The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-18
TO WATCH FOR ANDREE's BALLOON
Instructions for Arctic Natives about the
Swedish Polar Expedition,

All the whaling and sealing vessels
sailing from the Pacific coast for the
ARCTIC Ocean and all trading expeditions
of every kind starting for summer tours
in the polar regions are taking with them
notices to communicate to the natives of
the regions they visit, telling of the
possible appearance there next fall Of
Prof. Audree'S balloon, and informing
them what kind of thing it Is, and what
to do and what not to DO to it and to the
men who are expected to appear with it.
Prof. Andree is to start from Spitz-
bergen with his balloon party some time
in July next, and will try to float over
the North Pole. There is no telling just
where the balloon may come down, and.
above ALI there Is no telling Just what
Bhe natives Of the polar regions night
think of balloon II they saw one They
might think it was an evil spirit and at
tempt to destroy 1t and the beings IL car
Either Of these acts would be unfortunate
So the civilized people going up Behrina
Sea way have been commissioned to give
all the natives they come across elemen-
taFy information on the subject of aero n
autics and especial Information as to
what to do il an aeronaut comes their
way.
The Swedish Consuls at the various
Pacific coast cities have been at great
pains to communicate with all partiesg 60
ing to the far north, and to tell them all
about Andree's expAdition and ask their
assistance in his behalf. The Geographic
cal Society of the Pacific coast is also ac-
tive in the same matter. The Pacifl O
Steam Whaling Company nsends vessels
to practically all parts OF the Arctic
Ocean reached through Behring Sea, and
it has carefully instructed all its captains
to do their best to instruct the natives.
The Alaska Commercial Company 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 inhabitants of those parts
bordering upon the Arctic Ocean the pos
sibility Of the balloon reaching their
country, and to ask them to give the bal
loonists support and assistance, and help
and direct them to the nearest white set
Element. The natives will ais o be asked
to report any news whatever they may get
of the balloon to the nearest white settle
ment, and especially to report If they see
the balloon.
Capt McGreggor of the steam whaler
Orca, whicn sailed from San Francisco
to the Arctic last week, says that the
natives along the American coast OF the
Arctic know enough English to trade
with the whalers, but the natives on the
Siberian coast speak only little Russian
besides their own language. The
Iohutchis of Wrangell land were literally
rewarded by the United States Govern
ment tWo or three years ago for assisting
some shipwreoked American sailors, and
the news of this reward has spread among
the natives, and Is likely to do much
toward securing good treatment for Prof.
Andree's party, or any other white men.
oh k4 ~,
region. The whaling men say that such
news as the sighting of balloon would
travel with great rapidity among the
natives all over the northen country.