Evening star., 1909-06-28
Storm Destroys Airship Shed
and SpoiIs Arctic Plans.
WHOLE YEAR MAY BE LOST
Worst Blizzard in Fifteen Years
Creates Havoc at Spitzbergen.
RECONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN
Explorer Determined to Fight II Out
and Find the North Pole Be-
fore He Is Through.

TROMSOE. Norway, June 2s-Onc-
more Walter wellman may have to put
on discovery Of the north pole
The great shed al Ppitzbersen built for
the new airship that was to take him Ia
the long-sought point was DESTROYED last
Christmas by the worst storm Pau
BJoervis says he has seen I'm the fifteen
years he has been associated with Mr..
Wellman in arctic exploration.
1t was in 1904 that Mr.. weiiman first
started for the pole. but something has
happened to Illustrate each one OF the
several attempts he has made to reach
the goal. although preparations have been
elaborately made In every instance
Three years ago he gave up trying
to attain his object over sea or ice and
had great airship built in Paris. which
he named America. In that craft he set
out from Spitzbergen September =. 1907.
on an experimental cruise. which ended
In the airship being wrecked on a glacier
though the voyagers escaped unharmed
since then Mr.. Wellman has been pre-
pairing for another effort to reach the
pole In an airship and was to have start
ed this summer.
Flags at Half-Mast.
But today the steamer Arctic. which
is in his service. returned from Spitz-
bergen with flags at half-mast. bringing
the news that Knud Johnson, one of the
two men who remained at the welman
camp last winter. perished in the pack
Ice. and that the airship shed was de-
stroyed last December by a heavy storm.
johnson went May 10 with his fellow
watchman. Paul Bjoervig. on a hunting
expedition over the pack ice. The ice
N G fr1R I~1,~
crevasse into the sea. BjoerviE held out
q long stick for Johnson to grasp, but
ne was unconscious. Then Bjoervig ran
back to the camp and got a rope. but
when he returned to the crevasse John
sons body had disappeared
A strong southwest gale began to blow
Christmas and lasted eight days. 1t
reached Its climax on the night OF De-
cember %, when 1t tore of the whole
roof OF the airship shed. 20 feet widS
yards, smashed 1t to bits and blew down
the rest of the building.
Anticipating that the airship house
might be destroyed, Mr. WeIlman had
sent by the Arctic timber and other re-
pairing materials.
Determined to Succeed.
Arthur Wellman, now in command of
the camp. reports that the work of re-
building the house has already begun.
Chief Engineer Vaniman has prepared
plans for new and stronger building
More timber has been ordered from from
soc and workmen will go from here to
Spitzbergen in a few days. The Arctic
Will return Immediately for another cargo.
Messrs. Weilman and Vaniman say that
the destruction of the airship house
means a delay of four or Ave weeks at
least. and they are uncertain whether
1t will be practicable to finish the new
hall In time to make the voyage north
this summer. but they are determined
to make the best possible fight against
the Ill luck which seems to have pur-
sued the expedition.
If 1t Is found impossible to make the
voyage this summer Messrs WelIman
and Vaniman say they will continue their
enorts as long as necessary to attain sue
cess. With good weather 1t would be
possible to proceed in August, but with
bad weather 1t would be impracticable.