Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-09-18
WeIIman's AIrship Voyage.

Walter Wellman's attempt to reach
the north pole by an airship voyage
while not disastrous was a failure.
He says of the attempt: after the
steamer Express cast of the cable,
the balloon America did excellently,
but an increasing wind soon gave us
hard struggle, and the storm drove
us toward some high, jagged noun
tains near the coast where the air
ship would have been destroyed II she
struck. The struggle with the wind
and a snowstorm showed the power
of the airship, but the compass was
defective and the voyagers were COM
pletely lost in a snowstorm above the
Polar sea and threatened with de-
struction." Finally deciding to return
TO tie steamer, Wellman says the
airship circled three times in the
teeth of the wind. We saw the Elk.
press for a moment, but Immediately
lost her again. We could have re.
turned to the Express II we could
have seen where to steer, but under
the circumstances the only thing pos
sible 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
trailer filled with provisions and
brake rope. Both acted well and
dragged over an ice wall 100 feet
high without damaging the provis.
ions.
After crossing the glacier we open.
ed the valve and landed half a mile
in shore. The landing was effected
so successfully that material weigh
ing nine tons descended three hun
dred feet and touched the ice with
no shock or damage whatever except
ing several bent tubes and broken
wires. 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 airship and
the most durable for long journey
that ever has been built. She held
the gas splendidly.
The balloon and the entire outfit
has been made ready for the winter
and three men have been left on
guard. After this attempt we are all
convinced that the America In nor.
NAL summer weather can make her
way TO the pole. We all regard this
plan as rational, practicable and feast
BILE. The thing can be done, and what
can be done, shall be done.
Work begins on Owossos new post.
Office this week.
Three Morenci residences were loot
ed by burglars Friday night. Two
gold watches and $40 was taken.
On his way to Honolulu, where he
expects a son to take care of him
Charles ]. Coats, aged so, who says
his home Is In Detroit, walked into
Kalamazoo and asked for assistance
Coats says his wife and seven chill
dren, who lived in Michigan, have
died and he wants to end his days in
Hawaii
William A. Storrs, assistant super
intendent at the National Bicycle Co.
was the most seriously injured Of the
men hurt In the Michigan Contra
wreck in Bay City September 3. anC
did not know 1t. Physicians have re
moved a piece OF his breast bone tha
had been broken.
The House of David, in connection
with whose affairs the attorney gen
eral commenced an investigation tw,
: weeks ago, is no longer a church
Amended bylaws were filed in the reg
lister of deeds Office and will be for
warded to the secretary OF state TO
J approval. The church" becomes
society"
: George Ferris, 20 years old. Twin,
} at Forestville, saw for the first tim,
in his life last week cars and automo
. biles. George is Maccabee and cam,
TO Port Huron TO participate in tn
: big "Fraternal day" celebration. II,
lives on his fathers farm and ha,
r never been away from home.
! Carl Rufus, pastor of a Methods
church at Owosso, will leave for Kore
: with his wife and two children, wher
! he and Mrs. Rufus will become mis-
sionaries.
I Byron Aldrich. of Portland, aged IS
: blew smoke at a captive water bird
+ IL drove its sharp bill just below hi
T.I4 n. - ~