Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-20

Tug IN cneeIS IOr tne trent ana HSr
captain Charles E. Down.
"Help! HeIo!r the Americas First
I'D Message.
1t was the Morse lamp, winlxing its
message through the darkness that just
preceded the dawn of Tuesday morn
ing, and not the wireless. that first at
tracted the attention of those aboard
the Trent to the distressed airship.
Stanley Angel, an ordinary seaman of
Is years and George Sangster, an able
seaman, had the early morning watch.
Angel saw ahead of him, high up ol
the northeast, a faint light.
"At first said the boy. in narrat-
ing his experience tonight, Il thought
1T was the morning star. Then I saw
two faint red lights beside the white
one, and next made out a dark blur
against the sky The white light kept
awinking. and then l knew that it was
a signal and reported it to G. J. F'itz-
gerald, the fourth officer, in charge Of
the watch
Fitzgerald notified W. B. Lanison,
the chief officer. BY this time the out
line of the airship had been made out
against the moonlit sky, and Lanison
called Captain Down out of his berth.
'H-E-L-P! H-E-L-Pi" was the
message the white electric lamp on the
America was signalling to the steamer
AS Albert Leach, the signalman on the
Trent, expressed it. ''she kept making
help"
when came on deck" said Captain
Down, ''the airship was plainly visible
In the light of the full moon she look
ed enormous, hanging low in the north
east and close at hand. In reply to our
she was in distress, and asked us to
stand BY"
Copies of the Wireless Messages.
Then the wireless was called into
use. and between Louis M. finsberg,
operator on the Trent. and Js Tx Irwin,
the operator in the 1ifeboat suspended
below the gas chamber of the Asler-
lea passed series of messages that
will stand in history as the first wire
less communication between ship at
sea and ship in the air. Here are the
copied from Ginsberg's rec
ord on the Trent:
Trent-Do you want our assistance?
America-Yes; come at once. In dis
tress. We are drifting. Not under
control
Trent-What do you want us to do?
America-Come ahead full speed
but keep astern, as We have a heavy
tail.
Trent-O. K. Am standing by wire
less in case of trouble.
America-You will pick us up at
daylight. You will be better able to
see us then.
America-Come in close and put bow
of your ship under us. as we will drop
a line But do not stop your ship, as
you will capsize us.
Arnerica-Who are you and where
are you bound for?
Trent-Steamship Trent for New
Y orl1
America-Have one of your boats
ready to launch as we will probably
capsize when We launch our boat.
Tren-O. X. Boat manned.
Tren-Are we gaining on you?
America-Yes. We are getting ready
to launch
Tren-Should we stop for you?
America-Don't stop. We will drop
a sea anchor and try to check our
ship
America-We have a motor going
above us. Can't hear your signals now.
Will say when L can. We are pumping
air into airship ready to bring her down
level
Trent-We are going full speed,
waiting for your orders.
America-We are going to launch
boat. Stand by to pick us up
This ended the exchange of wireless
messages.
Captain Down of the Trent Describes
the Rescue.
"At this time" said Captain Down of
The Trent, eve We're in speaking dis
lance of the America. She was only
twelve feet above our forestays and !
moving about twelve knots an hour. |
We kept beneath her with great diff
Guilty. for she swung to and fro in the
air currents, and sometimes we were
forced to go full speed astern so as not
TO lose her.
Then the crew of the airship began
trailing wire ropes. Lanison, our chef |
officer, grabbed one and held on until
The skin was rubbed off his hands and
he was lifted from his feet and nearly |
dragged overheard After half an hour
we decided that this method of rescue
was hopeless and much too risky. SO |
Wellman asked me to keep close while |
1e and his crew let down their life
boat and trusted to us to pick them
Up. We got two boats ready and sta |
Toned men along the sides with life |
ouoys. l signalled All ready" and !
Wellman lowered his airship until the
ifeboat suspended underneath was |
within six feet of the water The trail |
sr. composed of tanks of gasoline and |
Weighing thirty l1undredweight. was |
he great danger, and after the boat |
vas launched this struck her and stove !
hole in the side about six inches in |
liameter, but above the water line
when Wellman dropped his Iifeboat |
t struck the sea broadside but quickly |
lighted itself. I went full speed ahead |
ind had considerable difficulty in pick |
ng UP the boat. Mr.. Wellman injured |
lis hand in trying to catch one of our |
'opes.
1.-The last L saw of the airship she |
vas fifteen or twenty miles away with |
me end in the water. Her valves had |
)een opened and she undoubtedly sank |
soon, dragged down by her heavy ma |
,hinery
"Wellman and his crew came aboard !
ind after baths, dry clothes and a !
GOOD breakfast, appeared none the /
worse for their experience. Weinan |
oid me thar when he abandoned the |
America he had enough gasoline to |
1eep going about "a hours
Before he Ia nded Wellnan said:
The America was in as perfect con- |
lition when We left her when we /
tarted from Atlantic CITY,
This refers, generally speaking, to |
he engines
>abin Passengers Aroused to Witness |
the Rescue.
The Trent carried Isl first cabin
,assengers most of whom had been