The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-09-22
A|RSH|P TRIP
TO NORTH POLE,
Features of Walter WeIIman's
Latest Attempt In His DirigibIe.
PROVISIONS TAKEN FOR A YEAR

For several years Walter wellman,
Z Chicago newspaper a and maya
zine writer who recently left Spitz.
bergen, Norway, in his dirigible bal.
loon bound for the north pole, has
been working to carry out his belief
that the north pole can be discovered
in an airship. He has made two
expeditions by sledge and boat into
the polar regions and is well acquaint-
ed with conditions there. His airship
theory grew out Of his experience and
his study Of the progress Of aero.
nautics. After two years Of prepara-
ton his dirigible balloon, the America,
first assembled from Danes island,
S~pitzbergen, on Sept. 2, 1907, carrying
Mr.. Wellman and two assistants, to
make a dash for the pole. A furious
storm made progress impossible, and
the party descended safely on a gla-
cier.
His First Hunt For the Pole.
The initial expedition of Mr.. Well
man in quest of the pole was made in
1894 by sledge and boat from Spitz-
bergen. He reached latitude 81 de-
grees. His second trip was made by
the same NEAR in 1889, when he
penetrated to latitude 81 degrees north.
Then Mr.. Wellman turned his atten-
ton to the airship problem. M. Louis
GODDARD, a French expert, was given
an order to construct the largest and
strongest dirigible balloon in existence.
With the exception of the Zeppelin
craft, no airship Of the balloon type
has ever been constructed so large as
the America.
SHIPPED northward from France III
the early summer of 1906, the Amer
lea reached S%pitzbergen early in July.
1t was found to have so many defects
that 1t was sent back to M. Godard's
shops to be reconstructed. In the fol-
lowing summer it again reached Danes
island.
Gales and the work of perfecting the
details Of the airship delayed Mr.. Well
man until Sept. 2, when the ascent
was made. Owing to the l~ateness of
the season no other attempt was pos
s1ble in 1907. The America has since
been IN storage. The initiating of it
began on July 81.
Escaped Disaster Three Times.
In September, 1907, the storm bore
the airship three times toward the
mountains, but each time the Amer
lea, by means of it's motor power, was
able to make a circle and escape i'm
pending disaster. Finally Mr.. Well |
man concluded it was useless to con- |
tinue so hazardous a journey, and a |
descent was effected on a glacier half |
a mile from the sea. The airship had
been in the air three hours and a quar-
ter, and it's motor machinery never
stopped until the order was given to
1t. Mr.. Wellman's companions at
that time were Melvin Vaniman of
Paris. who was chief engineer of the
America, and Felix Rosenberg of Chi
cagO, who was navigator.
Mr.. Wellman left New York on Nav
II Of this year for Spitzbergen, where
has been engaged in completing his
preparations for the start he is now
to have made a few DAYS ago,
He estimates that under favorable
conditions the pole can be reached
from Spitzbergen in from two to five
days.
Mr.. Wellman estimated that his air
ship America would hold 100000 cubic
[eet OF gas. capable of lifting 10000
and retaining it's buoyancy for
thirty days. His ship and equipment
weigh 1000 pounds and his cargo ap-
5000.
WeIIman's Companions.
He has with him Melvin Vaniman. a
7oung American, who is his right hand
nan and has figured much in con-
theoretical aeronautics the
past year, and a third person whose
lame is not known in New York.
The explorer had planned to carry
800 pounds Of gasoline, food and
'ther supplies, enough to last a year;
! complete shedding outfit, q large life
'oat and wireless telegraph apparatus.
The steel a is 115 feet long. 8 feet
Ugh. 8 feet wide and shaped like q
7. Its keel is a tank containing LIS
Of gasoline. The ninety horse
'ower motor drives two twin screw
'ropellers made Of steel, eleven and
'ne-half feet in diameter.
The car is divided into fourteen Sec
ions Of eight feet each. One holds
he navigating deck, another the motor
md machinery, and the third is where
he crew sleeps and eats. Food is
in specially constructed guide
'opes. The hams, bacon. butter and
bread stuffed into long leather tubes,
Tx inches thick, serve the purpose of
Keeping the craft within reasonable
distance Of the ground.
The airship is made Of several thick
of fabric, two of cotton and one
# silk. which gives the greatest pos
'ible strength to the envelope in pro-
to lightness.
Mr. WoIlm9n's otfop,pt -ooon. H.