The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-18

pull OF a string. After the beefsteak -
cooked, a pull on another string Will put
the fire out. Then the food will be pulled
up and eaten. This precaution is taken to
preclude any possibility of the balloon
catching fire. The cooking apparatus was
invented by Swedish engineer purposely
for Mr.. Andree.
The explorers had with them a patent
colInpsibie boat, so that IL they were
dropped into the water. they could imme-
diately pull the boat accordion-like, ana
paddle TO the nearest ic 5erg. The car was
also so arranged that they cared to. II
could be detached from the balloon almost
instantly.
steering the Balloon.
II was not Andree's purpose 10 stay at
any great height. He wanted TO keep close
TO the earth-5eo feet IL he could-to better
study the topography OF the country. lie
started with a south wind, but as Gen.
Greely says, II can hardly be expected that
this wind will keep up straight for the go
or 100 miles 10 get TO the pole. Hut the TAR
sighted and resourcefui Andree provided
for this He Invented steering apparatus,
which is a wonderful thing. He took three
heavy hawsers OF varied length. the short
est being 900 fest long. or fifth OF mile.
and the longest ]. 90 feet. On the bottom
Of these he placed a weight-iust enough TO
keep the rope close TO the ground. These
lust above the car and drag along the Ice.
or In the water. as the case may be. As
these ropes drag along they are shifted by
the voyagers as they WILL so that their
weight and hold on the balloon would affect
their course In one way or the other.
sails TO Help the afrship Along.
Rugged from the top Of the car 10 the
mouth of the balloon inside the net are
two sails which arc stretched on bamboo
poles. and which present an area Of nine
ty-four square yards. or a quarter OF the
cross section of the hanging net. 10 the
wind The sails are attached by three
straps TO the large iron ring. so that Air.
AnSrre has not only combined the COM
mon principles Of being lifted into the air
bv balloon and forced along with the air
current bat by bis sails obtains speed. and
BY his dragging ropes. steering.
From his experiments An6Fes said he
was confident thst he could steer his bal
loon At an angle OF s5 degrees. so that with
either a southwest or southeast wind. he
could steer 10 the pole. II was said in the
cable dispatches describing Andree's de-
narture that these steering ropes had been
left behind IN the hurry OF en1barkation.
1t was subsequently learned that he had
plenty Of other rope In MS basket, which
he could easily rig up.
II case one % these ropes should eaten
In an ice ereyics ana threaten 20 wreck tho
balloon, or even 20 hold II stationary Ar.
Andres wiH clamp on 10 the rope cylin-
drical metal tube in which are two sharp
knives OK a spring. This viii slide down
TO where the rope Is fast 10 earth. and
sudden Jerk on the twins that governs the
knives will Cut the drag rope free. This
Is vary similar 10 the instrument which IL
used by the lie saving station crews along
the Atlantic coast 70 cut free "a bEeeches
buoy Flne from wreck
The point of departure selected was
soitxhergen on the Danes Islands. 80
miles of the north coast Of Norway, be-
CAUSE a south wind u il carried the bal
loon thence across the pole, would land
II In Alaska or Siberia near bering
straits The balloon was taken tntthcr
in lss ~ a steamer. which also carried
,hlrtv-fve tons Of suiphgric acid 70 gen
crate hydrogen azs- An ectsgonai wooden
bossa twsuty-three ftset esght inches
arvox. and sixfy-nve feet seven inches
high. vas nulls. and wiihin it the balloon
vas inflated. Wnen tire balloon Rad been
rssaeS the car was attached below just
before departure
Tn. start was delayed by various CAUSES
,.rtu shtz sumner. srd meanwhile the
nsrtv lived eu board the steamer svsrs-
kyrH TIE balloon sprung a leak which
.-o.~fssssaH On Paks