The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-18
NE US Is LACKING
Continued from Page One.

durance by gas bags. Count Zeppelin.
on May 81. 1903. sailed his dirigible thir-
ty-seven hours, from Friederichshafen
10 Bitterheld and return, travelling more
than $50 miles. At midnight tonight, if
the America is still going. her captain.
Melville Vaniman. has sailed her sixty
three hours and fOrty-seven minutes. At
Atlantic City Wellmans hackers were
figuring that he had Travelled at LEAST
Loo miles
They knew that Wellman would decide
tonight whether 10 head across toward
Europe or turn around and scoot for the
hangar that is kept warm for him at
Atlantic City Wellman told them. be-
fore he was pushed off on Saturday
morning, that he would start back tor
Atlantic City the moment that he and
his men decided that the trip to Europe
is impracticable.
May Have Decided.
Leroy Chamberlain Walter Wellman's
son-in-law, said tonight
80 far as we can make out by study
OF the maps and charts which We have.
the America has reached a point where
It can be decided whether there is a
chance 10 reach Europe Il is almost
safe 10 say that this decision is being
reached now. or will be reached within
the next few hours, by the men aboard
the America. I believe that the America,
at nightfall to-day. was off St Pierre.
Newfoundland. and had turned east al
most directly in the transatlantic steam
ship lane. We are confident that some
message showing our calculations 10 be
correct will soon reach one OF the wire
less stations"
. Mrs. Wellman. het daughters. Mrs
Vaniman, Salus. and others interested in
the venture We're at the Chalfonte. at
Atlantic City. anxiOusly awaiting some
news OF the Americas whereabouts Nat
uTally Mrs. Wellman was worried, but
she kept optimistic, and even discussed
whether it wouldn't be a good thing 10
start for ireland or England so as TO be
on hand II the America succeeded In
crossing.
Forecaster scarr said this afternoon
that the wind had been blowing just right
FOR Wellman. At Halifax there was a
tweEty-mile wind from the Northwest
EastpOrt. Me, reported clear weather and
a twelve-miIe breeze from the West Il
was partly cloudy az 81 John. Newfound-
land. with a ten-mile blow from the
Southwest The Weather Bureau sent out
storm warnings from Washington to-
night-hurricanes shooting up along the
coast-but the bureau figured that the
America would escape the severity Of the
storm.
Chief Willis I. Moore and his people
have been figuring why ii is that no re-
ports have come from WeIman for many
hours. They think he has drif,ed out %
his course and that his weak wireless
hasn't been able 10 connect with other
aerials. The America, they think. has
been blown out OF the North Atlantic
steamship lane which We..man intended
70 travel
When the America passed Nantucket
Island its course lay 20 the northeast.
parallel 10 the New Fl gland coast and
Nova Scotia. 10 the Banks Of Newfound-
land The weather officials regard II as
probable that We.lman found the west
er.y winds favorable and decided 10 DRIFT
with them. The winds were just a little
north q west, although We,ImaH would
have preferred q s0GJhwcstcrly blow.
Away from Steamer Route.
II IL is true that the America has been
going with the ives, erly winds, instead Of
slightly crossing hem, as would have
been necessary 10 hold 10 the course that
was laid out she has been sailing az an
acute angle, away from the course Of the
steamers taking the northern route and
constantly increasing her distance from
the steamer lane in the past thirty-six
hours That would explain the inability
OF the ships 70 get their wireless in touch
with the Americas apparatus.
The balloon is fitted with enough gaso-
line and food 10 last fifty days Wellman
expected 20 complete the journey in ten
days. Sable Island. where the America
should have been some time tonight is
about 80 miles from Atlantic City.