Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-08-22
WELLMAN TRIP
TOPOLE ENDS
IN DISASTER
HOODOO PURSUES BOLD
NEWSPAPER EXPLORER
AitShip Comes to Grief Thirty
Miles From Starting Point.
ANONYMOUSLY Towed Home
by Steamer



Camp Wellman. Spitzenbergon.
Aug i5.--CVia Hammerfcst, Aug. ~
Waller Wcllman's second attempt
to sail over the North pole in Il bal
loon has resulted in failure. The
giant dlrigible balloon America in
which he and his party of three set
out upon their perilous flight today
met with mishap after it had pro-
cccdcd about thirty-two miles from
the starting point Mr.. Wellman and
his party succeeded in making safe
landing and returned to this point on
board the steamer Fran, which also
towcd in the disabled balloon
After long preparation and wait
ing for favorable weather. the oppor-
tunlty came today and Mr.. Wellman
decided to make the start
1t was 10 O'Clock in the morning
when the great airship was brought
out Of its shed and the daring eXplor-
ers took their places in the car When
the anchors were cast loose, the air
ship asccnded beautifully the engines
we're set in motion and everything
seemed to work to perfection. The
big air craft was mancuvcrcd for so'''
time and answered the helm
fcctly Then its head was 'urne
the northward and it set aut =, al
sped Of twenty-five miles an hour.
suddenly. after having covered
thirty-two miles and when everything
seemed to be going fine, the leather
guide rope to which was attached a.
thousand pounds OF provisions and
stores broke away. The accident &C
cured just as the airship was nearing
the pack ice of north Spitzbergen
Released from this great weight,
the airship shot upward at terrific
pace until it was at a great height
above the clouds. The pilots, how
over succeeded in bringing her down
near the earth, turning her about ana
set out to fight their way southWard
against a strong wind. The airship
proceeded slowly southwark to the
edge of the pack ice where the
steamer was anchored After much
difficulty, tow rope was gotten
aboard the steamer. which started I'M
mediatcly TO tow the arship to Spitz-
bergen. The strain was so great
however, that it threatened to tear
the car to pieces, and Mr.. Wellman
finally decided to bring the airship
down to the surface of the water |
This was effected without mishap and /
the car rested on the water until al
members of the crew, the dogs ana
the scientific instruments could b'
transferred aboard the Fran y
fresh start WAS then made aud the
America was toWcd back to the lahd-
ing stage and within short distance
from where the start was made.
But the i'll luck of the expedition
was not yet at an end. Just as the
airship had reached the landing stag"
aud when everything looked favorable
for it's rescue without serious tam
age a sudden gust of wind struck the
big inflated bag hroadsidc ana
snatchcd II away from its tow ines
II was carried over rough icchcrE9
for some distance and then exploded |
All the scattered parts of the airsh'p |
were subsequently recovered, but the
damage was so great as to preclude |
any further attempt to ny over the |
pole this year
Mr.. Wclnan will return to Norway |
next week lie says that the alrship |
was not seriously damaged ana can |
he repaired. but that any further at
tempt this year is impossible. lie Is
charging the balloon house to ac-
commodate larger and more perfect |
shin for his use.