The Washington herald., 1908-05-27

/ tlldls CultA tukluteI OF the waiter we'll
man north pole expedition. has resulted
in a suit for libel being filed in court The
amount OF damages demanded is $4,000.
/ The article In question was headed:
Calls IL arctic bluff. Engineer Of Well
man expedition caustic In his denuncia-
tion. Quotes north pole hero as saying
he had bluffed the world with an impossi-
Bile project"
Then follows the article in which Lieut..
Liwenthal is quoted as saying that Well
man told him the dash for the pole was a
bluff; to make an ascension and bring the
balloon down on a neighboring glacier.
&c. and that Wellman told him that I'VE
must have something that can be cine
autographed" and that Wellman also
told him he had arranged for series of
lectures in America.
The alleged interview was printed in the
Washington Post on May 10 last. Mr..
Wellman asserts in his suit that the inter-
view was false and malicious.
His Literary Habits.
In his declaration. which was filed by
Attorney Thomas c. Bradley. Mr.. Well
man states that for long time he has
been engaged in writing and correspond
ing for newspapers and magazines. and
doing general newspaper and literary
work. and organizing directing. accom-
panying. and leading expeditions 70 arc
tic regions in an effort 20 locate and dis
cover the north pole"
He makes the statement that by reason
of this work he has risen TO position OF
rrpu1fnanea g., he liter
airy field, and is widely and favorably
known in this and foreign countries, and
more especially in Washington, as an
author on subjects pertaining to explora-
tions in the arctic regions and aerial
navigation
BY reason OF this. he states he has
gained the good opinion Of many persons
in official circles In the city Of Washing
ton.
He charges that with an intention to
hold him up TO public scorn, infamy.
ridicule. and disgrace. the Post published
the interview with Liwenthal. copy Of
which is contained in the information.
Mr.. WelIman Is RetIcent.
Mr.. Wellman declined to discuss the
suit last night. and referred all inquirers
to his attorney. Mr. Bradley.
When seen by reporter for The Wash
ngton Herald, Mr. Bradley said Mr.
Wellman believed he had been injured
by the publication in question, and pro
posed TO appeal 20 the courts for redress
and vigorously prosecute the suit
"One Of the statements contained In
this article on which this suit is based"
said Mr.. Bradley. lis that Mai. Hersey
sent by the United States government.
was the only member Of the expedition
that took it seriously"
In this connection Maj Hersey's esti-
mate Of Lieut.. Liwentbal might be in
teresting.
Presents n Clipping.
Attorney Bradley handed the reporter q
clipping from the Milwaukee Sentinel.
which is as follows:
Maj. II. B. Hcrsey was considerably amused over
the story sent out under a Paris date In which an
engineer named Liwenthal Is quoted as saving that
the Nellman expedition an American buff 4"
MAJ Hcrsey takes no credit for being the only
serious membfT Of the expedition. and denies that
he hung his instruments in the shed with the
hams and sausages." On the contrary, they were
placed where they would do the most good IN max
ing records Of the weather and conditions which he
was sent 20 gather.
That Liwentha or Livantaal. which is his
right name unbalanced character who was
discharged by Ncliman when we returned from
Danes Island the first year. said the major yester-
DAY. He threatened az that time TO write letter
and send IL all the United States telling what
he pretended 20 know about the expedition He
seems to have kept his feelings bottled rp untr
the present time What he SAYS Is the rurpst non
sense. Of course and only represents hts feelings
on account Of being dropped as one of the members
a the expedition He Is a native Of Finland and
an engineer. He is a scientific fellow in an erratic
way. and has done some good work. but he is IN
balanced and imTTacticable 4 sort Of crank who
could not be used. and so Wellman got rid Of
him az the earliest opportunity He is evidently
irving 70 get back al him for that What he saws
amounts 10 nothing and viii recciTe little attention
from those who acquainted with the facts As
70 the instruments. they carefully housed as
those Ia the Weather Bureau here"
Continuing. Mr.. Bradley said:
''Liwenthal was discharged by Mr.
Wellman during the first expedition I'm
the summer Of 1904. and did not accom-
pany the second expedition
When will Mr. Wellman make an
other dash for the pole?" asked the re-
porter.
Il think that a year from this summer
he will make the effort again." said Mr..
Bradley.
Mr.. Bradley said 1t was true that Mr..
Wellman, upon his return from the arctic
regions. delivered a series Of illustrated
lectures before scientific societies and
pf bnr arrIfapDau