The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-12-17
ANDREE'S DEPARTURE.
Leaving for the Sorth Pole In HIS
Balloon.

A1tCA q SOoho SASSP eAot hikht
July 10), we were awakened the fol- |
lowing morning with a joyous cry
which rang out in chorus from the
sounger members of the balloon expe-
lition: Southwark! strong and
steady south wind" We rolled out of
our beds, jumped into our clothes, and
ran up on deck. Andree had already
gone ashore. 1 hurried after. gave the
carrier-pigeons food and water, and
went to the balloon-house. AndIee, who
the night before had said to one of the
Younger members of the expedition: Il
feel that it will not be long before we
shall go up" looked trifie more seri-
Gus than usual as he walked about in
side the balloon-house and looked up
at the balloon.
After a few moments consultation,
it was decided to wait for an hour, dur
ing which time the three aeronauts
were to finish their correspondence and
all private preparations. The fated
hour passed; another consultation was
held on top of the balloon-house. Be
sides the aeronauts, NJ. Machuron. of
Paris, the nephew of NJ. La Chambre,
the balloon manufacturer, took part in
this consultation. Andree asked each
one separately to give his opinion. AL!
were in favor of starting. although the
strong wind made the start somewhat
risky. Then they came down. Andree.
as he went on board the Svenskund.
seemed to be more pensive than ever.
The next morning Andree told the
captain of the gunboat, Count Ehrens-
ward, that he had decided to start I'M
mediately the order was given to make
the final preparations. This was 1O:45
a. m. on the 18th of July. Then fol-
low ed few hours of intense work and
great suspense. In less than an hour
the northern side of the balloon-house
was pulled down, and in little over
two hours more the balloon had been
raised few meters, the basket secure
~ fastened to it's place, and everything
else belonging to the last preparations
accomplished.
All being ready to start, Andree called
me aside. and told me that he had de-
cided to call his balloon the Eagle (Or-
nen), and authorized me tc publish its
name; he gave me some messages and
Valuations to his relatives aNd friends
whereupon he, Mr.. Strindberg. and
Mr.. Fraenkel, smiling, and without GER
emory, warmly shook our hands and
babe us farewell Then Andree jumped
into the basket. and called out. ''Strind-
berg! Fraenkel!"-each jumping quick
ly into the basket as they were ordered
The extra sacks of sand were then UNI
fastened by Strindberg and Fraenkel
and the balloon was held only by three
strong ropes manned by number of
sailors.
Andree now instructed the sailors
to cut the ropes when he should say.
'Three!" There followed few mo-
ments of suspense and painful waiting
for favorable moment when the wind
should not blow so hard. Exactly at
80 in the afternoon Andree called out
with calm and steady voice. ''Cut!-one.
two, three!" a simultaneous snap. and
the gigantic balloon rose majesticallv
out of it's prison. while Count Ehrens-
ward shouted. 'Lefre Andree!" C'Goo'l
| luck to Andree'O, followed by strong
Swedish fourfold "Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah! Hurrah!" while the daring
aeronauts shouted back from above
| "Hesla, gamla Sverige!" ('Salute old
/ Sweden!") as the balloon lifted AMI
started before the strong wind, on its
| way to the unknown regions of Ultima
Thule-a voyage more daring than any
| since old Pythcas. more than 2.2OO years
ago, sailed out of the port of Massilia
| (Marseilles). steering toward the un-
known regions of the north.
AS the balloon was being cut loose
] ran upon the side of the mountain
behind the balloon-house. from which
point 1 saw it ascending. and took a
number of pictures of it as it started.
With it's weight of about five tons. the
gigantic balloon rose majesticaliy TO
height of about 600 feet; then it sud
denly descended until the basket;
touched the surface Of the water. This
depression was no doubt caused by the
great resistance of the three heavy
guide-ropes, each measuring more than
9oa feet, and which in some way or
other must have caught upon something
during the ascension: for it was found
that large part of them had been sew
cred from the balloon and left on the
shore. Notwithstanding this mishap
which it is hoped caused no injury
since to the balloon were attached
eight ballast lines. each $50 feet long
which might be used TO lengthen the
guide-ropes-the ascension was accom-
plished successfully. in spite of the
strong wind. When the balloon had
| been relieved from the tension of the
tangled guide-ropes. it rose again. fol-
| q nf he nj hafx oor,