The San Francisco call., 1910-10-20

II
N man and his Eve companions were
landed here this afternoon by the
steamship Trent, which picked them up
at sea, after they had abandoned their
dirigible balloon America and failed
in the first attempt ever made to cross
the Atlantic through the air.
bruise OF the right hand, which
Wellmsn carried in a sling. was the
only physical injury that resulted from
their voyage of approximately 900
miles, and a rescue the like of which is
unknown to all previous history.
None of the aeronauts expressed re-
gret for the loss of the America. They
agreed that it had served it's purpose.
All stand ready-to renew the attempt
ss soon as wellman and his engineers
hnd a way TO conquer the difficulties
fthst brought their first trip TO its thrill
ing end last Tuesday morning, 400
miles southeast of Sandy Hook.
BLAMEs EQUILIBRAToR
Standing on the deck of the Trent
NelIman made this statement:
We thought we could not get along
without the equilibrator. Now we find
We could not get along with it. Our
plans for the future are indefinite until
we ind something that will do what
We thought the equiIibrator would do.
The ''equilibrator.' to which wellnan
attributes the failure of his voyage,
was the series of tanks containing
gasoline which hoated in the water and
was attached TO the airship by a long
rope. It's purpose in addition 10 stor-
ing gasoline and serving as wireless
ground" was keep...ths balloon
steady, compensating for the expansion
and contraction of gas due TO changes
in temperature which would have made
the American rise and sink erratically.
Impossible to Steer
The Americas experience proved that
this floating tail Jerking at the deli
csteIy poised airship made It impossible
TO steer or make lleadwsy in the de-
sired direction and severely weakened
the structure. To find another means
Of compromising for this unavoidable
change in the volume of gas is the
Eineer, Melvin Vaniman, will now de-
vote their attention.
The direct cause of abandonment of
the America was exhaustion of the
supply of gasoline. which had to be
thrown out to save the ship. for when
the crew abandoned the balloon only
enough was left to last about "a hours.
Weliman tried TO grasp a rope
thrown from the. Trent and the rope
got twisted about his hand. Before he
got loose it nearly tore of his little
finger and badly bruised the rest of the
hand. The comparative unimportance
Of the injury. however. was demon
strated by the fact that as welIman
said this he held a cigar in his ban
dsged hand and was not obliged to let
the member rest in a sling.
All Well Men
The other members of the Americas
crew said they felt as well as ever, and
they looked it. They were: Melvin
Xsniran. engineer; J. MHrry Simmons,
navigator; J. K Irwin. wireless opera
Tor and Albert L. Loud and John Au-
bert. air sailors.
Before he landed wellman said:
The America was in as perfect a
condition when we left her as when we
left Atlantic City. This(refers espe-
cialIy 10 her engines
Wenman praised his companions in
an address TO the Trent's passengers.
and his companions declared they were
willing TO go with him on another ex-
pedition. Engineer vaniman was the
only one who seemed exhausted by the
strain of the long flight and rescue.
but after a short sleep he seemed COM
pletely recovered.
I'm not at all sorry the airshlp got
away said Vaniman tonight. TT was
in such shape from wear and tear that
IL was useless. If it had got loose on
land it might have done some damage.
Jack Irwin. the wireless operator,
figures that the America sailed about
$40 sniles-from Atlantic City TO a
noint of Nantucket, 275 miles; from
Nantucket northeast about 140 miles,
until the storm caught II and carried
n southeast to the point Of rescue
distance of 455 miles
This does not include the turns and
driftings back and forth caused by the
variable winds when the tugging OF
the equilibriator made it impossible
for the navigators to keep their
course.
CREW WAS HAPPY
~An through the trip said Irwin.
we were happy as little gods. Nobody
felt any fear at any time. When we
Gsuit il was because we were running
out of gasoline"
With the crew was also the grey kit