The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-10-04
WELLMAN MADE
START FOR POLE

BERLIN, Sept. 14.-Wal-er Wellman-
head of the Wellman Chicago Record
Herald Polar expedition, has sent the
following eablegram to the Lokal An
zeiger. from Tromsoe, showing that he
really started on his dash to the pole
in the airship America, but was forced
to desist because his compass broke,
and without it the expedition was help
less
"After the steamer Express east Of
the cable, the balloon, America, did
exeellently. but an increasing wind soon
gave us a hard struggle, and the stem
drove US toward some high, Jagged
mountains near the coast, where the
airship would have been destroyed II
she struck. There then ensued hard
fight between the storm and the motor
The latter triumphed, and we slowly
rounded the north enc of Foul island in
the teeth of the wind. Our confidence
in the America had so increased in
the meanwhile that 1 gave the orde-
to start for the North pole.
''The wind. however, increased 20
twelve miles an hour, and the snow
fell so thickly that we could not see
a quarter of a mile. just then the
compass failed to work, owing to de-
feetive construction. We were lost in
a sEowstorm above the polar sea, and
threatened with destruction
VOYAGE OF AIRSHIP.
"After brief deliberation we de-
cided to try to get back to the TX
press, to reetify our compass and start
again. 1t was impossible, however, to
keep in one direction, and VIC were
again carried into dangerous proximity
to the mountains. Vaniman, the en-
gineer, then pr the motor to sop speed,
and the America moved a second time
against the wind, which probably was
blowing fifteen miles an hour. She
cireled three times in the teeth of the
wind.
''We saw the Express for a moment,
but Immediately lost her again We
could have returned to the Express If
we could have seen where to steer, but
under the circumstances the only thing
possible was to try to land. With this
idea we stopped the motor, and let the
America drift over the glacier. At
the end of Foul bay We used a trailer
filled with provisions and brake rope.
Both acted well and dragged over the
ice wall; 100 feet high, without dam
age.
AFTER crossing the glacier we open
ed the valve and landed on the upper
glacier, half a mile inshore. The
landing was effected so successfully
that material weighing nine tons de-
seended 800 feet and touched the ice
with no shock or damage whatever.
excepting several bent tubes and broken
wires Numerous delicate instruments
were not injured. The self-register-
ing Paragraphs, photographs and mano
meters continued running after the
landing. The mantle of the balloon
can easily be repaired.
IN AIR THREE HOURS
1.-The America was in the air three
hours and fifteen minutes and covered
about fifteen miles with her own ma
ehinery. She made three loops against
the wind, proving her power and cap
ability of being steered. The ascent
was successful in every respect.
1.-The America is from every stand
point the strongest airship and the
most durable for long journey that
ever has been built. She held the gas
splendidly.
Later in the same day the Express
found us and fetched the steamer Firth
JON with men and sledges from the
camp. The crew of the America lived
Tor three days comfortably in the eon-
doia while rescuing the balloon: they
could have lived there for nine months
had it been necessary. The entire air
ship, including even a part of the gas
'line, was returned to camp in three
lays.
The balloon hall and the entire
'utht has been made ready for the
winter and three men have been left
IN guard.
After this successful attempt we
ire an convinced that the America.
n normal summer weather. can make
Ter way to the pole. We ali regard
ms plan as rational, practicable and
easibie The thing can be done, and
Fnat can be done, shall be DONE
oDlN, Ill, Sept 14-Alr. and Mrs.
.dward Pool, So and 80 wars old