Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-17


the huge bag almost Indefinitely The bag
holds 10000 cubic feet OF gas. The device
s. a sort OF anchor chain made OF stee
cylinders. BY means Of this anchor chain
50 Is planned to send the airship along at
an even height Of about 200 feet above the
surface OF the sea.
No Loss OF Gns.
In ballooninE the loss OF gas comes from
It's contraction when striking the cold air
or lite expansion when coming into the
warmth below. I'm cases Of great expan-
sion Il becomes necessary to open valves
and allow gas TO escape to prevent an
explosion.
wellman's anchor chain is a set Of
cylinders fitting together in a socket jointly.
These cylinders are filled with reserve gaso-
line for the motors. They are heavy and
hang from q steel cable In the airship to
the ocean. When they are afloat their
weight on the ship Is. Of course, nothing.
Sut II the air currents and atmosphere cause
, rise OF the America, one cylinder after
another is lifted from the water until the
weight gradually increased, holds the bag
down. on the other hand. IL atmospheric
pressure forces Il down, the cylinders enter
the water and float, tightening the drag
and stesdying the ship on It's aerial course
No Fear of Hurricane.
II IL upon this device that Wellman
places his main dependence for the success
" his attempted flight 10 Europe.
Not long after Wellman started, the At
Iantc city watchers we're concerned by
weather reports that told OF the onrush
OF cyclonlc winds from the tropics that
might overtake wellmans ship and wreck
IT, But later they sent out wireless mes
ricano could not reach the Atlantic before
Tuesday and that when It did its force
gould be spent. n II struck the Atlantic
at all.
c. r. McMechen, a writer on aerial navi-
cation, said II anything these cyclonic
winds would be an aid to Wellman and
that Wellman had been professionally
aware Of the existence Of this storm and
had timed his start to take advantage Of
the driving hurricane winds II they should
reach him. believing they would serve to
accelerate hts passage TO Europe.
The latest reports indicate that wellman
has made propitious start. for the winds
seem to be aiding his motors to carry him
into the line Of European steamship travel
II he can keep to his course he will be in
constant communication by way of the
wireless with the world and the danger Of
daring venture will be greatly minlmized,
for the America carries q staunch three
foot, thirty-horse-power life boat, we'll
provisioned and capable OF remaining
afloat for days in anything like a moder-
ate sea.
Crew of the ship.
The men making the flight are Walter
Wellrnan commander; Melvin Vanaman,
chief engineer and next in commando F.
Murray simmons, navigator; Jack Irwin,
wireless operator; John Aubert and Albert
Louis Loud, assistant engineers.
The start Of the America was one OF the
most dramatic events ever occurring.
Roundly criticised by people who did not
believe that he would ever undertake
what was thought to be a foolhardy VEN
ture, Wellman startled the whole island
by bringing the America out Of the
hanger and without ceremony going into
the air. For the last thirty days the
public had expectantly awaited some
move from the intrepid crew. Day after
day II was announced that trial flight
would be made as soon as conditions
were perfect Early last week It was
announced that the airship would posi-
lively make a trial flight. and when no
effort was made to bring the ship out Of
the big shed, criticism Of wellman be-
came stronger. t..
Decision to start.
It was about a. m. Saturday that the
final decision 20 go up was made by
Chief Engineer Vaniman. All night he
had watched the weather and as dawn
broke he decided that now was the time.
Rousing the crew who slept in the hanger
Vaniman sent a message TO Wellman at
his hotel and notified him that the time
to start had arrived. Wellman soon was
on the way in an automobile. With
everything ready for the word, ''let CO."
the crew climbed into the car hanging
from the balloon. The final good byes"
were said to wives. relatives and friends
and tho last word to the mer on the
ground was given
on the boardwalk and beach at Atlantic
City were assembled a crowd estimated at
about 5000. The crowd stood in awe as the
airship began 10 rise and sail in the fog.
Then cheer after cheer followed when the
craft began to disappear in the mist.
Within five minutes the ship was out Of
sight.
Robert Miller. the wireless operator sta
toned at Atlantic City, kept calling the
America, but II was not until los a. m.
that there was any response. Then out
Va AhN aat NaAAo NiAAe hANae06Nt tho AAhot
ever sent from an airship at sea.
Headed northeast All well on board.
Machinery working fine Goodbye.
-. IRWIN"
After this messages came frequently and
all reported good progress.
Waiting for Messages.
Among the anxious people that crowded
into the little wireless station on the At
lanuc City pier were Mrs. Wellman and
her two daughters and Mrs, Vanlman All
were cool despite the knowledge OF the
danger their husbands and father were to
face In this dangerous. strange voyage
and they expressed the utmost confidence
in the success OF the expedition.
Messages were exchanged between Well
man and Vaniman and their relatives
The last message received from Well
man late Saturday afternoon said the
course had been laid for the northeast
passage of Newfoundland and the speed
cut 20 fifteen miles an hour 70 save ht
gasoline. The airship is equipped with
provisions for ninety days and a twenty.
seven-foot nfehoat Is carried, II the shiT
sets into difficulty in the way OF motor
trouble to the two eighty-horse power en-.
gines and donkey engine which Il car
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