The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-24
WELLMAN WILL
TRY IT AGAIN
BaIl00niSt Will Reconstruct
Machine and Profit by
Past Experiences.


with regard 70 his unsuccessful attempt
OF yesterday to sail for the north pole
Had not the guide rope broken, We
mad 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 severely
tested on the trial trip two years ago.
Therefore, its breaking was amazing.
The cause was a weak spot in the
leather, unsupported.
THE America demonstrated her
strength, speed and adapIability 10 this
work. In returning to Spitzbergen
We made a mistake in not placing
enough confidence in our own ship and
engines. Had we not. through over
caution, given the tow line 30 the Fran,
i believe We could have landed the
America safe i'm her house. For some
time it was my intention to attempt
this. and NC made eight miles an hour
against tho wind towsr1 TIE camp.
At last the motor worked unceT-
talniy, because the equilibrium of the
ship had been upset and thus de-
ranged the gasoline supply. This led
to the unfortunate decision 10 try tow
ing The descent to the surface of the
ocean was not accidental bIt deliberate,
I'M order to insure the saving of the Ill
StruUeuts and other valuabies
Had the ship not broken zap 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.
Does Not Give Up Fight.
81 do not give up the fight, but hope
To reconstruct the America, enlarged,
and try again, taking advantage of all
our somewhat varied and extensive ex-
perienccs. our faith in the practical
buity of the project is no wise
diminished Throughout the voyage,
even in the most trying moments in
the clouds and in the seas, my three
comrades proved cOol-Geaded gnd eff
ucient. My thanks to them ana to the
equally brave Officers and sailors Of
the Norwegian ship Fran"
The attempt of Wellman II cross the
north pole in an airship, when began
and ended today. marked his second
failure i'm this hazardous undertaking.
The airship was taken out Of his shed
this morning. and Wellmau, with Loud
and POpOff and Naniman, took mis-
place in the car. Vaniman, who was
the chief engineer of The expedition.
gave orders TO the workman 10 cut
loose the balloon. which. lifted by q
strong gust of wind, leaped into the
air. The ship swung out over the bay,
with Wellman holding her steering
wheel
The effort Was made to get clear of
the narrow bay, surrounded by high
mountains, where the crOss-currents OF
winds haTassed the craft. The course
was finally set for Sterenberg, the
America passing over The place.
Wellman and Naniman were de-
lighted by the action OF the Dig air
ship A quarter of an hour after the
start was made they were seen over
the open water and steering north
ward.
Wellman went to the navigation table
and began his log book. turning over
the steering wheel TO f'opoff. The motor
was running in surprisingly easy
fashion.
Spectacle Was Glorious.
THE spectacle was glorious said
Popoff, in relating his experience.
"NOrthward was the limitless sea Of
ice just coming into view. Wellnan
calmly took notes. OF course. distance
and time. Wellman shouted above the
roar of the motor.
By George, we are started any
way
But misfortune was close at hand.
At noon Wellman, who was looking
owe the side, cried;
d" Ny God, look at that"
''The guide rope was falling. tt had
parted near the upper end. Relieved of
over q thousand pounds Of weight, the
ship rose rapidly into the clouds a mile
Immediately above the sea. At a great
height we met q strong current OF wind.
The motor was then running smoothly
and We were travelling fifteen miles an
hour northeast. Land was disappear
ing 10 the south. Weilmau left the
bridge and went forward TO consult
Naniman They agreed that the loss
of the guide rope. which destroyed YER
teal equilibrium OF the ship. made a
continuance Of the voyage impossible
and we opened the valve % get the
ship lower.
"Wellman took the wheel and steered
toward Vogelsaug. The propelleFs,
working powerfully, enabled us at times
10 gain a little but at other times we
lost ground. We descended slowly and
finally we struck an altitude where the
wind was light and we were able to
make about eight miles an hour. Then
the motor stopped, probably on account
of the loss Of equilibrium. The ensi-
neers set about reinHating the balloon
10 restore its original form.
"Wellman called Vanimau to get out
the retaTdeT and to replace the guide
rope, in case we should get near the
surface of the water
Ships Are Sighted.
with the motor stopped we drifted
uorthNard over the ice fields in COM
plete silence. Wellman cauzht sight Of
two ships far % the south. which proved
to be the Fran and the Arctic. carry
/ ing a Norwegian expedition.
a little later the engineer, Naudi-
man, started the motor and our course
claTed he would return to his camp.
I The retarder was floating over the sea
or sliding over lee fields.
Near the edge of the floating ice the
line was caught and held fast by an
ice foe The steamer Fran had seen
us and came near and Wcllman shouted
TO the crew to send off a boat TO re-
lease the line, which was done.
"The Fran took the airship in tow
and proceeded for two hours, towing
US slowly. The wind became stronger
ana the airship jeTked and careeued
from side to side. WellmaR finally de-
cided To come down to the surface of
the water in order TO permit the taking
of Of thc instruments, the crew and the
dogs.
This was successfully carried out
and ali were taken aboard the Fran.
| Then the wind freshened suddenly and
the cable tow parted. The America
D