The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-10-18
STILL IN THE AIR
WeIIman in Big Balloon
Crossing Ocean.
HUNDREDS OF MILES AT SEA
Final Wireless Message Said All
Well; No Trouble With Ma
chinery; Expect to Make
the Trip"

Atlantic City, Oct. 17.-Walter Well
man and the five members OF his crew
aboard the dirigible balloon America
cut loose from this continent at i24O
Sunday.
The last message expected from the
America until 1t strikes the trans
atlantic lane came into the wireless
station at Siasconset, on the northeriy
end Of Nantucket, and was relayed
through Sagapont station and from
there to the United Wireless station
here. No further messages are ex-
pected until some big liner with wire
less outfit receives word from the
America flashes or carries news of the
welfare of the balloon crew to this
country.
The final message. according to the
operator here was: AN well; no trou-
BILE with machinery. Expect to make
the trip"
Both Wellman and Jack Irwin signed
the message. which was rushed to
Mrs. Wellman. Mrs. Vaniman. wife of
the chief engineer of the Wellman ex-
lpedition. and Leroy Chamberlain, Mr..
Wellmans secretary.
Exact Position Unknown.
The exact position OF the America
when the last message ives delivered
appears to be matter OF conjecture.
both on shore and with the members
Of the Americas crew. who didn't re-
port having made an observation. The
operator at Siasconset added the In
formation that the America couldn't
be made out from his station and was
probably several hundred miles at sea,
still heading north-northeast in the
effort to get into the steamer lane and
keep in communication with the shore.
Before the first message received
from the Americas wireless operator
had been picked up at Nantucket light
thee was great uneasiness here re-
garding the position and probable fate
OF the airship. both among the mem
bers OF the family and friends Of the
daring aerOnauts and the thousands OF
residents and visitors deeply interest
ed in the fight.
The first message received from the
America since early Saturday even
ing was timed at a. m. Sunday The
mes sage was brief and merely said
that all were well and the balloon was
moving 20. K" according to the wire
less operator here. The operator at
Nantucket believed he had made out
| the America by the aid Of glasses and
that she was then swinging a little
more to the north. apparently making
for the Grand Banks, where the steam
ers cross.
When no word was received here
Sunday morning OF any sighting or
speaking OF the America. there was a
general fear that misfortune had be-
fallen the air vessel and her daring
crew. Visitors besieged newspaper and
telegraph offices for news of the Well
man party. and Operator Bob" Miller,
in charge of the wireless station here.
received hundreds OF queries asking
him for the latest wireless news.
Mrs Wellman and her daughters and
Mrs. Vaniman at the Chalfonte were
among the few who declared their as
surances that all was still well with
the America.
Mrs. Wellnan Confident Of Success.
Il believe that Mr. Wellman and his
men are still all right and that they
will reach Europe" said Mrs Well
man. Their plans have been most
carefully made. and | share the conf
dence that MIR. Wellman expressed be-
fore his departure of the success OF
the project The very fact that we
have received no news appears to me
to be favorable, for any accident to
the America would probably have
reached here within very short
time" Both Mrs Wellman and Mrs.
vaniman were overjoyed. however,
when they received the messages tell
ing Of the safety of the America and
her crew.
Before the America passed outside
the wireless zone every effort was
made by Wellman's hackers in this
city to assure Wellman, Vaniman and
the crew of the we'll wishes of Atlantic
City and to give them every possible
DIT of encouraging information. Presi-
dent Joseph w. Salus. of the local syn
dictate which has supported the Well
man project, flashed the following
message:
Sent Encouraging Message.
Walter Wellman, aboard the airship
America: Godspeed your project. Sue
cess means your enrolling as a second
Columbus. Do everything possible TO
keep your friends in Atlantic City and
your family informed Of both your
daily situation and progress. Mrs.
Wellman, Mrs Vaniman and other
members of the families of the Amer
lca's crew are most hopeful Joseph
W. Salus."
Every effort was made to have this
message reach Wellman. but II is not
known here whether the flashes were
received aboard the airship. Wireless
experts here fear that the sound waves
from the wireless plant aboard the
America may be muddled by the vibra-
lions of the Americas engines and in
terfered with the power OF the cur
rents from some big ocean steamers
and land stations.
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