New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-16

Part of the balloon. His cool demeanor
did much 10 restore him to favor with
the thousand persons who had by that
time crowded around and he was heart
lily cheered.
Meant as Start for Europe.
Before the big balloon left the ground
Wellman was asked whether this was TO
be a trial trip. or a start for Europe. He
replied that conditions when they got
aloft would influence their determine
ton.
We viii never get anything like such
perfect weather conditions for flight
again" said Vaniman before the start,
thus showing his idea on the subject.
Wellman climbed UP from the living
part of the car to the platform where the
machines were being tested, and then
with a curt nod to the crowd disap-
peared in the living quarters and did
not show himself again until the big
balloon had gone aloft-
Eaniman was the last man to go
aboard. Mrs. Taniman, who followed her
husband up to the balloon car, placed
aboard a gray kitten which had become
a favorite around the hangar, and told
the crew that the kitten was to be their
mascot.
While the trip was scheduled before
hand as a trial trip. Vaniman's remark
to his wife that We won't come back
until We have had a try at Europe" pre-
pared those who heard it for what was
coming.
Finally. at S:O1 a m, after the equili-
orator had been pulled out of the waters
Of the inlet and hooked into place, Nanl-
man stepped into the emergency Hfeboat
hanging under the car and gave the Woru
10 cast off. It was just sos a. m. when
the big airship began to rise, and by sos
{. m. il had disappeared in the dense fog
floating along. only slightly affected oy
the light westerly breeze. and what was
expected 10 be an epoch making TRIP hau
begun.
The cheers Of the hundreds at the
starting point aroused all Atlanuc City,
and thousands rushed TO the Waterfront
10 try TO get a sight Of the America and
its doughty crew Mrs. Wellmau ana
her two daughters with Mrs. Nanlman
went TO the Million Dollar Pier and asked
Mr.. Miller. the operator there. to try 10
get into communication with the Amer
lea by wireless They had a long wait
however. before they got any news, out
when il did come il was cheering IN
telligence.
Wireless Operator Besieged.
By noon the crowds besieglng the
wireless station became so dense that
the doors of the station were locked
and the operator mad to take his tele-
phone off the hook in order that he
might attend to his wireless machine
and get the messages that were whizzlng
through the air from out at sea. It soon
became apparent that not only were tel
ephone and telegraph wires alive with
INQUIRIES. but every ship within the
wireless zone was deluging the Atlantic
CITY wireless station with queries, though
many OF them picked UP some of the
messages passing between the Wellman-
Vaniman party and the pier
Members of the volunteer crew on
board Colonel Potter's motor yacht Olive.
who conveyed the America as far as
they could see her, returned by noon and
reported that Wellman had thrown
overheard a watertight can. presumably
containing the final message from the
crew to their families and the hackers
of the expedition. Owing to the rough
sea outside. the Olive was unable TO
reach the can but larger boats started to
sec rch for the message.
The speed at which the America start