The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-07
AHDREE IS DOOMED
PROF. DYCHE, AN AUTHORITY,
SAYS HIS SCHEME is DEFEC-
TIVE.
BY BALLOON TO THE POLE.
RANGERS ARE FAR GREATER
THAN IN THE JOURNEY
OVER ICE.
CHANCES AGAINST RETURNING.
Party VIII Suffer Severely in Any
Case From Not Being Acclima-
tiZcd.

LAWRENCE, Kan, June 1.-Andree's
daring in attempting to reach the pole
in balloon is almost certain to cost
him his life This is the opinion Of
Prof Lewis L. Dyche, of the Kansas
state university, and there are few
men in America whose opinions on
polar expeditions are of greater value.
Il am afraid Andree will never be
seen again if he makes 4 successful
start from Spitzbergen for the north
pole in his balloon" said Prof. Dyche.
His expedition, as an example of dar-
ing, has never been equaied; it is
piece of stupendous courage, but nature
in its most terrible aspect is against
him, and it is very unlikely that he
viii come back.
The theory that the north pole may
be crossed in a balloon is extremely
fascinating, but the difficulties in the
way are almost, if not quite, insur-
mountable. Nansen's drift in his boat
through the polar currents was COM
pletely practicable beside it. Ice and
land are tangible things to travel over.
bat who knows the currents of the air?
'Andree has already started from
Stockholm, Sweden, for the islands of
Spitzbergen, half way between Norway
and the north pole. The balloon will
be filled about June 20, and if the
winds are favorable, that is, from the
south or southeast, it will be cut loose,
and Andree and his party will have
started on their perilous and, believe,
hopeless Journey.
"Andree argues that Nansen having
failed TO reach the north pole by
trusting himself to the currents OF
the ocean, there is more certainty i'll
currents of air. He relies on the pre-
vailing winds from the south or south
east carrying him near or across the
pole and probably waiting the bal
loon clear across the arctic circle to
Alaska or Siberia. For a year circu
lars from the Russian government have
been distributed over Siberia command
ing the people to watch for the balloon
and to care for its passengers. Similar
circulars have been distributed over
Alaska and Greenland.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE EXPEDI-
"A glance at this map will show the
difficulties Of the expedition. 1t is said
that all winds in that country are
from the south, because at the north
pole it is south in every direction
Winds coming from every direction
will produce cross currents that will
blow him everywhere and nowhere
Winds usually follow land inclosed
waterways. When I was at Holsteii-
borg, Greenland, 1 observed the winds
for seven u-eekS. From June 9 to June
90 the winds blew hard from the south
and brought fog and rain In August
and September the winds were from
the north. Peary told me that in the
north of Greenland the winds were.
from the dome of the continent toward
the sea in every direction. Greeley
reported from Cape Sabine and b.
yond high winds from various dirpc-
tions. 1t is therefore likely that the
balloon will be blown across the are
tic circle in a criss-cross way. now
north, now south. east or west, and i.
all the variations of the points Of the
compass. There will probably be times
when there will be no winds at all. on
account Of the low temperature, or the
winds, taking him to point he does
not desire may abandon him, only t.
take him up again and bear him out of
his course He may steer a few points
in the wind but he cannot prevail
against contrary winds.
DANGERS OF. ICE FoGS.
The greatest danger he may fear is from
the ice fogs, so dreadful and penetrating
that no clothing is proof against them They
are caused by the south and north winds
meeting over the great ice masses. How
Will he make observations in these mpene-
trab,e fogs? When was at Cape Sabine
noted strong winds for four or five hours
then wind and a great deal of bewildering
fog.
"If Andree, the other hand should cast