Evening star., 1909-08-22

ting out upon the flight remained to be
carried out.
1t was 10 O'Clock in the morning when
the great airship was brought out Of its
shed and the men took their places in the
car. When the anchors were east loose
the airship ascended. the engines were
set in motion and everything seemed 10
work to perfection. The big air craft
maneuvered for some time and an
swered the helm perfectly. Then its head
was turned to the northWard and 1t set
out at a speed of twenty-five miles an
hour.
Provisions Go Down; Balloon Up.
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 oc-
Cured just as The airship was nearing
the pack ice of north Spitzbergen.
Relca sed from this great weight the air.
ship shot upward until i was above the
clouds. The pilots succeeded, however,
in bringing her down near the earth,
turned her about and set out to fight
their way southward. The alrshio pro-
ceeded slowly southwark to the edge OF
the pack-ice where the steamer Fran
was anchored. After much difficulty a
tow roIe WAS gotten aboard the Fran.
which started Immediately to tow the
anship to Spitzbergen. The strain was
50 great, however. that it threatened to
tear the car TO which the rope was at
tacled to pieces. and Mr.. Wellman final
~ decided to bring the airshio down 10
the surface Of the water. This was ef-
fected without mishap, and the car rest
ed on the surface of the water until All
the memoers of the crew. the dogs and
the scientific instruments could be trans
ferred aboard the Fran. \ fresh start
was then made. and the America was
towcd back 10 the landing stage and
Will a short distance of where the start
was made.
Mighty Bad Luck This.
But the ill-luek 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 and Snatched it away from its
tow lines 1t was carried careeninS over
rough ice hummocks for some distance,
and then il exploded.
All the scattered parts of the airship
were subsequently recovered, but the
damage WAS so great as To preclude any
further attempt To fly over the pole this
year.
CAMP WELLMAN, SPITZBERGEN.
August Ii, via Hammerfcst, August II.
Walter Wellman made the followiE .,
statement with regard to his unsuc- :
cessful attempt Of yesterday to sail sor
the north pole:
Had not the guide rope broken we
had an excellent chance Of reaching the
pole. We certainly made a good start.
with Favorable weather. The guide
rope was Of the same material. weight
and workmanship as the one so Sc
verely tested on the trial trip two
years ago. Therefore. its breaking
was amazing. The cause Was a weak
spot in the leather undetected and un-
suspected.
The America demonstrated her speed,
strength and dapta bility to this work.
In returning to Spitzoergen we made "A
mistake in not placing enough confidence
III our own ship and engines. Had We
not through overcaution, given the tow
line to the Fran. ] believe We could
have landed the America safe in her
house For some time il was my in
tention TO attempt this, and we made
eight miles an hour against the wind
toward the camp.
.At last the motor worked uncertainty
because the equilibrium of the ship had
been upset and thus deranged the gaso-
line supply. This led TO the unfortunate
decision to try towing. The descent to
the surface of the ocean was not acci-
dental but deliberate in order to insure
the saving of the Instruments and other
valuables.
Had the ship not broken I'D while
landing, We would have tried another
voyage this month with a new guide
rope. Notwithstanding one miShap fol-
lowing fast upon the heels of another
Il do not give up the fight, but hope 10
reconstruct the America, enlarged and inn
proved. and try again. taking advantage
of all our somewhat varied and extensive
experience. Ny faith in the practicability
"f the project Is in no wise diminished.
Throughout the voyage. even in the most
trying moments in the clouds and in the
cool headed and efficient. Ny thanks to
them and to the equally brave officers and
sailors of the Norwegian ship Fran"
Story Told by Popoff.
The spectacle was marvellous" said
Popoff, who was at the wheel, in relat-
ing his experience. ''as we looked down
upon the sea over which the long guide
rope trailed its way. Eastward were the
great snow covered mountains and gla-
ciers. and northward was the limitless
sea Of ice just coming into view
"Wellman calmly took notes of course,
distance and time. Vaniman came I'D
from the engine room and smiled at Well
man. who shouted above the roar of the
motor and screws, BY George, We are
started, anyway"
What's the courseo' shouted Vani-
man.
:" True north I replied
I'VE We're all happy. believing we had
at last overcome all obstacles and auspi-
ciously started upon our long voyage
But misfortune was close al hand At
noon Weilman. who was looking over the
side cried out:
:. My God. look at that
Tie guide rope was falling. |, had
parted near the upper end
yRclieyed >of over a thousand pounds
Of weight. the ship rose rapidly in.
the clouds u mile above the sea Al i
CONTINUED on Second Pace1