Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-23
Made g Miles
 Toward the Pole
THEN ACCIDENT OVERLOOK THE
 BIG DIRIeIRLE.
POLAR AlRSHIP EXPLODED
Walter WelIman and Party Succeeded in Landing Safely-Airship Can Be Repaired-No Trip This Year.

Camp Wellman, Spitzbergen, Aug. 15 | (via Hammerfest, Aug. 2D.-Walter Wellmans record attempt to sail over the North Pole in a balloon has result ed in failure. The big dirigible balloon America, in which MT. Wellman and his party of three started on their perilous flight, today met mishap af- ter it had gone about thirty two miles from the starting point. Mir. Wellman
 and his party succeeded in making a landing without injury to any mem
 Der. and returned to this point on board the steamer Tram. which also
 lowed in the disabled balloon.
 25 Miles an Hour at Start. After a long preparation and waiting for favorable weather Mir. Wellman
 decided early this morning to make the start. Everything had been ln readi-
 ness for some time, and only the final details remained to be carried out. It was 10 o'clock in - the morning
 when the great airship was brought out of its shed and the explorers took l their places in the car When the an chors were cast loose the airship as- cended beautifully, the engines were ! ser in motion and everything seemed l to work to perfection. The big air
 craft was manoeuvred for some time | anl answered the helm perfectly Then ' set out at a speed of twenty five miles an hour.
 Lost Provisions and Stores. Suddenly, after having covered some thirty-two miles. and when everything seemed to be going splendidly, the | leather guide rope, to which was at | tached a thousand pounds of provisions | and stores, broke away The accident occurred just as the airship was near ing the pack ice of North Spitzbergen.
 Reached Great Height Above Clouds. Released from this great weight. th , airship shot upward at a terrific pace
 un;il it was at a great height ao0ve the clouds. The pilots succeeded, howeve: :, l in bringing the balloon down near the earth, turned Ter about and set out to
 fight their way southward against a l strong wind.
 Party and Instruments Safe. The airship proceeded slowly south
 ward to the edge of the rack ice. where the steamer Tram was anchored. At-
 ter much difficulty tow rope was talk en aboard the Tram, which started i'm 1 mediately to tow the airship to Spitz- bergen. The strain was so great. now ever, that fl threatened to tear the car | to pieces, and Mir Wellrnan finally | decided to bring the airship down to ! lilC " c1lCl. lllS hdS CAACNltQ WlNAlOuR
 misIIap and the car rested on the sea | until all the members of the crew, the | dogs and the scieptific instruments could be transferred aboard the Tram A fresh start was then made. and the America was lowed back to the land . ing stage. with a short distance of the point where the start was made.
 No Further Attempt This Year. Just as the airship reached the land l ing stage and everything looked favor | able for its rescue without serious damage, a sudden gust of wind caught 1 the big inflated bag broadside and snatched it away from its tow lines | It was carried careening over rough ice hummocks for some distance and then exploded. All the scattered parts of the airship were subsequently, re- covered. but the damage was so great as to preclude any further attempt to fly over the pole this year.
 MT. Wellman will return to Norway next week. He says that the airship was not seriously damaged and can be repaired, but tEat another attempt this year is impossible. He is enlarging the balloon house to accommodate a longer and more powerful ship for fu- ture use.