New-York tribune., 1907-09-15
MR.. WELLMAN'S EFFORT
RESCUE OF BALLOON.
Explorer Tells of Hazardous Start
on Trip to Reach Pole.

Berlin. Sept. 14.-Walter Wellman, head of
the Wellman Chicago Record Herald" polar
expedition, has sent the following dispatch to
the LokaI Anzeiger" from Tromsoe:
After the steamer Express cast off the cable,
the balloon America did excellently, but an in
creasing wind gave hard struggle,
and the storm drove toward some high, jag
ged mountains near the coast, where the air
ship would have been destroyed if she struck
There then ensued q hard fight between the
storm and the motor. The latter triumphed,
and we slowly rounded the north end of Foul
Island in the teeth of the wind. Our COnnueIce
in the America had so increased in the mean-
while that l gave orders to start for the North
Pole.
an hour. and the fell thickly that we
could not see a quarter of a mile. just theh
construction. We were completely IoSt III d
snowstorm above the Polar Sea. and threatened
with destruction. After brief deliberatlon we
decided 10 try ana get bdCk TO the Express 10
rectify compass and start again. II was
impossible, however. to keep in one direction,
and we were again carried into dangerous proX
unity of the mountains. Vaniman. the engineer,
then made the motor run at top speed. and the
America moved a second time against the Wlnd'
which probably blowing fifteen miles an
hour. She circled three times in the teeth OF
the wind. We the Express for moment,
but Immediately lost her again We could have
returned 10 the Express if we could have seen
where to steer. but under the circumstances the
only thing possible to try to land. win
this idea stopped the motor. and let the
America drift over the glacier. At the end or
Foul Bay we used trailer filled with pro
visions and brake rope. Both acted well ana
dragged ice wall one hundred rect hlSh
without damaging the provisions
After crossing the glacier opened the valve
and landed on the upper glacier: half a mile m
shore. The landing effected so successfully
that material weighing nine tons descenoeo
three hundred feet and touched the ice, with no
shock damage whatever, excepting several
bent tubes and broken wires The numerous
delicate instruments were not injured. me
seIf-registerinC paragraphs. neteorographs and
nate cont rirNJlpl
ing The mantle of the balloon can easily be
repaired.
The America was in the air for three hours
and fifteen minutes. and covered about fifteen
miles with her own machinery she made three
loops against the wind. proving her power and
capability Of being steered. The ascent was
successful in every respect. The America IS
from every standpoint the strongest airshp ana
the durable for long journey that has
ever been built She held the gas spIendidIy.
Later In the same day the Express found US,
and fetched the steamer FriJhjof. with men and
sledges. from the camp. The crew OF the Amer
lea lived for three days comfortably I'm the gon-
dola while the work of rescuinE the balloon was
in progress. They could have lived there for
nine months had It been necessary The entire
alrshlp lncindlhE even part 9l Ile edSo4eiie'
was returned 10 camp in three days
The balloon han and the entire outfit have
been made ready for the winter and three men
have been left on guard
After this successful attempt we all
WINGED that the America in normal summer
weather can make her way 10 the Pole, We all
regard this plan rational. practicable and
fea sible. The thing can be done, and what can
be done shall be done.
rrornsae. sept 14-Major II r. Hersey. Of
the United States Weather Bura IA az Washius
ton. who was n member Of the weilInan Chi
cago Record Herald Arctic expedition. arrived
here to-day from spi,zbergen on board the fish
ing boat Ciotfred
Walter Wellman sailed to-day for Germany,
whence he will go to France and begin prepara-