The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-16
ANDREE's POLAR BALLOON.

VIII lers and Natives of the North Arctic
Regions wiII Watch for It's Passage.
From the New York Sun.
All the whaling and sealing vessels
sailing from the Pacific coast for the
Arctic ocean and all trading expedi-
tons of every kind starting for sum-
mer tours in polar regions are taking
with them notices to communicate 10
the natives of the regions they visit,
telling of the possible appearance there
next fall of Professor Andres balloon,
and informing them what kind of thing
1t Is and what to do and what not to
do to IL and to the men who are ex-
pected to appear with ii.
Professor Andree is to start from
Spitzbergen with his balloon party
some time in July next, and will try
to float over the north pole. There is
no telling just wher the balloon may
come down, and, above all, there is no
telling what the natives Of the polar
regions might think of a balloon If
they saw one. They might think ii was
an evil spirit and attempt to destroy
IL and the beings 1t carried, or they
might flee from it in terror. Either of
these acts would be unfortunate. SO
the civilized people are going up Beh-
ring sea way have been commissioned
to give all the natives they come across
elementary information on the subject
of aeronautics, and especial informa-
ton as to what to do IL the aeronaut
comes their way.
The Swedish consuls at the various
Pacific coast cities have been at great
pains to communicate with all parties
going to the far north, and to tell them
all about Andree's expedition and ask
their assistance in his behalf. The Ge-
ographical society of the Pacific coast
Is also active in the same matter. The
Pacific Steam Whaling company sends
vessels to practically all parts of the
Pacific ocean reached through Behring
sea, and 1t has carefully instructed it's
captains to do their best to instruct the
natives. The Alaska Commercial COM
pany will send like instructions to all
its posts and to all points reached by
it's vessels. The captains and agents
are asked to make known to the in
habitants of those parts of Alaska,
British Columbia and IBERIA bordering
upon the Arctic ocean the possibility
of the balloon reaching their country,
and to ask them to give the balloonists
support and assistance, and help direct
them to the nearest white settlement,
and especially to report if they see the
balloon.
Captain McGreggor of the steam
whaler Orca, which sailed from San
Francisco to the Arctic last week, says
that the natives along the American
coast of the Arctic know enough Eng
lish to trade with the whalers, but the
natives on the Siberian coast speak
only a little Russian besides their own
language. The Tehutchis of Wrangel
land were literally rewarded by the
United States government two or three
years ago for assisting some ship
wrecked American sailors, and the
news of this reward has spread among
the natives, and is likely to do much
toward securing good treatment for
Professor Andree's party, or any other
white men, should they be in difficult
ties in that region. The whaling men
say tina such news as the sighting of a
balloon would travel with great rapid
ity among the natives all over the
northern country.