The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-17

Berun, september 14.-WdlIer we'll
man, head, of the Wellman Chicago
Record-Herald Polar exposition, has
sent the following cablegram to the
Lokal Anzeiger from Tromsoe:
after the steamer cast off the cable
of the balloon America did eXcellently
but an increasing wind soon gave lis
hard struggle and the storm drove
us toward some high, jagged noun
tains near the coast where the air
ship would have been destroyed if she
had struck. There then ensued 4
hard fight between the storm and
\snotor. Finally we slowly rounded the
Vn3th end of Foul island in the teeth
of the wind. Our confidence in the
America had so increased in the mean
while that | gave the order to start
for the north pole.
The wind, however, Increased to
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 act, owing to defec-
tive construction. We were completely
lost in a snow storm above the Polar
sea. and threatened with destruction.
After a brief deliberatiOn we decided
to try and get back to the Express to
rectify our compass and start again.
It was impossible, however, to keep
in one direction and we were again
crried into dangerous proximity to
the mountain. Vaniman, the engineer,
sc Rn made the motor run at top speed,
EGdAathe America moved a second
tfhVgainst the wind, which probably
was blowing Is miles an hour. She
circled three time in the teeth of the
wind. We saw the Express for mo-
ment, 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 Foul Bay we had trailer filled
with provisions and brake rope. Both
acted we'll and dragged over ice wall
one hundred feet without damaging
the provisions.
After crossing the glacier we open
ed the valve and landed on the upper
glacier, half a mile in shore. The
landing was affected so successfully
that material weighing nine tons de-
scended three hundred feet and touch
ed the ice with no shock or damage
whatever except several bent tubes and
broken wires. The numerous delicate
Instruments were not injured The
self registering paragraphs, meteo-
graphs and manometers continued run
ming after the landing. The mantle
of the balloon can easily be repaired.
''The America was in the air for
three hours and fifteen minutes and
covered about Is miles with her own
ma Einery She made three loops
against the wind, proving her power
and capability of being steered. The
ascent was successful in every respect
the most most durable for a long
journey that ever has been built. She
held the gas sDlendidlv.
Later in the same day they found
with men and sledges from the camp.
The crew of the America lived for
three days comfortably in the gondola
while the work of rescuing the balloon
was in progress. They could have
lived there for nine months had it
been necessary. The entire airship
including a part of the gacoline. was
returned to the camp in three days.
*'The balloon Hall and the entire
outfit has been made ready for the
Winter and three men have been left
on guard.
"After this successful attempt, we
are all convinced that the America IN
normal summer weather can make her
way to the pole We all regard this
plan as rational, practicable and feas-
ible. The thing can be done and
what can be done shall be done.'