The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-15

Try To SAIL across the ocean or Ju36
make a trial flight.
After he got into the air. however. q
heavy wind took the big dirigible and
it swept seward with the propellers
moving at top speed. Wellman sig
nailed that he would consider that
the European trip had been started
as the big machine disappeared In
the fog.
The entire resort is aroused. Thou
sands are packed on the boardwalk
peering into the dense fog for a pos-
sible glimpse of the big ships return.
Wireless operators in charge OF the
pier station are being besieged for
possible word of the men and balloon
to ascertain whether they really start 1
ed on the 3,0e0-mile journey over the
sea.
The last glimpse of the big airship
was had by volunteer crew Of the
Yacht "Olive." belonging to Colonel
Thomas Potter. one Of the hackers
of the Wellman enterprise. The yacht
followed the America to sea. When
that vessel returned TO shore Il fe-
ported that the last word from tho
men In the car OF the balloon WAS
that the airship's propellers were not
working properly. but that every ef-s
fort would be made to get the ma
ehinery In shape rather than be forced
to return to shore.
Ships Crew.
Those aboard the America when Il
rose from the ground were Waiter
Wellman. head OF the expedition:
Melvin Vaniman, chief engineer: Il.
Murray Simons. former junior on
Ger of the steamship Oceanic. and
navigator OF the flight; j. X. Irwin.
wireless operator. who viii flash men-
sages to passing steamships: Albert
l.. Loud and John Aubert, assistant
engineers. Jean Jacon, the French
motor expert. was the only membor
OF the crew who failed to appear. Hes
declared last night that there werea
financial difficulties between the head
Of the expedition and himself.
After days OF delay news was dasr-
ed to the officials of the resort ana
the hackers of the expedition at
O'Clock this morning that a f1iEhrs
would be attempted
With wind conditions almost per-
feet for a fight. Vaniman and ST.
mons at dawn awoke the other menu
bers or the crew asleep in the big
hanger Wellman was summoned
by telephone from the Chalfonte ana
informed that his crew was ready to
take the balloon into the air.
Firemen Assist.
w hite "GliIuAu WIS uSlHK EQ3n&0
to the hangar in an automobile driven
by his daughter. the police and f1ro
departments were telepnoned to send
big detail of police and firemen, who
had been promised to assist in launch-
ing the balloon.
Fully two hours WAS consumed in
getting tho big airship out Of its
shelter. Vaniman took active charge
o. the preparations. Simons. dashed
to a boatswain's chair. assembled to
the top OF the hangar and cleared
the lashtngs OF the big balloon. All
the members of the crew, including
Wellman. were by this time dressed
in khaki aviation costumes. Two huns
| dred spectators carried the equiiibris-a
tor. containing the 1000 gallons OF
gasoline. to the inlet. where II Was
dropped into deep water. to be after
wards attached TO the balloon. The
crowds, constantly augmented n
numbers rs the news of the proposed
| flight spread through the city. lost tn
! skepticism when they saw the balloon
drag from the hangar, and piloted by
| men grasping "a hundred guy ropes,
first TO the life boat containing tho
wireless apparatus. which was hung
beneath the balloon, and then over
| the water to be fastened to the longS
string Of gasoline tanks.
Weftnan First.
Wellman Was the first to climb int
the car OF the balloon. With merely -
nod to the crowd he assembled on q.
rope ladder to the working parts Of the
airship and stood over the mechanics
clans, who had started the engines.
Vaniman was the last man to climb
aboard and had only reached the un-5
derhanging lifeboat when his word to;
! cast of" allowed the monster gas bar
to ascend.
Rising majestically, the America
disappeared in the fog almost immedf-s
ately. Although the propellers had mot
been put in motion. the light hreexo
appeared to afford steerage way. ana:
the nose OF the airship was pointed ont
to sea with aapparent ease.
A gray kitten which had becOn1os
favori.a around the hangar will ~
the mascot OF the trip II was placa(
aboard by Mrs. Vaniman. wtfa OF tn
chief engineer. who followed her hn4&
band up to the car OF the balloon. As
Following the receipt OF nessa9AS
from the Washington Weather Hu%a
reau. efforts are being made THU No.
ternoon to warn Wel1man Of the -
proach OF the tropical storm, WhiNN
is moving up the coast from Cu14Ss
and advise him to run the AmoftN0
far enough north to escape ~ loeM9S
the worst OF the blow. In the yn1
sage the weather officials express tI35
hope that the storm win either h304
TContinued on Fifth PHeAY sTE Esss3