The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-20

air into the airship ready to bring her
down level"
Trent-'We are going full speed wait
ing for your orders
America-''We are going to launch
boat. Stand by to pick US up"
This ended the exchange of wireless
messages.
In Speaking Distance.
AT this time" said Captain Down, Of
the Trent, I'VE were in speaking dis
tance of the America. She was only II
feet above our fOreStayS and moving
about II knots an hour. We kept be-
meath her with great difficulty for she
swung to and fro in the air currents,
and sometimes we were forced to go
full speed astern so as to lose her
Then" continue Captain Down,
'the crew of the airship began trailing
wire ropes Danison, our chief officer,
grabbed one and held on until the skin
was rubbed off his hands, and he was
lifted from his feet and nearly dragged
| overheard.
After half an hour of this we de-
cided that this method of rescue was
| hopeless and much too risky. So Well
man asked us to keep close while he
and his crew let down their life boat,
| saying he trusted to us to pick them
! up. We got two boats ready and sta
! toned men along the sides with life
| buoys
Il signalled all ready and WeIlman
| lowered his airship until the life boat
! suspended underneath was within six
| feet of the water. The trailer, COM
! posed of tanks of gasoline, and weigh
| ing 80 hundredweight, was the great
! danger, and after the boat was launch
| ed this struck her and stove a hole in
| the side about six inches in diameter.
/ but above the water line.
| When Wellman dropped his life boat
| it struck the sea broadside but quickly
righted itself. I went full speed ahead
and had considerable difficulty in pick
ing up the boat.
"The last I saw of the airship she
was 10 or 20 miles away with one end
in the water. Her valves had been
opened and she undoubtedly sank soon,
dragged down by her heavy machir-
| cry.
''Wellman and his crew came. aboard,
and after baths, dry clothes and good
breakfast, appeared none the worse for
their experience. Wellman told me that
when he abandoned the America he
had enough gasoline to keep going
about "A hours
In Perfect Condition.
Before he landed. WeIIman said:
! 1.-The America was in as perfect con-
dition when we left her as when we
started from Atlantic City, This re-
fers. generally speaking. to her en-
gines.
Wellman praised his companions in
an address TO the Trent's passengers
and his companions declared they were
willing to go with him again whenever
he equipped another expedition En-
gineer Vaniman was the only one who
seemed exhausted by the strain of the
long flight and the rescue, but after 6
short sleep he seemed completely re-
| covered.
I'm not at all sorry the airship got
away said Vaniman. 'It was in sucf
shape from wear and tear that it wa.
! useless If it had got loose on lane
it might have done some damage
: According to Jack Irwin the wire
: less operator. the Americas crew haC
, but two regular meals after they lief
: Atlantic City. These consisted of han
and eggs cooked over gasoline. Tn,
rest of the time each man picked VI
: a handful of food whenever opportun
f ity offered
Irwin figures that the America sailet
about $40 miles-from Atlantic City t.
a point off Nantucket 275 miles. from
t Nantucket northeast about 40 mile
l until the storm caught her and carried
her southeast to the point of rescue,
2 distance Of 455 miles
a This does not account for the de
vious turns and driftings back an
0 forth caused by the variable winds
:, when the Juggling of the equilbrato
:. made it impossible for the navigator
t to keep their course
f "All through the trip" said Irwin