Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-20
Receives Many Callers.

IIVOkuI IlklV VJVuI VI
WELLMAN'S AIR VOYAGE
Fred B. Aubert Of this city. who
sailed with Walter wellfnan on his trip
in the dirigible America" as his as
sistant engineer. related some Of the
experiences of the trip In an Informal
talk before the members OF the Uni
versity Club last evening.
Mr.. ALBERT did not enter much into
detail. nor did he attempt to harrow
his hearers with thrilling recital Of
his adventures. He said the great bal
loon was constructed somewhat on the
plan Of the Zeppelin dirigible. but 1t
had more lifting power. It was equip
ped with watertight. compartments. in
which the provisions were stored. 1t
was composed of six small balloons in
closed in one great balloon, and was
ballasted with air to keep 1t on even
keel.
The Voyage Begins.
Following information from the wealth
err bureau on the night Of October II. he
said. preparations were made for the de-
parture on the morning OF the following
day, when 1t was found there was no per-
ceptible breeze.
II don't know whether 1t was because
I was SO busy with the starting prepa-
particular strange sensation when the
balloon made its initial ascent. The
start was made successfully. but there
was a heavy fog and the outlying sand
bars could not be seen, SO Q small boat
took the balloon out to sea-" When the
crew was called for its first conference,
he said. one. Of the party strongly OBJ
jec' ed to a cat which had been smugeled
aboard. There was a tie vote to de-
termine whether or not It should be
thrown overheard. Luck went it's way
and 1t remained with the crew to the
end
Everybody, he said, was in good spirits
at the start, and at midday they ate q
luncheon OF crackers. cold beans and
hot coffee. At evening all was right and
the airship was sailing northeast to get
north of the steamer lane. so in case of
disaster they might drift toward it and
be rescued by passing steamers.
At night all hands were prepared for
the call to throw over ballast, II needed.
They passed a four-master schooner in
the night. The man on the schooner
experiment.. said Mr.. ALBERT, and to come
upon flying monster In the air with
sparks of FIRE trailing out OF the air
shaft. he thought must have raised
strange fears in the lookout's mind.
Motors Kept in Motion.
Aubert said he had three hours sleep
that night, but the motors were kept
going all night long. They found toward
morning, however. the wind was blow
ing east, SO the motors were cut off to
save power.
From that time until Sunday they tried
wireless communication in vain. Sunday
just after dark the gale came and the
ship tossed frightfully. The resistance of
the equilibrator made the craft swing up
and down. They then found the gas was
escaping and had to plug up the holes
and throw gasoline overheard
I'VE were going some Them said Mr..
ALBERT, land I expected We would be
dashed into the sea. Monday morning
there was no sign of a ship and when
the sun came out the heat was so great
the gas expanded and we went shooting
up 1890 feet into the air before we got
the balloon under control In our efforts
TO get back to the surface of the water
We lost one seventeenth of our gas, and
this made the balloon keep bobbing up
and down. The rocking was not like that
of ship and II did not make one sea-
sick. I rather liked 1t, when ! got used
to IT."
Two Lights Sighted.
At dark Monday Mr.. Aubert said, the
watchers were divided, two in the life
boat and two In the balloon car. About
o'clock in the morning one of the
watchers cried out that he saw two
lights. Mr.. Wellman later confirmed the
observation. but none of the rest could
see the lights. They tried their wireless
signals, but to no avail. Waste was
soaked in gasoline. lighted and dropped
overheard. That scheme worked. for
ship hove in sight.
Wireless communications were soon
effected and the story of their distress
was told. The captain Of the Trent, the
vessel they had sigh ed. promised to lay
by until morning SO as to make their
rescue possible. The crew of the Anne lea
gathe. ed their instruments. charts and
other small articles Of value and q; oay-
light the Ifeboat was loosed and four
foot drop made into the ocean.
Mr.. ALBERT said when he got aboard
the Trent he looked for the balloon. II
was about 5000 feet In the air. The last
he saw of 1t one end was In the water
and the other bobbing In the air. When
they reached New York the customs Of
ficers were confronted for the first time
in their lives, perhaps. with. the entry
opposite faeir names: Rescued from an