Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
WELLMAN SAILS
ON AIRSHIP DASH
ACROSS ATLANTIC
Daring Aviator and Crew of Five
Men Disappear in Ocean
Fog Bank
PRECAUTI0N AGAINST WRECK
Last Wireless Message Conveys
News That Success Is
Attending Voyage
PRECAUTIoN AGAINST WRECK
Associated PressI

ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.. Oct. 15-
Sailing into thick fog that hung low
over the Atlantic ocean, a few minutes
after 8 o'clock this morning, Walter
Wellman, with a crew of five men, is
tonight believed to be on an epoch
making voltage to Europe in the huge
cigar-shaped airship America.
Numerous wireless messages were re-
ceived 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 fight are Walter
Wellman, commander; Melvin Vani-
man. chief engineer and next In COM
mand; F. Murray Simons, navigator;
]. ID. Irwin, wireless operator; John
Aubert and Albert Louis Loud, assist
ant engineers.
VESSELS DRAMATIC START
The start of the balloon was dramat-
ic. Roundly criticised by people who
did not believe he would ever under
take what was thought to be fool
hardy venture, Wellman startled the
whole island by bringing the America
out of the hangar and without cere-
mony going into the air.
For the last thirty days the public
had expectantly awaited some move
from the crew. Day after day it was
announced that a trial flight would be
made as soon as conditions We're per-
feet.
Early this week it was stated the
airship would make a trial flight, but
still she remained in the big shed. The
criticisms of Wellmap became stronger
1t was about p. m. today that the
decision to go up was made by Chlet
Engineer Vaniman. All night he had
watched at the weather bureau. Rous-
ing the crew, who slept in the hangar,
Vaniman called Wellman on the tel
ephone at the Hotel Chalfonte and no
tilted him that the time to start had
arrived. Wellman soon was on the
way to the inlet.
With everything ready for the word
Let co. the crew climbed il - the
car hanging from the balloon.
AIRsHIP SAILS IN FOG
The final goodbys were said to the
wives, relatives and friends and the
last word to the ground was given.
On the boardwalk and beach a crowd
estimated at 5000 stood in awe as the
airship began to rise and sail out into
the fog. Then cheer after cheer fol-
lowed when the craft began to disap-
pear in the mist Within t1Ve minutes
it was out of sight.
Robert Miller, the wireless operator
stationed here, kept calling the Amer
lea, but it was not until 11:15 a. m:
that there was a response. Then out OF
the air came this message, the nrsI
ever sent from an airship at sea;
Headed northeast. All we'll on
board. Machine working fine. Good
BY. Irwin
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.
Messages were exchanged between
Wellman and the relatives.
LAST MESSAGE TO SHORE
The last message received from Well
man, late today, said the course had
been laid for the north passage from
Newfoundland and that speed had
been cut to fifteen knots an honr TO
save the gasoline. Enough gasoline Is
being carried to keep the Americas
engines going for at least fifty days
under low speed pressure.
The airship is equipped with pro-
visions for thirty days and twenty
seven-foot life boat is carried. If the
ship has trouble with her engines the
wireless will be depended upon to
summon ships.
Should the whole structure collapse
the crew will take to the life boat,
and being in the track of steamers,
expect to be picked UP without drift
ine, long. If all is well tonight 1t is
believed the America, through her
wireless, is in communication with
ships, and these, in turn, are passing
the word along.