The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-23
WELtMAN FLIGHT
FOR NORTH POLE
A FAILURE
Guide Rope Broke When Bal
loon Was Well on Its Way
NONE OF CREW WAS INJURED
Second Attempt Resulted in Airshp
Being Carried Over Ice and
Wrecked

Camp Wellman, Spitzbergen, Aug.
10, via Mammerfest, Aug 23.-Walter
Wellman's second attempt TO sail over
the north pole in a balloon has result
ed in failure. The giant dirigible bal
loon America in which Mr.. Well
man and his party of three set out
upon their perilous fiignt today met
with a mishap after ii had proceeded
about lhirty-two miles from the start
ing point. Mr.. Wellman and his par
ty succeeded in making a landing
without injury to any member and re-
turned to the point on board the
steamer Frard. which also towed in
the disabled balloon.
After long preparation and wait
ing for favorable weather, the oppor-
tunity came today and Mr. Wellman
decided early in the morning to make
the start.
II was 10 o'clock in the morning
when the great airship was brought
out of its shetland the daring eXplOr-
ers took their places in the ear.
When the anchors were cut loose the
airship ascended beautifully. the On
gines We're set in motion and every
thing seemed to work to perfection
rne big air craft was Unanswered for
some time and answered the helm
perfectly. Then its head was turned
to the northward and it set out as a
speed OF % miles an hour.
Suddenly after having covered some
thirty-two miles the leather guide
rope to which was attached a thous-
and pounds OF provisions and stores,
broke away The accident occurred
Just as tne airship was nearing the
pack ice Of North Sptzenbergeh.
Released from this great weight the
airship shot upwards at terrific
pace until it was at a great height
above the clouds The pilot succeed
I'd however, in bringing her down
pear the earth, turned her about and
set out to tight their way southwark
against a strong wind. The airship
proceeded slowly southwark to the
edge of the pack ice, where the steam
er Fran was anchored. After much
difficulty a tOw-rope was gotten
aboard the Fran which started imme-
diately to tow the airship to Spitzber-
gen. The strain was so great now
ever that 1t threatened to tear the car
to which the rope was attached 10
pieces and Mr.. Wellman finally decid-
ed to bring the airship down TO the
surface of the water. This was eifec-
led without mishap and tle car rested
on the surface of the water until all
the members of the crew, the dogs
md the scientific instrumentscould be
transferred aboard the Fran.
A fresh start was then made and
the America" was towed back to the
landing stage and within a short dis
lance of 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 stage
and everything looked favorable for
its rescue without serious damage a
sudden gust of wind caught the big
inflated bag broadside on and snatch
I'd it away from its tow lines. 1t was
carried 9areening over rough ice
hummocks for some distance and taen
it 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.