The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-16

AuaIlI~ lily, OCI. IO--NNdIIcI
Wellman. the newspaper man and.
explorer, who, on July 8, an
nounced that he would be the first
to attempt a flight to Europe in a
balloon, brought his long preparing
to an end by arising at s 80 o'clock
this morning from the beach in his
big dirigible. America, with FIVE
companions aboard.
The thousand or more men, wo-
men,. and children who turned ont
to cheer and wave their handker-
chiefs as the gas bag took thea
had been given to understand that
this was to be but a try-out spin.
but once the bag had faded into
the fog. wireless messages began
10 come back from Wellman that
showed he was headed for Europe.
BALLOON SENT OUT.
Wellman was rushed in an automobile
10 the hangar, where the crew and the
assistants had spent the night. upon re
ceipt OF a telephone message from Ensi-
neer Melvin Vanniman that ell was ready
to take the America out Of the hangar.
Upon Mr.. Wellman's arrival he learned
that a light wind from the southeast
was pushing hogsheads Of fog in from
the Atlantic. and he already had heard
about a hurricane headed up the coast
from the West Indies. WeIman never
theless decided that the conditions were
right for an ascent, and he gave the
word 10 cut loose.
After the America was swallowed up in
the fog the Watchers heard from the
Brigantine Shoal life-saving station that
the airship had passed the station short
ly after o'clock, headed in an easterly
direction. This was the first intimation
gathered here that the America was on
her way 70 Europe.
Jack Irwin. wireless operator on the
America, sent the first wireless message
from the dirigible, which was received
here az u.6 o'clock this morning. The
message from Irwin said: Headed north
east. All well on board; machinery work.
ing fine Good-by. J. Irwin"
Disappears Over Water.
The wireless operator here. Bob Miller.
attempted 10 keep in touch with the
America from the time the fog lifted ar
10 o'clock, disclosing a clear sky. bue
there were no signs OF the dirigible 10
the watchers
Just before noon Miller's apparatus on
the million-dollar pier here got in Touch
with the America again through the wire
less equipment Of a passing vessel. A
few more messages were received al haIr
hour intervals, but early In the afternoon
ali wireless communication came 10 an
end. Throughout the afternoon all at
tempts 10 speak the airship were unsuc-
cessful and nothing again Was heard
until o'clock. when the steamer CoamO.
outward bound, reported by United Wire
less that she had sighted the America
south-southeast Of the scotland light
ship. The message indicated that tha
airship in ten hours had covered only
about 70 miles Of her trip Of 5000 miles or
more. The Coamo's bulletin read.
"S. s. Coamo. Oct Is, p. m.-Fifty-fivs
miles south-southeast OF Scotland light
ship passed Wellman's balloon America,
was al that time a quarter Of a mile
from US. Weather very foggy. Balloon
seemed 20 be making about fifteen knots
per hour. She was travelling northeast.
All looked well. Looked like a large sail
ing vessel up in the air 10 us. Seemed
very close TO water. The operator on
the balloon flashed the operator on the
Coamo that All was well and We are
progressing finely
Alarmed by Storm
The anxiety felt by Mrs WeIlman.
awaiting news throughout the long after
noon. was added to when word was re-
ceived from the weather bureau that the
West Indian hurricane was coming up
the coast. As darkess began 10 settle
over the ocean. weather reports still
mbre alarming began TO come in by wire
less from of the New England coast
telling of winds. rains. thunder and
lightning During the afternoon also Il
became known that the Americas wire
I less equipment is not Of the best
The first message to arrive came from
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