Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-10-16
WELLMAN OFF
IN A|RSH|P
TOEUROPE
LONG TRIP BEGINS
AFTER MANY DELAYS
Five Men in Cigar-Shaped
Balloon America Were Sail
ing High in Air Off Coast at
Last Report.
GBy Morning Journal Special LEASED wireI

Atlantic CITY, n. j., oct 15.-Sail-
ing into a thick fog that hung low
over the Atlantic ocean few min
utes after s o'clock this morning,
Walter Wellman. With crew Of five
men, is tonight believed to be on an
epoeh-making voyage to Europe in
the huge cigar-shaped airship, Amer
lea
Numerous wireless messages were
received during the day and the latest
indicated that Wellman is tonight sail
ing through the darkness off the New
York coast
The men making the flight are
Walter Wellman, commander; Melvin
Vaniman, chief engineer and next in
command f. Murray Simons, navi-
gator j. X. Irwin, wireless operator;
John Aubert and Albert Louis Loud,
assistant engineers.
The start Of the balloon America
was one of the most dramatic events
ever occurring here. Roundly criti-
cised by people who did not believe
that he would ever undertake what
was thought to be foolhardy ven-
ture, Wellman startled the whole
island by bringing the America out Of
the hangar and without ceremony go
ing into the air
For the last thirty days the public
had expectantly awaited some move
from the intrepid crew. Day after
day it was announced that trial
flight as soon as conditions were per
feet would be made.
Early this week it was announced
that the airship would make trial
flight, and when no effort was made
to bring the airship out of the big
shed the criticisms of Wellman be-
came stronger. 1t was about q. m.
today that the final decision to go up
was made by Chief Engineer Nant-
man. All night he watched the bar
ometer and as dawn broke he decided
that now was the time. Bousing the
crew, who slept in the hangar, Vani-
man called Wellman on the telephone
at the Hotel Chalfonte and notified
him that the time to start had ar
rived.
Wellman soon was on the way to
the inlet in an automobile.
With everything ready for the
word, Let go the crew climbed into
the car hanging from the balloon.
The final "Good-byes" We're said to
wives, relatives and friends, and the
last word to the ground was given.
on the board walk and beach was
assembled a crowd estimated at about
5000. The crowd stood in awe as
the airship began TO rise and sail in
the fog. Then cheer after cheer fol-
lowed when the craft began to disap
pear in the mist. Within five min
utes the shin was out Of sight.
Robert Miller, the wireless operator
stationed here kept calling the Amer
lea, but it was not until 1905 a. m.
that there was any response. Then
out of the air came this message. the
first ever sent from an airship at
sea:
Headed northeast, all wen on
board. Machinery working fine.
After this messages came frequently
and all reported good progress.
Among the anxious people who
crowded into the little wireless station
on the pier were Mrs. Wellman and
two daughters, and Mrs. Vaniman.
All We're cool despite the danger their
husbands and father We're to face in
this strange voyage. Messages were
exchanged between Wellman and
Vanlman and their relatives
The last message received from |
Welman, late this afternoon, said the
course had been laid for the north |
passage from New Foundland and |
knots an hour today to save the gaso-
line. Enough gasoline is being car
ried to keep the Americas engines
going for at least fifty days under the |
low speed pressure. The airship is |
equipped with provisions for thirty |
days and a twenty -seven-foot life boat |
Is carried. If the ship gets into diff !
ficulty in the way Of motor trouble to |
he two eighty engines |
md a donkey engine. which it car |
ries, the wireless will be depended |
upon to summon ships.
Should the whole structure collapse |
he crew will take to the life boat, and |
being in the track OF steamers, eX
oect to be picked up without drifting |
ong in the ocean. If all is well to-
light il is believed the America,
through her wireless. is in communi
'ation with ships, and these in turn |
ire passing the word along to ocean
iners further east.