Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-08-27
WALTER WELLMAN
NOT DISCOURAGED
WILL MAKE ANOTHER DASH TO
NORTH POLE IN AIRSHIP OF
HIGHER SPEED.
WILL PROFIT BY DISASTER.
Details of Explosion Which Wrecked
Mammoth Gasbag Are Received
from Spitzbergen Camp.
woRKMEN WANT TO TRY AGAIN.

CAMP WELLMAN, SPITZENBER-
GEN, Aug. 10, via Hammerfest, Aug.
23.-Details of the accident to Walter
Wellman's airship, after the explorer
had made the start for the north pole,
have been received here upon the re-
turn of the expedition.
1t was 10 o'clock in the morning of
the 10Th when the great airship was
brought cut of its shed and the daring
explorers took their places in the car.
When the anchors were cast loose the
airship assembled beautifully, the engines
were set in motion and everything seemed
to work to perfection. The big air craft
was Unanswered for some time. and an
swered the helm perfectly. Then it's
head was turned to the northward and it
set out at speed of twenty-five miles
an hour.
Suddenly after having covered some
thirty-two miles and when everything
seemed to be going splendidly, the leath-
er guide rope, to which was attached
1000 pounds of provisions and stores,
broke away. The accident occurred Just
as the airship was nearing the pack Ice
of north Spitzbergen.
Airship Scars to Sky.
Released from this great weight, the
,airship shot upward at terrlhc pace
until 1t was at 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 against a strong
wind
The airship proceeded slowly south
ward to the edge of the pack ice, where
the steamer Fran was anchored. After
JIAh Il HSntI lev tnr Ent M
aboard the Fran, which started imme
dlately to tow the airship to Spitzber-
gen. The strain was so great, however,
that it. threatened to tear the car to
(which the rope was attached to pieces,
and Mr.. WeIlman finally decided to
the water. This was effected without
Emishap and the car rested on the sur
face of the water until all the members
of the crew, the dogs and the scientific
instruments could be transferred aboard
the FRAN.
Fresh Start Made.
fresh start was then made, and the
America was lowed back to the landing
stage and within a short distance of
where she started.
But the ill-luck of the expedition was
not yet at an end. Just as the airship
had reached the landing stage and every
thing looked favorable for its rescue
without serious damage, a sudden gust
of wind caught the big inflated bag
brOadside on and snatched it away from
its tow lines. 1t was carried careening
over the rough ice hummocks for some
distance, and then il exploded. All the
scattered parts of the airship were sub
sequently recovered, but the damage was
so great as to preclude any further at
tempt to fly over the pole this year.
Mr.. Wellman plans to build new ship
longer and narrower than that which met
with disaster, and of higher speed Other
improvements will be made, profting by
experience. Workmen have started en-,
ready for another campaign. g.
All the members of the crew of the
airship have the utmost confidence in
their leader and the success of his enter
prise. They have asked to go with him
on his next voyage. ..t.