The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-07
SAILOR TO PILOT
WELLMAN A|RSH|P.
Junior Officer simons, of
Oceanic, Gets Leave of Alb
sence for Flight.

New York, September 6.--Fo!lowiny
an interchange of cable9rams between
j. Bruce 1smay, president OF the In
ternational Mercantile Marine Com
pany, who is in Liverpool, and Murray
Simons, junior officer OF the White
Star Line steamship Oceanic lying OF
West Twenty-second Street, 1t was an
nounced that Slmons would be the
navigator of the Walter Wellnlan air
ship on its projected voyage via air
line across the Atlantic.
Simons, who is young and untnar-
ried. has followed the sea for seven
teen years During most OF this PEE
Rod he has been In touch with the At
lantic wind situation In all seasons or
the year. and he heartily agrees with
Mr.. Wellman that an airshtp voyage to
Scotland, England. or France Is wholly
practicable.
He has counted on being navigator
of the airship for several months. and
has spent the present summer study
ing carefully all that navigator
should know OF the problems of get
ting safely across in the air lanes
Saturday he went to see Mr.. Weilman
at Atlantic City. and on his return
cabled the Liverpool office of the
White Star Line. which is part OF the
Mercantile Marine Company, asking
for leave of absence. 10 begin en-
his side and terminate upon his re-
porting after his aerial journey TO
England.
President Ismay replied that the
company wished him well, and woulan't
interpose any objections. The mes.
sage caused general rejoicing aboard
the Oceanic and was the theme of
considerable discussion. in which Cap
tain Haddock and Chief Ofiicer sum-
mers took part. Both agreed that the
Atlantic air current offered no insur-
,nountable difficulty for dirigtbla
balloon to overcome.
Mr.. smons said that all the head
winds which dirigibie would be like,
through the later spring months. In
the fan, he said the winds are from
the west and blow steadily. or Teer TO
the northwest and southwest Which
would have little effect on the jour
news success.
II have heard" he said, that some
people fear the winds on account of
their c..lonic character, and 1t Is true
that there is more or less of whirl-
wind motion to some of the AtlantiC's
air currents. But ! never heard of
northwest wind doubling back into the
southwest. although | have heard of
Southwestern swinging northwestward.
1.-THE fact is that the winds blow
that their reverse action on the swing
about Is dissipaed. 1t would be
rare occurrence indeed for an airship
to encounter back draught, as II
were, and be blown out of it's course.
"a veering of the tail wind to the
southwest would make 1t best for Mr.,
Wellman to head for the coast OF
Scotland. while a straight-ahead wind
would bring him out in Ireland with
out much of fight. and northwest
wind would terminate his trip In
France
"He carries plenty of gasolene to
fight anything less than a gale II ne
has good luck with his motor. and his
stabilizer, to operate on the waves.
will keep his flight at uniform
height"
The Wellman craft is almost ready
for its trial flight out from Atlantic
City It is hoped to have 1t COM
pleted by the end Of this week, and
If the going Is good aloft 1t will start
out on the first favorable day for the
Irish coast.