NORTH POLE AS A WEEK-END RESORT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 9

NORTH POLE AS A WEEK-END RESORT.

Mr Melvin Vaniman, undaunted by the fate of his predecessors, will shortly set forth on his second attempt to reach tho North Pole in a Wcllman mummoth airship. In an interview with a London "Daily Express" representative recently, Mr Vaniman stated that he intends to start from Danes Island, Spitzbergen, which is situated 700 miles from the Pole. Here he has erected a starting station and an appliance whereby ho can make his own gas to fill the balloon. The ship, which will be on view at tho International Aero Club and Motor Boat Exhibition at Olympia next Friday, was hoisted into position on Saturday afternoon, when the immense rubber and canvas envelope was filled with air., With an 80-h.p. Lauraine Dietrich engino the Wellman airship has the greatest carrying -capacity of any dirigible balloon yet built, and can hold a cargo of ten tons. It is 182 ft long, 72ft high, and its greatest width is 52ft. The equipment will include three tons of gasoleno for the motor, three slcftlges, ten sledge dogs, and tt large quantity of woollen and fur clothing, also provisions for three men and the dogs for six months. A special ship will take the dirigible balloon ot the close of the exhibition to its starting station. Mr Vaniman has full confidence in the success of his experiment. "It ought to be a nice little week-end trio." he said, "and if winds aro favourable wo ought to accomplish the return journey in three days. Our balloon can carry us 2000 miles if necessary, and should anything happen to our 'floating home we still have our sledges. Tho weather at our starting point is all that could be desired. We hope to return by way of Siberia, so as to reach civilisation quickly."