The Mena weekly star., 1910-10-20
HE'S 0FF FOREUROPE
WALTER WELLMAN AT LAST STARTS ON AERIAL JOURNEY
 ACROSS ATLANTIC.
HEADED OUT TO SEA IN A FOG
Big DlrlglbIe Balloon Was Making Good Progress According to Reports Sent Back by Wireless Telenraph- In Path of Storm.

ht dti OI oIOfms
 New York, Oct. 1.-The airship America, with Walter Wellman and his men on board, was making favor. able progress over the Atlantic in northeasternly direction. This lnfor- nation was contained in dispatch received by the Associated press at two o'clock. It read:
 "On Board the Airshsp America, Crossing the Atlantic-The sea is smooth We are not crowding the motor hard. Averaging Loout 15 knots an hour All going wa.l.--Wellman
 Got Early Start.
 Atlantic City, N. J., Oct 1.-The
 Atlantic City, N. J., Oct 15-The long deferred attempt of Waltei Wellman, newspaper man, aeronaut and explorer, to cross the Atlantic rom the United States to Europe in a dirigible airship, was begun at ap early hour when his balloon, the America, left the hanger here and dis. appeared to the eastward in a heavy fog.
 Wireless messages that come from the big air craft show that the vessel Is headed eastward and apparently the objectice point of its navlgators Is the coast of Europe, 5000 miles away.
 When the airship disappeared into the bank of fog there were few who believed that flight to Europe really was intended. It was not until wire less messages began to come from the vessel that the genuineness oi the voyage was realized.
 A Wireless Message.
 The first of these messages came at 11:o5 o'clock. It read:
 Headed northeast. All well on board; machinery working fine. Good bye.-J. Irwin"
 Another message received here al twelve o'clock brought the news from Wellman himself that the start actual ly has been made for Europe. The America is making 20 knots an hour, according to Wellman, with the course laid east by northeast.
 Stopped the Motors.
 At 12:S0 o'clock a message sent by Operator Irwin on the America was picked up by the United Wireless Sta. tion In this city. It said:
 Still going to sea. Were forced tc stop motors to get wireless in work ing order. Now able to work wire less and motors again started"
 The first message from Wellman and his crew to the local men who backed his enterprise arrived at one o'clock. It was directed to Joseph w Salus, president of the local syndicate whAeh has supsogted the project. It says:
 "All did nobly. We are doing our best to repay your loyal support Wellman."
 Word was received hero from the weather bureau at Washington that the West Indian hurricane Is coming up the coast.
 An attempt is beirg made by Well. mans freinds to reach him and warn hln to clear from the track of the storm.
 The Balloon Described.
 The America Is larger craft than the one in which Walter Wellman made his inglorious start for the North Pole. Tho gas bag Is shaped like a cigar and Is 22S feet long. It's yridth fc ohcpf 70 foot opd to cotd t~ be capable of lifting nearly 12 tons.
 The passenger car is 156 feet long, the floor of which Is a flat tank in which the gasoline Is stored The America carries three gasoline en zines, one is donkey and the other two are for motive power They are in the center and are of about SG- horse power.
 Beneath the car hangs a lifeboat 27 feet long, to be usod if the balloon Is wrecked
 Strung beneath the car is 330-foot equilibriator, which takes the place oi a drag rope used on balloons. The equilibriator consists of long steel cable to which gre attached 30 small steel 'qnks, each carrying 75 pounds of gas line, and 40 wooden blocks The blocks are about 20 inches long The ecu'lI lIbriator makes 1t unneces- sary to carry ballast.
 It is intended that the balloon shall sail along at 0 height of about 200 feet. If it settles close to the water the wood blocks and the tanks would float and relieve 1t of some of Its weight. As the gasoline Is required the steel cable will be pulled up into the car of the balloon and tank emptied. Altogether the America car. ries 5000 pounds of gasoline.
 The America is as thoroughly equipped with sextants, compasses and other instruments for locating DO. sitions AS are ocean liners The ship carries provisions sufficient to fast month. The only means of cooking Is n small oil stove. but this, Mir We'll man says, will do all they require.
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