The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-16
Walter WelInan Start|es the World By Sailing Air.
 ship on the Atlantic
HEADED FOR EUROPE THE
 BALLOON DISAPPEARS
Wireless Messages Reach the Shore for Awhile Until the Ship Sails Out of the Limited Zone of
 Communication

Atlantic City. N. J.. October 15.-San- ing Into a thick fog that hung low over the Atlantic ocean early today. | Walter Wellman, with a crew of five men, Is tonight believed to be on an epoch-making voyage to Europe in the huge cigar-shaped airship America.
 Starting from the beach few mfn- utes after o'clockssthe big air craft was soon out Of sight of the cheer- ing crowd. Since then no one, with the exception of ships at sea, has seen the strange craft and the only word from her came by means of the wire less telegraph. Numerous messages were received during the day and the latest indicated that wellman Is to- night easily sailing the darkness off the New York coast. The men who are making aeronautic history in the first oyer-ocean flight of an airship are Walter Wellman, commander; Sse,- vile Yaniman. chief engineer and next in command; F. Murray Simonds. nav igator; J. K. Irwin, wireless operator: John Aubert and Albert Louis Loud
 The start of the America was one OA hHS HlOSl QFdIndklC LndI ever occurred in this care-free resort of frequent sensations. Roundly criticised by peo- pie who did not believe he would ever undertake what was thought to be a foolhardy venture, Wellman startled the whole island by bringing the Amer lea out of the hanger and without any ceremony going into the air For the last 30 days the public has expectant- ly awaited some move from the in- trepid crew. Day after day 1t was announced that a trial flight would be mate as soon as conditions were perfect. Early this week 1t was an- nounced that the airship would pos itively make trial flight and when no effort was made to bring the ship out of the big shed criticisms of We'll man became stronger.
 start at 4 O'clock
 It was about a. m. today when the final decision to go up was made by Chief Engineer vaniman.
 All night he had watched the weath- CT and as dawn broke he decided that now was the time. Housing the crew who slept in the hanger, vaniman called Wellman on the telephone and notified him that the time to start had arrived.
 Fairly Jumping into his khaki uni form, Wellman summoned the members of his family and soon was on the way
 
 also busy. Calling up Mayor Stoy and the chiefs of the fire and police de- partments, they promised Vaniman to help get the great airship out. When all arrived and all was ready to move the great gas bag, the policemen and fremen were given instructions how to hold down the immense balloon. Slowly 1t was warped out of the shea, great care being taken not to rip the heavy silken bag
 With everything ready for the words Let go.' the crew climbed into the car hanging from the balloon. The final "goodbyes" were said to wives relatives and friends, and the last word to the men on the ground was given. The great craft gave lurch, all the ropes and cables became taut and the ship rose, slowly at first and then more rapidly as 1t ascended higher and encountered the gentle breeze from the west.
 Il Small Crowd Out
 I On the board walk and beach were as- sembled a little crowd estimated at about 600 a small number in comparison with the 100000 that saw the aviators l fly here last July. The crowd stood in awe as the airship began to rise and sail in the fog. Then cheer after cheer followed when they saw the craft begin 10 disappear in the mist. Within five minutes the ship was out of sight. After waiting around while the crowd scat tered and those who remembered that the America carried a wireless telegraph out fit rushed to the s1,000,000 pier for news of the balloon. Robert Miller, the wire less operator stationed there, kept calling, Wireless Operator Irwin constantly, but | it was not until 11:05 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 notheast All well on board, | bipar nr1rt R,o
 "J IRWIN"
 Messages From Ship
 After this messages came frequently and all reported good progress. Among the anxious people that crowded into the little station on the pier were Mrs. We'll man and her two daughters and Mrs. Vaniman. All were cool, despite the knowledge of the danger their husband and father were to face in this danger ous. strange voyage, and they expressed the utmost confidence In the success of the expedition. Messages were exchanged between Wellman and Vaniman and their | relations and later the commander sent messages to others. including his secre- tary and members of the local syndicate that financed the hanger feature of the expedition.
 The last message received from We'll man late this afternoon was to the effect that the course had been laid for the north passage from New Foundland. and that speed had been held to Is knots an hour for the purpose of saving the gaso- line fuel Enough gasoline is being car- ried to keep the Americas engines going for at least 50 days under the low speed pressure. The airship is equipped with provisions for 30 days, and 27-foot life boat is carried. If the ship gets into diff ficulty in the way of motor trouble to the two S0-horse power engines and donkey engine which it carries, the wireless will be depended upon to summon ships. Should the whole structure collapse the crew will take to the life boat and be- gin going in the track of steamers and expect to be picked up without drifting long in the ocean.
 Description of Airship
 The airshps gas bag is something of the shape of cigar and Is FPS feet lone It's width is about 52 feet and is said to be capable of lifting about 12 tons. The envelope carrying the gas weighs moro than two tons Attached to the bic oo