The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-25

had been foreseen, so that nothing
could surprise them. Southerly or
south westerly winds have been pre-
vailing over Spitzbergen, Norway,
and the ice regions. 1t is therefore
assumed that Herr Andrse and his
balloon went in the direction OF
Eastern Siberia.
The correspondent of the Stock
holm Aftonbladet says, that the
ascent was successfully performed
amid cheers. In spite Of the light
ness Of the wind the balloon rose
quickly about 600ft., but was then
forced down again near to the sur
face OF the sea. 1t then assembled
once more, after some bags OF sand
had been thrown out, and was borne
by a fresh southerly wind in q
northerly direction. The weather
was clear and the Eagle was visible
for an hour. The direction was
north-north-esat. The ascent made
a majestic impression.
The distance direct from Danes
Island to the North Pole is GIT
miles, and the distance from the
Pole to the nearest known con-
tinental terra frma on the other eide
is about as great.
A telegram from Hamburg says,
it has now been ascertained that the
recently caught pigeon which had
the word "Nordpol" and number
stamped on the wings belonged to
the Altoona Carrier Pigeon Club.
Four OF the clubs pigeons immedi-
ately after starting on the 18th OF
July, were picked up by British
steamer off Heligoland.
Reuters agency learns on inquiry
in well-informed quarters that no
anxiety is yet felt among geo.
graphers and Arctic experts regard
ing the safety Of Herr Andree and
his companions. An eminent geo
graper said last week:-'If we do
not hear by pigeon and II Andree
succeeds in getting across to the
North American or Siberian coasts,
we cannot expects news for some
days yet. The expedition is, of
course, moro risky than Nansen's,
but, at the same time, il the balloon
came to grief its occupants would
be no worse off than Nansen was
after leaving the Fran. Andree and
his companions are men OF the same
calibre az Nanssn and his oo-eIplor-
ers. Andree has studied every pos
sible difficulty, and all geographers
have the greatest confidence in his
ability. The one uncertainty is the
wind. II the balloon came to grief
in the Arctic Ocean the explorers
would simply take to their boats
and, like the Jeanette expedition,
would make for the Siberian coast
1t was quite expected that the eI-
petition would first be heard Of
along the Siberian or American
coasts, and arrangements were made
accordingly. The Royal Gsogrsphi.
cal Society and other bodies and
Governments issued circulars in the
various languages all over the lands
to the north, with pictures of the
balloon, 80 that tho natives might
not be surprised and might not,
among other things, fire at it. Every
place that could be reached was
supplied. The Canadian Govern
ment distributed such information
all over Northern Canada, as did the
United States Government in Alaska.
With such an expedition predictions
are not OF much value, but at pre-
sent their is certainly no cause for
alarm"
Captain Lehman, of the Dutch
steamer Dordrecht, writes from
Grimsby to the New Rotterdam
Gazette that, in the White Sea, on
July 18th, he saw floating on the
water strange object, which could
not be either ship or dead whale