HEROES: Aeronaut

As it must to all men, Death came last week to Walter Wellman, 75, oldtime Polar explorer, who tried to fly the Atlantic when Charles Lindbergh was eight years old.

At the Century's turn Walter Wellman was an adventuring journalist. Having discovered the exact landing place of Columbus, and led two unsuccessful searches for the North Pole, he persuaded Publisher Frank B. Noyes in 1906 to put up $75,000 for an airship flight to the Pole. The money paid for the dirigible America I, in which Explorer Wellman & party collided with...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!