The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-16
NEW CENTURY YOYAGERS
 SAIL OYER MISTY SEA ' TO AN UNKNOWN PORT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE D

~~~~~~~~~. lag is car 156 feet long. The floor of the car is really a large flat tank. in which the gasoline is stored for the motors The America carries three gasoline en- zines, one of which is donkey and the other two are used for motive power. They are in the center of the car and are of about 80 horsepower. Beneath the car hangs a life boat 27 feet long, to be used in case the balloon is wrecked Strung beneath the car is 330 foot long equilibrator, which takes the place Of drag rope used on balloons. The equili- orator consists of a steel cable to which are attached 30 small steel tanks each carrying 75 pounds of gasoline, and 40 wooden blocks The blocks are about 20 inches long. The equilibrator makes 1t unnecessary to carry ballast It Is in- tended that the balloon shall sail at height of about 200 feet.
 If it settles close to the water the wind blocks and the tanks will float, thus re- lieyineAthe balloon of some of its weight. As the gasoline is required the steel cable will be pulled up into the car of the bal loon and a tank emptied. Altogether the America carries 9000 pounds of gasoline The craft Is as thoroughly equipped with sextants, compasses and other 1nstru- ments for locating it's position as the big ocean liners.
 After the airship rose and went out of sight 1t developed that one member of the crew had been left behind. He Is Jean Jacon. the French motor expert.
 First Message
 At :50 the first wireless dispatch from the America was received. Headed northeast" 1t said "All well on board; machinery working fine. Goodbye.
 (Signed) "J. IRWIN.">
 wireless Operator Miller, just before noon, had again spoken to the America through a vessel between the airship and the shore. While the message was not entirely plain. its purport was that We'll man and his crew had decided to make the daring attempt to reach Europe. We are headed due northeast, but have taken no observation and will not know our location until noon," 1t read. The Americas wireless apparatus has @ radius of about 100 miles. At 12:3o p. m. message sent by Operator Irwin on the America was picked up by the United Wireless station in this city. It said:
 "still going to sea. We were forced to stop motors to get wireless out In working order. Now able to work wire less and motors again started message timed at 12:10 D. m. and signed by Wellman himself, said "All we'll on board. Making excellent progress. WEL-MAN. The first message from Wellman and his crew to the local men who backed hs enterprise arrived at p. m. It was directed to Joseph W. Salus, president Of the local syndicate which has supported the project. It says:
 All did nobly. We's doing our best to
 s' "wELLMAN." | Message to All ships | Tn reply to the message received by President Salus of Wellman's company, | Operator Miller flashed the following mes- l sages to all ships within his sending zone. with the request that they DICK up | tho America as soon as possible: ''Walter Wellman. Aboard the Airship | America:
 ! Great work. One of the achievements | of the century. Plaudits from every body. Our best wishes and God speed to yourself and Vaniman. With your family and will stay with them until we hear that you have achieved sue | cess. Please continue to flash.
 JOSEPH SALUS."
 New York, october 15.-The United Wireless company received the follow | ing messages this morning direct from l the airship America:
 '1o:10 a. m.-Fresh north winds; iog still thick"
 ,11:15 a. m.-sun coming out clear. l Eight tanks above sea.
 ii 20 a. m.-Going -east-northeast. Ev- erything in excellent condition. Making 20 knots. Sending and receiving wireless | messages while motoring.
 The airship was malxlng favorable prog ress over the Atlantic in q northeasterly