The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-15
news OF south RICHMOND
Crases stsrs.l Huns street.

WelImAn was born IN mentor. ofIo,
November 3, 1858. As small boy ne
ran a weekly Newspaper In Nebraska.
and at the age or twenty-five estab-
iished the Cincinnati Post, now OWL
balloon.
1t was In the spring Of 1906 that
Wellman built the immense dirigible
balloon In which he hoped to reach
the pole, starting from Spitxbergen.
The dirigible was put together In
Paris. andl then taken to Danes ISL
and, Spitztergen. A year later. Sep
tember z. 1907. the balloon, which
had been named the America. started
for the pole, but the journey had a
quick ending. for the huge gas bag
was driven back by severe storm.
The car and equipment We're saved.
ON that occasion the America had
been towed by steamship through
Smeerenberg Sound for an hour Then
the signal was given and the air.
ship headed north under its own
power. A short time later ii ran into
a snow and wind storm. The steering
gear failed to work and the craft was
driven in southeasterly direction to-
ward CouI Bay. where ii disappeared
from sight. A rescue party from the
steamship found the balloon In ruins.
but the occupants were unhurt
The America was rebuilt. and near
the end of 1909 word came from Cape
Wellman. Spitzbergen, that the owner
was ready 10 start again. The start
was made at 10 O'Clock on the morn
ing of August -. Tho start seemed
TDrfect. but after covering thirty
ed by the Scripps- McRea league OF
newspapers. In 1884 he became
Washington correspondent OF the Chi
cago Herald and later for the Chicago
Record Herald. 1t was this paper
which backed Welmap's attempt to
reach the pole In monster diriEible
three mites the leather guide rope, to
which was attached 1000 pounds OF
provisions, broke away. BY skilful
manoeuvering Wellman succeeded In
landing without injuring any member
Of the crew. though the America was
badly damaged. Wellman announced
his intention Of trying again, but a
short time later it WAS announced that
Cook and PearS had found the pole
and Wellman gave up that attempt
and began his preparations for cross
ing the Atlantic.
Wellman first came into interna-
tional prominence when hs located
Waiting Island. In the Bahamas, as
the spot where Columbus first landed
on American soil.
He marked the spot with a nonu-
ment. A party under his direction
penetrated Franz Joseph land In 1908
aud discovered number OF islands.
WeIlman is attempting the flight 70
Europe under the auspices of the New
York Times. the Chicago Record Her
aid and the London Daily Telegraph
Weilman secured financial backing
from friends. bat agreed 10 sell bis
STE yN h. fsp
fabulous sum.
The airship IN .hichshe began the
attempted European flight to- day IL
the same America in which he tried
the polar flight. though entirely re-
built and remodeIed.
A Huge Craft.
The monster airsilip Is equipped with
three motors, one Of 1850 horse power
which gives the airship a speed oi
about 20 land miles an hour. and II IL
this motor that Weilman will chiefly
rely upon to drive him across the At
iantie. The airship is equipped with
another zoo horse power motor, eight l.
cslindered, which It is planned 10 hold
IA reserve for use in an emergency
when much greater speed is required
to make headwas against contrary
winds. With both engines working
each driving twin propellers. the air
ship was expected to develop 80 statute
miles an hour. A small motor Of Ia
horse power drives the air pump and
performs other services for which ma :
chinery is needed
The chief feature of the dirisibie is
the device for overcoming the eNpan
sion and contraction Of gas from hea,
and cold. The thermometer Is expect
ed 10 vary S5 or 40 degrees from this
heat of midday To the cold of night
Sach "a difference IN heat means a con
traction or expansion of gas and af-
feets the lifting capacity of the bal
loon. When the cold is most severe
the gas will 50 contract that the hal
loon VIII lose ace pounds Of carry
ing capacity The following day. Nher
the sun comes out brightly. the gas
will expand
To overcome this great difficulty
Weliman and tauiran manufactured
an automatic eauilihrator--tha same
drag rope that caused the balloon &c
come TO grief on its polar voyage This
immense drag rope il really long
series of steel cans. each loaded with
gasoline. When the balloon sinks al
night this drag rope will flow along
the surface or the ocean. relieving tbs
balloon OF a great weight. When tbs
will rise, lifting this weight from the
ocean and preventing the balloon from
rising too high.
The expansion and contraction Of the
gas in the bag will have a tendency &c
dsteud or contract the gas bag itself
To keep the bag at the proper size
Wellman has made Use of an auto
matte device which will pump air into
the balloon, holding ii In it's original
form when the gas Is contracted