Sunday, May 2, 2010

Wellman's Balloon America As It Left Atlantic City -- May 2, 2010

Walter Wellman had tried to fly a dirigible to the North Pole. Dr Frederick Cook, to whom Wellman was compared by some, claimed to have been the first to reach the Pole, by sled, but was widely believed to have made it up. Wellman's equilabrator, a device that trailed in the water, intended to help the ship maintain altitude without expending gas or ballast, did not work. Wellman was forced to ditch near Bermuda, but his crew, including a cat, were all rescued safely by a passing ship.

The image and story are from the Palestine (Texas) Daily Herald, 05-November-1910.

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