The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-19
OFF TO THE NORTH POLE.
The Final Preparations For the Andree
Expedition.
Philadclphia Record.

proposed method OF reacnlnS tne pole
| by balloon, and yet in that time the
| expedition has received the endorse
ment and financial support of many
notable scientific societies, all details
arranged, and at this writing the bal
loon is probably on it's way, bowling
along over the ice fields at furious
rate. If Mr.. Andree's hopes are real
lied before two weeks are passed he
will have landed at some point on the
American continent.
The upper part of the balloon is
| covered by a cap Of oilcloth. In the
centre there is a wooden point holding
the strong iron ring to which the
ropes of the network are fastened,
| while little below the middle of the
balloon is large belt which is in
tended to give strength against the
pressure of the wind. When the
lower part becomes empty of gas the
wind produces hollow in the balloon,
this having the same effect as sail.
The diameter of the balloon is 214
yards, the volume nearly 5000 cubic
yards. 1t has been possible to make
the balloon smaller than was at first
intended on account Of the excellence
of the material obtainable. The
wicker basket is one story high, round,
and rooted, and contains sleeping
accommodation for two persons, the
third voyageur being always on the
watch. The mattresses are intended
to serve as buoys in the event of the
expedition being submerged. Within
the net is the mainsail, and outside
there are two other sails, stretched on
bamboo poles, the whole sail area
being "a square yards, or a quarter OF
the cross-section of the balloon. The
sail is attached by three straps to the
strong iron ring, and stoops forward
so that the wind tends to lift the bal
loon. The fixing points Of the drag
ropes are movable, and thereby the
direction of the balloon can rapidly
be changed. It is intended to main
tain if possible height of from 1876
to 218 yards. Each of the three
drag-ropes has length Of 436 yards,
and the distance of each 100 metres
there are weak points, at which they
may be torn if the balloon should
catch anywhere. These weak points
are protected by metal rings which
can easily be seen from the balloon.
1t will only be necessary to observe
how much time elapses while two OF
these metal rings pass the same spot
in order to learn the speed at which
the balloon is travelling. At the top
is the 'cave" or storeroom for the
provisions. The balloon carries 4, 400
pounds Of ballast, provisions for four,
and half months, boat, clothes,
guns and ammunition for ], 800 shots.
From Spitzbergen to Behring Sound
the passage could be made in six days,
but 80 days will be allowed. The
material of which the balloon is made
is so excellent that the balloon should
be able to float for period of 5000
days. Herr Andree's colleagues in
this daring expedition will be DR.. N.
G.. Ekholm and Herr n. Strindberg.
The expedition was virtually organ
lied at Gothenburg. The departure
from this was to have taken place on
June 1, but it was postponed one week
out of Difference to the views Of
Nardenskjold, who advised waiting
until the polar ice had melted still
more. So, says Leslie's Weekly, it
was Sunday, the 7th of June, at 10
o'clock a. NJ, when the steamer Virgo
left Gothenburg with the Swedish
polar expedition and all paraphernalia
on board. The day was beautifully
clear and calm, and interest in the
departure was inhanced by the gala
appearance IF the city and harbor,
everything on land or ahoat being
festively decorated. Thousands of
people congregated on the docks hours
before the actual starting time, while
the numerous boats were loaded with
spectators. Mr.. Andree received
telegram from the queen, and shortly
after, amid the joyful shouts Of the
we'll l-Wishers, started for the run to
Tromsoe, where the first stop will be
made on the way to Spitzbergen.
Besides Mr.. Andree, DR.. Ekholm
and Mr.. Strindberg-the polar expe-
dition trio-The Virgo had on board
Monsieur Lachambre, the maker of
the balloon, together with 81 persons
inclusive of the crew. Some of these
are members Of the scientific expedition
that will explore Spitzbergen while
preparations for the balloon journey
are in progress, such as unloading
supplies, initiating the balloon, etc.
The balloon once started the gas ma
chine used for the filing, and all
other accessories will be reloaded on
the ship, but a store house Of supplies
will be left behind. The scientists
will have had nearly month for their
researches in the islands, and will
then board the steamer and head
homeward about the first of August
for the return trip.
On the Virgo's arrival at Tromsoe
the carrier pigeons sent on from Ham
merfest were taken on board. This
done, the steamer turned her head
straig ght north for Spitzbergen.
Mr.. Andree allowed in his plans
two weeks time for unloading the
steamer and erecting the balloon
house. This house was taken along
in sections, having been built SO as to
be ready to put up in the speedicst
way possible on arrival at Spitzbergen.
1t is just large enough to contain
the balloon when fully inflated, when
it can be cast off, as it were, the bal
loon standing unfettered and ready to
feat away on the breeze the moment
her courageous commander desires.
This he expected to be ready to do
about the Goth of July, not binding
himself to an exact date and hour,
but rather being ready to seize the
most favorable opportunity permitted
by wind and weather.
Mr.. Andree puts much Importance
on getting a good start, SO while the
actual schedule time was July "a,
there have been unavoidable delays.
With fair wind and under the most
desirable conditions, the pole can be
reached in 4S hours, but Mr.. Andree
| does not set any time, nor does he