The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-10-21
WALTER WELLMAN
ABANDONS AIRSHIP
AcrOss-Atlantic Flight Ends in Fail
ure-Rescued Off North Caro-
lima Coast.

New York, Oct. 18.-Man's first at
tempt to cross any ocean in an air.
ship has failed, but Walter WellmaH,
five companions and a kitten, VINO es-
sayed the voyage, are safe. The air
ship-the Giant America-is batter
ed aerial derelict, abandoned at sea,
perhaps still in the air, perhaps be-
meath the waves with her costly equip
ment When deserted she had been
in the air probably II hours, a new
worlds record for dirigibles and, driv-
en- by the wind, had travelled doubt
less 800 miles. Whether the distance
record for dirigibles-S70 miles-also
will be broken, remains to be comput-
ed.
Picked up by the steamship Trent
early this morning off the North Caro-
lima coast, Wellman and his fellow
air navigators are due in New York
at noon tomorrow. They left their
craft because she was in distress and
blown so far from the course of the
steamers travel that a continuation
Of the voyage to the British Isles was
hopeless. So, summoning aid by wire
less, the difficult and dramatic trans
fer to the Trent was accomplished
and the America left to it's fate.
From Airship to Steamer.
For an incident without parallel in
history-the transfer Of passengers
from an airship to a steamship
meagre were the details obtainable
by wireless during the day. Wireless,
at all times more or less uncertain,
was rendered more so by the tropical
storm which swept northward, but
tonight wireless stations in the Vi
cinity of New York picked up from the
Trent a word here and word there
amplifying on the earlier dispatches.
It was learned that Wellman had
found it necessary to rid the airship
of the burden OF most OF its gasoline,
retaining only enough to reach land
in the event the Trent had not come
to the rescue. When the steamship
needed the calls of distress and drew
near it's aerial sister, Wellman shouted
his predicament through a megaphone
and decided that he would lower his
life boat, which swung from the diri-
gible's belly. AS precaution the
Trent lowered her life boats, which
stood by until the transfer was effect
ed and Wellman and his companions,
even down to the frightened squirm-
ing kitten were safe on board the line,
surrounded by the excited passengers.
The rescue was accomplished at a
time when two continents awaited
breathlessly the fate of the dirigible
and her crew.
Swept Southwark.
Having been spoken by wireless,
presumably in the vicinity of Man.
tucket, at 1245 p. m. on Sunday, it
was surprise then when the news
came that the America had encoun-
tered the Trent, homeward bound
from Bermuda, in longitude and
latitude nearly 400 miles southwark
and $50 miles northwest of Bermuda.
Thrilling must have been the exper-
fences of the Americas commander
and crew as they were thus swept
out of their course.
Capt. Down, NJ the Trent, flashed
first news of the 1cscue in a message
to he New York Tlmes, which. will
the Chicago Ra.'3' l-Herald and the
Londo, Daily Te'eglaph, con-7le led
s35,Jt0 fer the purpose OF EXPEDITION.
Ca}1 Down also ivised Sandarson
4 So7, New York, for the Royal Mail
Steamship Packet Line.
Subsequently more details cana N
a dispatch to the Associated Press.
Engine Motor Broke.
Further wireless messages reaching
New York tonight says that one Ut
the motors had broken in the Ameri-
ca, which had made more serious the
predicament created when all the
gasoline that could be spared was
cast into the sea.
The America is, or was, 22S feet
long and 50 feet in diameter, with a
lifting capacity of 1850 pounds. The
envelope alone weighed two tons.
There were three gasoline engines
aboard, two of from 80 to 90-horse
power for the propellers and the
smaller for the operation of donkey
engine Taken as a whole the craft