daylight months of the year, and
communication with the world will be
maintained throughout the trip by
means of three wireless telegraph sta
lions. The first will be located at
Hammerfest, where connection is had
with the Atlantic cable, the second will
be at Spitzbergen, the headquarters OF
the expedition, and the third on board
of the air ship.
Ship Being Built.
The air ship in which the Wellman
Record-Herald expedition is to make
its dash to the pole is now being
built by Engineer Louis GODDARD in
Paris. 1t will be approximately 165
feet long and its greatest diameter will
be about 50 feet. 1t will have lifting
power of 10000 pounds, and the weight
of the air ship, with its motors and
machinery complete, will be $500
pounds. The weight of the crew, in
struments, wireless and other appar-
atus, and gasoline, will be 9,400 pounds.
The air ship will be propelled by two
motors, one of so and the other of 25
horsepower, driving two screws, and
giving a speed of from 10 TO 10 mil IS
an hour. The length of the car, which
is made entirely of steel tubing, is a
little over So feet, and the engine
rooms and cabin for the crew are en-
closed.
Three thicknesses of fabric are be-
ing used in the construction of the gas
bags of the air ship, two OF cotton ma
terial and one of silk, with three coat
ings of pure rubber. All three are con-
sOlidated into one fabric, giving great
Before starting on his trip Mr.. Well
man expects to be able to manage the
big air ship himself, and will make
many air ship ascensions and tests in
France to perfect himself in the man.
agement of the dirigible balloon. Sus-
pended beneath the air ship will be
Mullins steel boat, weighing about 225
pounds, and with carrying capacity
Of $500 pounds.
Building Two Boats.
The boats now under construction
will be about 16 feet long by Az feet
wide amidships, and will be made of
pressed steel plates, with high gun
vale. Both boats will be completed
about May Is and shipped to from
soc, Norway, where the steamer which
Will carry the Wellman expedition and
outfit to its headquarters at Spitzber-
gen is now lying. After the most Sc
we're tests, one of the two boats will be
selected for the polar expedition.
In case of the destruction of the air
ship the steel boat will be used for
the long stretches of open