The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-23
Another Carrier Pigeon Caught Near
Iromsoe Island.
II Carried the Message, North Pole Passed
Fifteenth"
Doubt Expressed as to Whether
Either of the Pigeons Caught
Came From Andree, the Belief
Being Entertained That the
Aeronaut Would Not Send Such
Obscure Messages.

Obscure Messages.
| LONDON, July pa special dispatch
from Copenhagen says a carrier pigeon
has been caught in the vicinity of from
soc Island, near the north point of Nor
way, with the following stamped upon
its wings:
North pole; passed fifteenth"
NOT so CONFIDENT.
STOCKHOLM, July 22-Dr. Ekho1a.
who was associated with Andree in the
projected balloon expedition of last
year, does not believe that the carrier
pigeon caught on Tuesday in the neigh
/ borhood of Soevede, in Rigylke, with a
silver ring on one of it's feet and the
message North Pole, 142 w., Al :63' on
it's wings is one of Andree pigeons.
He says AndreeS pigeons did not
wear silver rings on their legs and they
have "Andree" stamped on their wings.
Moreover. he is confident Andree would
not send such an obscure message.
/ The 'Aftonblat," which has close rela-
tons with Herr Andree says that And
rec could not have dispatched the
pigeons recently caught in the neighbor-
hood of Soevde, and near Tromsoe Is
land because it was arranged that his
pigeons should be marked with the
words 'Andree expedition, A. D., 1884,
INTEREST FELT AT LONDON.
LONDON, July pa keen interest
| is felt in geographical circles here as to
the result of Andree's polar expedition.
and this is greatly increased by the ar
rival of the pigeons at Soevde and at
Tromsoe Island, though there is some
doubt as to whether either bird came
from Andree. 1t is a curious fact that
the inscription ''142 W., 1862" agrees
exactly with the geograp hical location
of which the London experts believe
they might hear from Andree at about
this time.
Scott Kettle, Secretary of the Royal
Geographical Society, who is about
leaving to attend the meetings of the
British Association at Toronto. said to
| the correspondent of the Associated
Press day: Il would not wish to
speak officially for the society on this
matter, but it is certain that if the wind
were southerly when he assembled, And
rec would cross the polar basin and come
out near the Behring Straits. 142 w.
means the coast of North America, and
if such a wind prevailed under the most
favorable circumstances, Andree would
arrive there. If the inscription means
this it seems also that Andree has
passed right across the pole.
1.-THE inscription is the only thing
! leading to the supposition that the pig
| con may have come from Andree, but
! it cannot be doubted that he will be
heard of on the extreme north of Amer
| lea, or on the Siberian coast. Sup
posing him to have arrived at 142 west
I he Gil
ascend the Mackenzie River and reach
the Hudson Bay settlements. OF
| course, if the balloon is not damaged,
there is no reason why he should de-
scend until he reaches comfortable
quarters
There is no special anxiety felt here
! as to Andree's fate, because even if
the balloon comes to grief Andree will
! be no worse off than Nansen after
! leaving the Fran.
FEARS FOR SAFETY OF ANDREE.
WASHINGTON, July 22.-Commo-
| dore Melville is not disposed to dis
credit the story of the news from An
dree, Notwithstanding the absence of
/ data as to the sender of the pigeons
and the date of the discovery This
omission, he said, might be accounted
! for by the haste of the sender and as
| it was not known that any other party
! in the Arctic regions was equipped with
! carrier pigeons, q degree of probability
/ was lent to the report that entitled it
to consideration.
Commodore Melville, however, does
not attach much Importance to the re-
| suits to follow such an expedition as
Andree's, even if it succeeded in cross
! ing the pole. He is confident that it
would not be possible for Andree to
! have alighted at the pole, and then
have resumed his fight, and thinks the
| best that he could have done would
| have been to cross the pole high in
the air His expedition, however, would
i solve the question as to the existence
! of the open polar sea, which has been
the subject of some controversy be-
| tween Arctic explorers, but beyond be-
! ing able to report upon that fact, An
dree probably would have little of
value to contribute to the present store
| of knowledge of the far north.
| Assuming that this pigeon message
| is genuine and from Andree, there is
grave reason to fear for the safety of
| the bold aeronaur. II, following the
i line of the meridian upon which he re-
ported himself, he landed on the north
coast of Alaska not too far east of
Point Barrow, he probably would fall
in with some of the whalers who are
still off the coast or some Of the few
| natives along the shore. But if the
| balloon once crossed the coast range
and landed in the interior, there would
be little chance of the explorer reach
i ing civilization again.
THINKS 1T A CANARD.
WASHINGTON, July 22-Professor
Willis S. Moore, Chief of the Weather
I Bureau, was very much interested in
i the report cabled from Christiana, Nor
way. that a carrier pigeon arrived yes
/ terday bearing the significant message
! stamped on its wings: North Pole,
| 142; 1852
Professor Moore, although he believes
i that the time has elapsed for the re-
/ ceipt of such a message, is inclined to
look upon the report as canard. If
the bird had been freed by Andree, he
thinks. the ring on its foot would have
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