Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-10-20
NELLMAN OFF FOR
EUROPE IN BALLOON
SENDS A FEW WIRELESS MESS
AGES BACK ANNOUNCING MA
cHINERY is WORKING FINE.
LAST SEEN OFF SANDY HOOK AND
MAKING SLOW PROGRESS
ONLY rs MILES FIRST DAY.
There Are Six Men in WeIIman's
Party and indications Are
Good for Fine Weather.

waiter Wellman. the newspaper
man and explorer. who, on July 9 an.
nounced that he would be the first
to attempt flight to Europe in a
balloon, brought his long preparations
TO an end by arising at Saturday morn.
ing at Atlantic City from the beach
In his dirigible America" with five
companions aboard The thousand or
more men, women and children who
turned out to cheer and wave their
nandkerchiefs as the gas bag took
the air, had been given 10 understand
mat this was to be a try-out spin.
put once the bag had faded into the
fog wireless messages began to come
back from Wellman that showed he
had headed for Europe.
After the America was swallowed
up In the fog the watchers heard
from the Brigantine Shoal life saving
station that the airship had passed
the station headed in an easterly
direction. This was the first intima-
ton gathered that the America really
was on her way to Europe.
throughout the afternoon az at.
tempts to speak to the airship were
unsuccessful and nothing again was
heard until G o'clock, when the steam
er Coamo. outward bound. reported
by United Wireless that she had
sighted the America south southeast
of the Scotland lightship. The mes.
sage indicated that the airship in 10
hours had covered only about Is miles
of her trip of 5000 miles or more.
The first message to arrive came
from an unknown steamer CARRYING
wireless which had picked up the
news from the America that she was
headed northeast. Bob Miller. the 10.
cal wireless man, thereupon started
In to comb the sea with Inquiries sent
to passing vessels regarding the Am
erica and her crew. All day Miller
Kept at IL, but with little success ex-
cept around the noon hours.
Just before noon Miller gladdened |
the throngs by reading off a message |
which had just come to him from the |
America.
Still headed northeast" ran the |
message. which was signed BY Jack i
Irwin. Have taken no observations |
as yet, Fog lifting. May be able TO
secure latitude and longitude within
an hour"
Just few minutes later came the
message which to Mrs. Wc'lman was
proof that her husband and
his party were headed for Europe.
"All well or board" It read. Fog
lifting ard every bit of machinery
working smoothly. America making
20 knots an hour with course laid east
by northeast"
Half an hour later. at 1890 o'clock.
Miller received the following:
Still going to sea. Forced to stop
motors to get wireless At in work
ng order. Wireless now working per.
Iectly and motors again started"
In the meantime message had
been received from Wellman himself.
who at 1910 D. m. sent to Mrs. Well.
nan the brief message:
"All we'll on board Making excel.
ent progress"
At O'Clock came the first message
rom Wellman to his hackers OF
whom II has been rumored during the
,ast few days they were disguised
With the many delays in starting and
we're about TO wash their hands of the
'enture. The message was directed
o Joseph w. Salus, who is head of
he syndicate backing Wellman on his
resent trip.
"All did nobly." ran the message to
ar. Salus. I'VE are doing our best
o repay your loval support.
"WELLMAN,
Aboard the airship America"