The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-10-19
WIRELESS { ( S ! SAVES |
WELLMAN PARTY
Dirigible America Is Aban-
dOned at Sea.
IS BLOWN OUT OF COURSE

OF Norfolk, Va. - Balloon Was
Drifting Close to Water When
Sighted by Crew Of vessel--voy-
age Establishes New Record For
Dirigble Balloons.
New York, Oct. 19.-Walter Well
man and his five companions who,
last Saturday morning, sailed from
Atlantic City in the dirigible balloon
America in an attempt to fly to Eu-
rope along the northern steamship
route, were picked up at sea by the
Royal Mail Packet company'y steam
ship Trent, Captain c. Il. Down,
bound for New York via the Bermu-
das, at point about 375 miles east
of Norfolk, Va, and about 250 miles
northwest OF Bermuda.
The America, after record flight
for dirigibles of about 70 hours, was
sighted close to the water in distress
and was abandoned by Wellman and
his crew, all of whom sought safety
aboard the Trent, with the help OF
the dirigible's lifsboat.
The message announcing the res
cue of the aeronauts reached the
United Wireless station here and
was addressed to Sanderson Son
and signed by Captain Down of the
Trent. The message said:
AT 5 a. m. today sighted Well.
mans airship America in distress,
Signaled by Morse code that he re-
| quired assistance and beip. After
three hours maneuvering and fresh
winds blowing, got Wellman with his
entire crew and cat. Were hauled
safely on board. All are well. The
America was abandoned in latitude
35:43 north, longitude 6S:1S west.
DOWN, Master
On the heels OF the first fragmen-
.ary news came a wireless message
from the Trent explaining that the
serious troubles of the airship crew
began when Wellman and the crew
|
ing from the big bag that the Amer
lea was settling toward the waves.
| To keep from dropping into the water
| II was necessary to throw out tank
after tank of gasoline, which left tho
airship without tuel for the engines,
Shortly afterward a message was
received by the Marconi company
l.. afp 1ap T~ns In.
the wireless operator, who sailed
with Wellman aboard the dirigible.
This second message, which shows
that Irwin was as anxious about his
wireless apparatus as the rest had
been about the cat, read.
Rescued by Trent All well. In,
s,ruments saved. Arrange to meet
ship tomorrow and take instruments
over. Wireless played important part
in rescue"
Operator Describes Rescue.
Later the following story of the
rescue was sent by Wireless Opera
tor Gunsburg OF the Trent:
"The airship America was sighted
at 430 a. m, and wireless communl-
cation between the Trent and the
airship was begun Immediately. In
abandoning their craft the crew of
the America lowered themselves into
their lifeboat, which swung beneath
the gas bag. Wellman and his com
panions cast off in the lifeboat and
were afoat on the waves.
Daylight was rapidly approaching
when the aiIThip and the steamer
came in sight OF each other. BY wire
less the America asked the steam
airship. The America was then drift
ing above the waves AZ a speed OF
12 miles an hour. The Trent hove
to upon sighting the arship and
spent three hours In all maneuyering
and picking up Wellman, Vanniman
and their assistants.
"A conference was held between
Wellman and his companions aboard
the America as to the best means of
| getting from the framework of the
airship to the deck of the Trent The
best means, 1t was decided, was 10
launch the Americas ltfeboat. Much
1
danger attended the launching and a
| great deal of time was consumed
owing to the possibility of the life
boat being upset any moment by the
long equilibrator OF the balloon a
string Of small tanks of gasoline
hanging In links from the America
| and trailing In the waves.
| "Aftar careful nrenarationa Tho
lifeboat was launched. While the
launching was under way tho brisk
wind caused the equilibrator 20 sway
violently and to strike Operator Jack
Irwin and Louis Loud one of the as
sistant engineers, as they were low
ering themselves. They were moi
seriously injured. The equilibratog
at one time swung against the frpil
1