Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-08-26
WELLMAN' AIR
SHIP EXPLOD|E::,S.
EXPLORER MAKES START, AND,
AFTER SAILING 90 MILES,
. COMES TO GRIEF.
WILL TRY IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR
Guide Rope Breaks and the BAG
Shoots Up to a Great Height
After Descent, Gust Hits Air.
ship and Collapse Follows.

After Descent, Gust Hits Air
ship and Collapse Follows.
Camp Wellman, Spitzbergen, Aug.
16.-Via Hammerfest, Aug. 23.-Wal.
ter Wellman's second attempt to sail
over the North Pole in balloon re-
suited In failure. The giant dirigible
balloon America, in which Mr.. Well
man and his party Of three set out
upon their perilous flight, met with a
mishap after it had proceeded about
SO miles from the starting point.
It was 10 o'clock in the morning
when the airship was brought out Of
its shed and the explorers took their
places in the car. When the anchors
were cast loose the airship ascended
beautifully, the engines were set in
motion and everything seemed to
work to perfection. The big air craft
was Unanswered for some time and
answered the helm perfectly. Then
its head was turned to the northward
and it set out at q speed of rs miles
an hour.
Suddenly, after having covered some
81 miles and when everything seemed
to be going splendidly, the leather
guide rope, to which was attached l.,
900 pounds Of provisions and stores,
broke away. The accident occurred
Just a. the airship was nearing the
pack ice Of north Spitzbergen.
Released from this great weight, the
airship shot upward at Z terrific pace
until it was at a great height above
the clouds. The pilots succeeded,
however, in bringing her down near
the earth, turned her about and set
out to fight their way southwark a,
gainst strong wind. The airship
proceeded slowly southwark to the
edge of the pack ice, where the steam
er Fran was anchored.
After much difficulty towrope waa
gotten aboard the Fran, which start.
ed Immediately to tow the airship to
Spitzbergen. The strain was so great,
however, that it threatened to tear
the car, to which the rope was attach.
ed, to pieces, and Mr.. Wellman final
ly decided to bring the airship down
to the surface of the water.
This was effected without mishap
and the car rested on the surface OF
the water until all the members of the
crew, the dogs and the scientific in.
struments could be transferred aboard
the Fran. A fresh start was then
made and the America was towed
back to the landing stage and within
short distance of where the start
was made.
But the III luck Of the expedition
was not yet at an end. Just as the
airship had reached the landing stage
and everything looked favorable fol
its rescue without serious damage, .
sudden gust Of wind caught the bic
inflated bag broad-side-on and snatch
ed it away from its towlines.
It was carried, cEreening, over rou9h
ice hummocks for some distance and
then it exploded. All the scattered
parts Of the airship were subsequently
recovered, but the damage was SO
great as to preclude any further at
tempt to fly over the pole this year.
WeIIman Says He Will Try Again.
Camp Wellman, Spitzbergen, Aug
16, via Hammerfest, Aug. 23-Walte1
Wellman made the following state
ment with regard to his unsuccessful
attempt to sail for the North pole:
1.-THE America demonstrated her
strength, speed and adaptability to
this work. In returning to Spitzber.
gen we made mistake in not placing
enough confidence in our own ship and
engines. Had we not through over.
caution given the tow line to the Fran
I believe we could have landed the
America safe in her house. For some
time it was my intention to attempt
this and we made eight miles an hour
against the wind toward the camp.
AT last the motor worked uncer.
tainly because equilibrium of the ship
had been upset and thus deranged the
gasoline supply. The descent to the
surface of the ocean was not acciden.
tai, but deliberate in order to insure
the saving of the instruments and
other valuables.
II do not give up the tight, but hops
to reconstruct the America, enlarged
and improved, and try again, taking
advantage of all our somewhat varied
and extensive experience. My conf.
dence in the practtcabiltty of the pro
jsct is in no wise diminished. Thru
out the voyage, even in the most try
ing moments In the clouds and In the
seas, my three comrades proved cool
headed and efficient. My thanks to
them and to the equally brave officers
and sailors OF the Norwegian ship
Fran" z# S
ANOTHER FEDERAL BATTLE ON
Food Convention at Denver Expected