The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-10-19
GREAT AIR CRAFT
+. FAR OUT At SEA
In Mans First Attempt to
Cross the Ocean.
MONSTER BALLOON AMERICA"
Walter Wellman in Charge,
Well Equipped for
Initial Trip.
WORD FROM HIM BY WIRELESS

WORD FROM HIM BY WIRELESS
Atlantic City, N. j., Oct. ID
Smiling into a thick fog that hung
over the Atlantic Ocean early to-day,
Walter Wellman, with a crew of five
men, is believed to be tonight on an
epoch-making voyage to Europe in
the huge cigar-shaped airship, Amer
lea.
The men who are making the aer-
onautic history in the first over
ocean fight of an airship are: Wal
ter Wellman, commander; Melvin
Vaniman, chief engineer and next in
command; F. Murphy Simmons, nav
igator; J. X. Irwin, wireless opera
tor; John ALBERT and Albert Louis
Loud, assistant engineers.
The start was ono Of the most
dramatic that ever took place in this
care-free resort of frequent sensa-
lions. Roundly criticised by per-
sons who did not believe he ever
would undertake what was thought
to be a foolhardy venture, Wellman
startled the whole island by bringing
out the America and, without any
ceremony, going into the air.
The crowd stood in awe as the air
ship began to rise and sail in the fog.
Then cheer after cheer followed
when the throng saw the craft begin
tdAaisappear in the mist. Within
five minutes the ship was out of
sight.
AFTER waiting a while the crowd
scattered and those who remembered
that the America carried wireless
outfit rushed to the Million-Dollar-
Pier for news of the balloon.
Sweeping Along.
New York. Oct. 16.-Swept on
ward by sturdy westerly breeze,
Walter Wellman's great dirigible
balloon America, first of aircraft to
hazard transatlantic passage, was
following the steamship lanes up the
Atlantic Coast at midnight tonight,
out of wireless range from shore
points, but presumably continuing
her unbroken course with all we'll
on board The giant craft had pass
ed Nantucket Island early in the af-
ternoon with propellers idle and held
brief wireless communication with
the Marconi station at Siasconset. In
~ fhnra
hint of the airship's location, but
signaled goodbye" indicated that
Wellman, whose dream is to be the
first Columbus of the air, had, on
passing Nantucket, turned the nose
of his craft in a more northerly d.
rection, with the British lies as his
goal.
A wireless message simplifying
those of the day was relayed to ST.
asconset tonight, hence to Sagapon-
ack, l.. I. 1t was faint and hard to
decipher, but as patched together
was as follows:
"All well. Machinery working
well. Have turned more northerly
to reach z transatlantic steamer
track. Exact position rot sure;
somewhere between 800 and 500
miles off rfore."
None of tue messages received
spoke despairingly, although. one
communication received by the New
York Times referred to tho outlook
as mot favorable" In the same
message, however, was a cheerful
we are keeping up the fighs."
Wellman Far Out at Sea.
Halifax, N. s., Oct. 17.-North
Atlantic wireless stations were alert
all day in the hope of getting into
communication with the balloon
America up to 1880 O'Clock this af-
ternoon, but Without result. The
weather to-day was bright and clear,
18th a fresh northwesterly breeze.
4 " Siasconset, Mass, Oct. 17.-The
Marconi wireless station here has
spoken to a number of steamers and
was in communication this morning
with the Finland, bound for New
York. but none of the steamers has
been seen or heard anything Of the
airship America.
The Finland reports that heavy
storm occurred early Sunday even
ing, with vivid flashes Of lightning
and heavy downpour of rain. At