A TALE OF THE FROZEN NORTH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 16 November 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TALE OF THE FROZEN NORTH.

HOW WELLMAN'S AIRSHIP FOUGHT

FOR ARCTIC HONORS

LONDON, Sept. 28. Mr Melvin Vaniiii.m, chiet engineer to the Wellman Polar expedition, and the designer and constructor oli tlie airship America," arrived m London, last week from Spitzbergen. He is one of the three who formed part of the crew of the airship America during her recent attempt to reach the North Pole, the first airship journey that Ims ever been made m the Arctic. With regard to the recent work of the expedition, Mr Vanimun remarked: — ■ "On tlie evening of September 1 experiments made with kites led to us to believe that the wind might die down the following morning, being probably succeeded by a calm or light westerly wind. This was glad news to all of us. Before we retired for the night, a fresh stock of sandwiches was put into the little cabin of the airship, and hot coffee and 'milk prepared m cans, m readiness for our first meal m the air. Early next morning we were all astir, and there was every indication of calm weather. The long-pcepared programme for the start then commenced. Every man went to his post.. The final trial of the motors was made, and the America, with the Stare and Stripes flying at her stern, : emerged from her home, a perfect air machine. A few minutes later, Wellman, who was to command the airship; RLesenberg, who was responsible for the compasses and navigation; .and myself, who was in-charge-of the engine-room, bade farewell to our friends, and went on board the America, meanwhile being held t6 earth by means of ropes controlled by forty men. T * FULL-SPEED IN .MID-AIR. -..."' After describing how, tlie $rship wa^ towed clear ofi. land by -the s&amer Ex-, press, and! 'hpw; the airship vifiis atd la3tset free, the engineer continue*:- — -'■ "For the first, time m mid-air- 1 setvthe motors full speed. The America at !qpce resppnded, and m a few minutes the .Express was out of sight. Some twenty minutes later, looking through' the starboard window of the- engine-rOom, I saw tliat z we were 'apparently drifting upon a high perpendicular mountain, and realised that our first fight with the wind had begun. The motors, which had Tbeen slowed? down, were again given full power and I was delighted to see the America clear froni the land and steer towards the open. "As soon as' we lost sight of the dangerous headland the motors were again slowed down to-900 revolutions a minute, and for another' fifteen minutes our- voyage was cpntinued under perfect conditions. Looking out of the opposite (window of the enginer-room I .was astonished to see that we were drifting upon the • land jn that direction. It was clear that something was 'wrong, and I hurriedly, left the motors, and going to -the bridge, where I found Wellman and Riesenberg, asked, What was the; matter. They then informed me that they had just discovered that' the compass was. not working properly, and they had not the remotest idea of their bearings. The only course .was to endeavor again to getj into communication with the Express, but where was she? .The fog and snow were impenetrable. Luckily^ xa : few niinutes afterwards the weather lifted somewhat, and we saw our little gteamersomewiiere about a mile off. .Mr Wellman now told how the ship had made twO complete turns against the wind. Again tlie fog closed m; the Express once more vanished, from. our. view ; the wind again ■ freshened; our ship blew round.; and we were utterly ignorant as to our course. ,' IN IMMINENT DANGER. . "We all now realised that .both the ship and ourselves were m imminent danger. We knew that we were surrounded by., high riiountains > hidden away from ujs m. the mist, and we were also aware that we were drifting rapidly on to a.dacier. Our motors are instantly stopped ; our , anchor hanging from' the keel of the airship was let go; and we prepared to make' a landing. The emergency) valve was opened, and the balloon began to settle. Twice "we touched the. glacier with no other shock than a gentle rebound. Meanwhile the cutting knife was unlash-. Ed arid ran up the side of the balloon.; As the America approached the glacier for the third time an .incision denathtg- the baltodi- wa_ niade. ;T .WithT a; ittif^^-- , 'rda#-^&e r - i^ envelope fell gracefully and l clear of the airship itself, leaving the three of vi standing on her deck. The airship was practically undamaged. In conclusion Mr Vaniman said :— ■ "Whatever critics may. say, and .there : seem to be many who know more about this affair than we do, 'our experiences have proved to our satisfaction that we have an airship which is capable of making a journey to the Pole and back again, given normal weather conditions." .