Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-12-23
ANDREE's DEPARTURE.
Leaving for the North Pole in His
Balloon.

Leaving for the North Pole in His
Balloon.
After a sound sleep during that night
(July 10), we were awakened the fol-
lowing morning with a joyous cry
which rang out in chorus from the
younger members of the balloon expe-
rition: Southwark. A strong and
steady south windl" We rolled out of
our beds, jumped into our clothes, and
ran up on deck. Andree had already
gone ashore. / hurried after, gave the
carrier-pigeons food and water, and
went TO the balloon-house,- -Andree, who
the night before had said to one of the
younger members of the expedition: "I
feel that it will not be long before we
shall go up," looked a trif1e 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
oil 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. All
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. Inl-
mediately the order was given to make
the final preparations. This was 1o:4s
a. m. on the 11th of July. Then fol-
lowed a 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 a little over
two hours more the balloon had been
raised few meters, the basket secure
ly fastened to its 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 to publish its
name; he gave me some messages and
salutations to his relatives and friends,
whereupon he, Mr.. Strindberg, and
Mr.. Fraenkel, smiling, and without Ger
emony, warmly shook our hands and
bade us farewell. Then Andree jumped
into the basket, and called out, ''Strind-
berg! Fraenkell"-each jumping quick
ly into the basket as they were ordered.
The extra sacks of sand were then un-
fastened by Strindberg and Fraenkel,
and the balloon was held only by three
strong ropes manned by a number of
sailors.
Andree now instructed the sailors
''Threel" There followed a few mo-
ments of suspense and painful waiting
for favorable moment when the wind
should not blow so hard. Exactly at
2:3o in the afternoon Andree called out
with calm and steady voice, "Cut,-one,
two, threei" A simultaneous snap, and
the gigantic balloon rose majestically
ont of its prison, while Count Ehrens-
vard shouted, 'Lefre Andreei" (''Geod
luck to Andrew, followed by strong
Swedish fourfold 'Hurrahi Hurrah,
Hurrahi Hurrahi" while the daring
seronauts shouted back from above,
Hesla, gamla Sverigel" ("Salute old
Swedeni") as the balloon lifted and
started before the strong wind, on its
way to the unknown regions of Ultima
rhule-a voyage more daring than any
since old Pytheas, more than {, 200 years
ago, sailed out of the port of Massilia
(harseilles), 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 saw it ascending, and took a
1umber of pictures of it as it started.
Nth its weight of about five tons, the
yigantic balloon rose majestically to ]
! height of about 600 feet;' then it sud- !
lenly descended until the basket ,
ouched the surface of the water. This !,
depression was no doubt caused by the
,reat resistance of the three heavy :
each measuring more than
100 feet, and which in some way or
'ther must have caught upon something
Turing the ascension; for it was found ,
hat large part of them had been sew ,
red from the balloon and left on the ,
hore. Notwithstanding this mishap ;
which it is hoped caused no injury,
ince 10 the balloon were attached
light ballast lines, each 25o feet long
vhich might be used to lengthen the
ascension was accom- :
'lished successfully, in spite of the ,
trong wind. When the balloon had
cen relieved from the tension of the
angled guide-ropes, it rose again, fol-
owing the current of the air between
he mountains, first northeast and then
orth, whereupon it rose to some 1,500
eet, enabling it to pass over the noun
ainous island of Fogelsang, after an
our finally disappearing in a north
ortheast direction.oJonas Stadling, in
enfury