Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-10-19
WELLMAN HURT
LITTLE FINGER
This Thrilling Incident Worth
a Wireless Dispatch to
New York
CREW PICKED UP IN FOG
Hope Is Not Abandoned That
Atlantic May Be Crossed
in Balloon.

New York, Oct. 19.-Walter Well
man and members of his crew on the
ill-fated transcontinental dirigible bal
loon America, who were rescued from
sea, $50 miles east of Cape Hatteras
yesterday, believed that the voyage in
the airship across the Atlantic may
yet be made. The Wellman party are
aboard the steamship Trent, which
anchored at nine this morning below
Sandy Hook waiting for the fog to
rise. Operator Ginsburg, the wireless
man on the Trent, sent a message con-
tanning the following details:
THE most exciting moment of the
three days was after the launching of
the American life boat. The Trent
bore down full speed upon them. Ir-
win, Americas wireless operator, de-
clared for moment it looked as if
they would be cut in half. The Trent
appeared to him the size of the Sing
er building and he was prepared to
jump overheard and swim clear of the
vessel. Fortunately this was unnec.
essary. The Trent passed the life
boat dangerouly close. A rope was
thrown and caught by the men who,
however could not hold on account of
the rough sea. The Trent cleared the
life boat, which droped half a mile
astern. AS the big steamer turned, it
was seen that the airship men were
getting out two oars and were strug-
Cling to keep her head up to the sea.
We were now along the side of the
Trent again, the lines were thrown
but were dragged from the airship
mems hands. In hanging to the rope,
Mr. Wellman's little finger was badly
cut Again the maneuver was repeat
ed, this time with success. The ship
was brought close enough to make
fast to the Americas boat Two ropes
were thrown from the steamer The
crew of the America climbered up the
rope ladder and each was cheered as
he was helped over the rail"
Story of the Fight.
New York, Oct. 19-Wellman told
the passengers on the Trent that the
equiliberator on the airship was the
mistake of the expedition. 1t kept up
an incessant pounding and weakened
the dirigible so that it could never
fagain be used. He said the loss of
the airship was witnessed without re-
gret because of its further useless
ness. Wellman says that after work
ing to the sea on Sunday, the dirig-
ible was caught by thirty mile north
west blow which carried her clear off
her course. Night came and the
equiliberator jerked and bumped over
the waves threatening the America
| with momentary destruction. The
crew was calm but greatly exhausted
and one after another went to sleep
expecting to wake up in the sea.
Every effort was centered on keeping
the America afoat and the gasoline
was tossed overheard. The equiliber-
ator kept pounding and threatened
to sweep the life boat away. The
course was laid for the Azores but the
veering wind made it impossible to
reach the islands with the reduced
gasoline. Bermuda was the next hope
Monday night more gasoline and some
damaged machinery were jettisoned
Early Tuesday morning, the Trent
was sighted two hours away and sig
nailed. In launching the life boat il
was struck a glancing blow by the
equ'liberator and nearly capsized.