The Washington herald., 1910-10-20

New York. Oct. 1s.-walter Wellman
and his five companions. who were res
cued at sea from the drigible balloon
America by the steamship Trent. Capt.
Charles f. Down. about 355 miles east OF
Norfolk, early Tuesday morning. while
attempting 10 fly from Atlantic City 10
Europe, reached New York aboard the
Trent this afternoon.
Mr. Wellman. still wearing his khaki
aviation clothes. which he had on when
sailing from Atlantic City in the balloon
al S.o3 last Saturday morning. showed no
serious effects OF the voyage, nor did
his companions. Wellman was pale. and
he carried one arm In a sling. owing
tG an injury 10 the little finger Of his
right hand.
After Wellman and party had greeted
Mrs. Wellman. the four daughters. Mrs
Vanlman. and Mrs. Loud. the aged
mother Of Mrs. Vaniman and OF Engineer
Albert Louis Loud, OF the America 5
crew, the newspaper men worked their
way 10 Mr.. Wellmans side 10 ask the
skipper OF the airship the reasons for the
abandonment of the dirigible and the
consequent failure Of the voyage.
No MIShap 10 Craft.
Mr. Wellman surprised his interviewers
by stating that the airship had met with
no serious engine troubles. and that the
escape OF gas from the bag was negligi-
bic. IN the wireless statements, signed
by Wellman and received here Just after
the rescue and IN conversations with
Capt. Down and passengers on the Trent,
Mr.. Wellman was quoted as saying that
the dirigible had met with mishaps SO
serious that the balloon, when sighted
by the Trent could have remained above
the sea only a few hours longer. and
that her machinery had gone awry.
When did you first begin 10 notice that
the leakage OF gas was serious?" Mr..
Wellman was asked.
The gas did not escape 20 any ap-
preciable oXl leHt' the aeronaut answered
What cahsed your engines TO break
down."
They did not. Mr.. Wellman replied
THE airship when we abandoned her
was practically in as good condition as
when We started out from Atlantic City.
SO far as the America was concerned We
could have continued on the journey"
Then why was the trip given up?"
EquilibratOr To blame.
THE equilibrator was our great
trouble" Mr.. Wellman explained. BE
fore starting out on this balloon voyage
we were OF the opinion that no dirigible
could reach Europe without an equil-
brator. Now we know that a dirigible
cannot get there with an equilibrator.
The equilibrator being partly formed
of small tanks OF gasoline arranged in
links and trailing as a tail down into the
Fh.a Of H.
compelled 10 throw overheard some OF
our gasoline on Sunday night and Mon
day. The trailing tail held the balloon
back and at times pulled IL down toward
the water and We had 10 ballast ship at
The cost Of loss of gasoline dropped TO
she waves.
Wait Before Next Trial.
TRY again? Well something better
than our equilibrator will have to be IN
vented Until IT is I cannot answer
definitely when 7 shall make another
trial II at all"
The quiet reception OF WelIman and
crew down the bay to-day by two tugs
filled with relatives and newspaper men
was in strong contrast TO the noisy greet
ing TO Or. Cook more than a year ago
There were no reception boats other
than the two tugs and no bands and
the noise all came from the passengers
of the Trent, who gave three cheers for
Mr., Wellman, three for his wife and the
other relatives OF the party.
While Mr.. Wellman was greeting his
wife and daughters from the rail, where
he and his men were lined up. all In
khaki, as the tugs and the revenue cut
ter tug Hudson drew up 10 the Trent.
Jack Irwin. sometime English soldier.
but since last Saturday morning the
wireless operator OF the America. began
the recital of The day and night adven-
tures OF the America.
All Happy Aboard.
I'VE were all as happy as six little
gods" Irwin began. as he sat astride a
rail OF the ship. His bronzed face took
on a pleasurable grin, however as ne
added. But when the Trent hove in
sight and got our distress signals, be-
heye me or not, she just loomed up like
the Singer Building
Nobody felt any fear. even when
things We're going the worst" Irwin con-
tnued- We quit all right, but We quit
early, because We were running out Of
gasoline The equiHbIabr holding us
back Ike a brake. made us throw out
the gasoline. All day Saturday. or from
the minute We started out from Atlantic
City almost we We're over our heads in
as thick fog as I want TO see. and a
good deal thicker. We didn't have anv
promenade decks, of course, but we
were comfortable enough, and We even
had hot bacon and eggs
4 was the cook. and my range was a
small gasoline stove rigged up in the
lifeboat beneath the car. Those two
meals OF bacon and eggs and coffee were
pretty good. especially when eaten scme
place in a dark, cold fog But after
the first hours. We had TO give up real
meals Ike that because We were too
busy trying TO take care OF ourselves
We did have a few chances later-three
times. l think it waste heat some cot
fee
We seemed TO be going along in the
right direction on Saturday and Sunday.
and as Sunday morning daWned the wind
was working around back Of US to help
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