The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-21
HAS OFFERS TO GO
IN VAUDEVILLE
Has Not Decided Just How He
Will Capitalize Advertisement
Received From His Trip of
Balloon America-Men-
bers of Crew Wanted
on Stage.
Especial to The Tlmes-Dispatch.l


New York. October ao-Hundreds OF
kilograms. cables and letters from all
parts OF the country and abroad were
received to-day by Walter Wellman.
xnc daring aeronaut. who spent the day
In his apartment at the Waldorf -Asto-
ria, receiving callers. Most of the
cables and kilograms were congratu-
lations on his safe return from his
hazardous enterprise, The letters
mainly contained offers from yaude-
VILE managers and lecture bureau
agents offering tempting engagements
to Mr.. Wellman and members of his
crew. In addition there was long
line OF callers waiting outside his door
all day with various applications to.
submit to the leader OF the expedition.
In an interview this afternoon Mr..
Wellman said that he had not yet de-
cided just what his future plans would
be. Many offers had been made, her
said, 10 himself and the individual
members of his crew TO go on the lee
ture platform and the stage. He had
left the members of his crew free to
do as they thought fit in the matter.
but at present they were spending the
time going about with their friends,
d SVOu tllUe.
May Go on Platform.
Asked IL ne intended to lecture him
self Mr.. Wellman replied that 1t was
possible something in that line might
he done. but he had not yet made up
his mind He had discussed the offers
with Mr.. Vaniman during the day and
would decide within the next few days.
So far, the only agreement he had
made was TO go with Mrs. Wellman and
Irs. yaniiuan on Saturday night TO
Atlantic City, in response 10 an invi-
tation TO social entertainment which
was to be rendered 10 them by some
of their friends in that city He added
that both Mr. Vanimau and himself
might deliver q brief address there
The people of Atlantic City had been
Very kind TO him and had offered TO
build another hangar there IL he In
tended to attempt flight across the
Atlantic in the future.
In answer to question as TO the
exact quantity OF gas remaining in the
America. Mr.. Wellman said. so far as
he was able to Judge. there was about
SO per cent of gas in the bag and 40
per cent of air.
Could you have kept up twenty
four hours longer in the American" he
was queried
No We could have kept up all day
on Tuesday, because the heat of the
sun would have caused the balloon to
expand and given IL sufficient buoy
ancy to keep 1t above the water, but
at nightfall the balloon would have
contracted In the same ratio that 1t had
expanded, and would probably have
sunk to the surface of the ocean.
1T was miraculous thing that the
Trent appeared on the horizon, and
equally wonderful that we got clear
away from under her without accident
as we did. II the Trent had not been
on that service 1t was a thousand
chances to one against our being
picked up that day.
When the liner was sighted" Mr.
Wellman went on to say. I'VE held a
conference to decide whether 1t would
be better to abandon the America then
and there or wait until nightfall to see
II we could get any better headway
with the equilibrator.
1T was decided that 1t would be
useless and dangerous to wait until
the sun went down, as by that time
the sea might have become rousher.
and 1t would lave ended in our losing
our lives in attempting to get away
IN the life boat"
What were your real feelings when
you saw the America fade away on
the horizon?" Mr.. Wellman was asked
Glad to BE Saved.
Well, at first ! was SO glad to get
safely on the Trent with my com
panions that was satisfied. Then I
thought of the months of labor En-
gineer Vaniman and myself had put
IN working on the airship, and our
recollecttons of the Arctic seas. which
caused me to have twinge of regret
at losing an old friend forever, but
the predominant feeling in all our
hearts really WAS one of relief. The
balloon was worth certain amount
of money, and was not insured. all
though Lloyds had kindly offered to
cover the risk at so per cent. Vaniman
said that in the event of making an
other try for the Atlantic new bal
loon would have to be constructed on
different lines, I believe in carrying
an equilibrator. but not heavier than
1,200 pounds"
Shall you make another effort to
GROSS the Atlantic?" he was asked.
That is hard to tell. but allI can.
say is that If we attempt the feat there
VIII be an experimental trip. First in
rough weather, to test the travelling.
qualities of the equilibrator. and the
power of the motor engines to send the
airship through the air against the
wind"
When told that Captain Arthur p,
Mills of the American liner Philadel-.
phia; First Officer Malin, of the
Cunarder Lusitania: First Officer Muir
derek, of the White Star Liner
Adratic, and othe- experienced navi-
gators on Atlantic liners had given
their opinions last Saturday that 1t
would be Impossible for the America
to cross the ocean towing trailer
weighing ton and a half, as its jump
Ing from wave to wave in a heavy
yea would be such a severe strain that
the equilibrator would either have to
be cut adrift or tear the balloon to
pieces, Mr.. Wellman said that while
Captain Mills and the other navigators
We're no doubt skilful on the bridges of
their respective liners they had had
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