Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-10-18
wELIMAN AND THAT BLUFF

Walter Wclman, who on Friday
shot out over the Atlantic ocean in a
daring attempt to cross the sea and
nut Christopher Columbus IN the anna
teur clnss. has surprised us. Walter
has been doing vocal flights for so
consider him Joke, while admitting
his genius for publicity, At this writ
ing the last heard Of Wellman and his
party they were some 500 miles out
over The Atlantic. But 1t doesn't
matter how much further he gets or
what the reports are this morning on
tho success Of his attempt lie has
followed years or conversation with
an actual performance which VIII win
him the respect ana admiration Of cv-
cry American, The feat he mas att
tempted IL one that takes more daring
and determination than the average
citizen possesses and there VIII be no
more carping criticism Of Wellman's
courage.
II Walter doesn't fan into the sad
sea waves and comes back alive--for
there ia little danger OF his making
Europo--we shall be willing 10 shake
his hand and offer congratulations
with little admonition on the side
hat he doesn't talk so much about II
next time. Just to show how the
press has been roasting him, the fol-
lowing from the Kansas city journal
Is szzlcr.
For several days u moro or less ex-
protant nation has waited for dis
patches from Atlantic city which
would recito the thrilling details of
how walter Wellman. that intrepid
neor-explorer had sailed In his air
ship out over the dreary waters Of
the broad Atlantic in an effort to dis
cover Europe By aerial route, At last
the moment came and the excitement
was supposedly intense. At g o'clock
on the morning of the anniversary
OF the day on which that other great
explorer. Christopher Columbus, dis
covered America, all was ready at
Atlantic city The engineer took a
last look at his gasoline tanks, the
wireless operator adjusted his instrn-
ments, the workmcn loosened the fns-
Jennings In the great hangar--which
Is tho name for the kind OF garage
In which q gas bag is housed-nnd
word was sent TO Wellman's hotel that
only his presence WAS wanted and the
start would be made
At exactly $3.50 a, m. Mr. Well
man appeared on the scene II was
an impressive spectacle. The report
ers sent out bulletins OF the last pre-
iIminary arrangements that presaEed
the momentous event Wellman was
most carefully ana picturcsquely at-
tired for the photographers. lie wore
We are told "a pair of yachting shoes
golf stockings khaki knlckerbockors
goggles and u cap, What fetching
picture for the newspapersl
He the intrepid Wellman, at the
final moment OF departure upon "a
mighty voyage through the air TO
death or endless fnmei The reporters
were awcd into silence. but when they
did get their voices and approached
the great man TO inquire when he
WAS going 80 take the gas bag out OF
the hangar and set away. they were
sharply told 20 "Eo 60 hell" How
Wellmanesque' How truly character
lsiic Of an immortal devotee OF
scicncel With what fine contempt ala
this commanding genius wave away
the representatives, OF a regular and
iuauirug press What does Wcllman
care for publicity, and especially in
that solemn moment when ho is about
10 step into the car OF dirighle
and journey out over the vastly dccp2
but Mr Wcllman did not sail And
the fact OF his not sailing WIS not
disappointing in any way Go his conn
try The thing was carried cut just
ns those who have followed Wcllmnn s.
adventurous career expected So would.
Al the instant when he could DELAY
no longer De suddenly discovered that
the wind was too high. An. how na-
ural that was. OF course. the wind
was too high Back went the bag TO
the hangar and back went Wellman
10 change his clothes. and back went
the reporters 20 New York 60 ton a
pulsating world an the details of how
the great Wellman had not started.
li is possible that Mr.. Wciiman viii
never really start his night across the
Atlanticf Not only possible. hut al
together probable. That Is the We'll
man of &c.