New-York tribune., 1910-10-20

ways a menace, and likely to smash US
after our boat hit the water
The encounter with the WeIIman air
ship was a windfall for many passen-
gers on the Trent Every person with a
pair Of pajamas and a camera was on
deck making pictures. There was a
dearth OF films and within an hour after
daylight camera owners were offering
s. for a six film roll
When the Trent came in yesterday
passengers who had made snap shots
were getting high prices for their IN
certain wares from purchasers who were
willing to take 2 chance that the unde-
veloped films would turn out good pict-
ures
In several Instances passengers made
enough money with their cameras to
pay the expenses Of the trip to Cuba and
Bermuda. one passenger who had taken
a dozen pictures Of the rescue during its
various stages asked $1,000 for the
twelve His offer went begging until he
cut the price down TO $50 a picture.
Trent's Skipper Tells of Rescue.
Captain Downs Of the Trent came down
from the bridge Of his vessel when her
gangplank was made fast last night and
told the story Of his rescue Of the Well
man party.
7 was aroused at 4:45 a. n. by Mr..
Lainson. my chief officer he said, and
asked 10 come out on the bridge. He
told me there was big dirigibIe balloon
presence. Il was still dark. but the full
moon shone brightly and 1T up the sky
and sea. These light conditions made
the dirigible seem enormous. We
watched her for a while. but up to this
time she had displayed no signals
I got out my Morse lamp and sig
nailed asking the balloon for its name
and destination. Finally We got an an
swer by Morse lamp saying It was the
Wellman airship America. ! was asked
by signal TO stand by and keep close to
her. as she was in distress and needed
assistance. She also signalIed that she
would Try 10 launch her Ifeboat at day
break
The Morse lamp is SLOW system. so I
sent for my wireless operator and told
him - wait until I could signal by lamp
and ask if the dirigible had wireless
! The airship signalled yes" and then
we got into more rapid communication
! knew nothing Of the existence Of
the America. and It's presence was in
deed a surprise. The airship asked rs u
/ keep close. as ir was then impossible for
her 70 drop her lfeboat. For ninety
minutes ] manPuvred the Trent in an
effort 10 catch his lines. but We could
/ not Lainson grasped one line while he
was on the forecastle head. but IT slipped
through his hands and hurt them"
/ oirioibie Within Speaking Distance.
/ Finally Wellnan was within sreaLinr
/ distance. Captain Downs went On and
the airship once came within ten or
! twelve feet Of the Trent's foresravs run
ming before the wind at from eight 70
( twelve knots
4 was running fun speed astern At
one minute and little later vas g,;r,..
fun speed ahead continued The can
tain We backed and turned and
shifted all the time 10 keep after the
, dirigible
Finally. after Ne had two nfeboate
ready 10 drop into the water. and men
.t.+iored along the rail with lfebuo..s
10 throw. SO dropped about forty yards
ssfern Of the airship and she opened her
valve Instantly she began to descend
She was moving at about twelve knots
when she got to about SIX feet Of the
surface and detached her lifeboat
she did not sPsize. but the trailer.
-,.14i,5 should say. weighed about
thjrt- bundredweight, came along and
bit bar naskine a dent IN one side and
nuncbing q hole in the other We
finally got the men aboard. MI Nsnlman
being the last man to step on the deck