The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-03
Andree's Recognition Of Danger

Jonas Stadlng. who accompanied Andree
to Danes Island and witnessed his depart
ure towards the north pole. contributes to
the Century an article entitled "Andree's
Flight into the Unknown" Mr., Stadling
says:
The aeronauts were impatient to start
this year. They had decided to wait for
really favorable winds until the 18th OF
July. After that date they were prepared
to start with a less favorable wind.
In my talks with them about the risk.
and dangers of their undertaking, they
said at various times:
I'VE have taken all into account. We
are prepared to face whatever may hap
pen."
Suppose the balloon should burst" ]
asked. what then?''
I'VE shall be drowned or crushed"
Suppose you alight on the pack-ice. far
away in the desolate polar regions; what
VIII you do?''
I'VE shall do our best and work our
way back as far as possible. Having dur
ing these last years thought, worked, and
calculated in preparing for this expedi-
ton, We have. so TO speak, mentally lived
through all possibilities. New We only de-
sire 10 start, and have the thing finished
some way or other
While talking about home and the loved
ones their faces would assume more Sc
rious expression, and a faint culver OF the
voice might be noticed; but there was no
wavering of purpose.
when may we begin to hope to hear
from you?" asked.
"At least not before three months; and
one year, perhaps two years. may elapse
before you hear from US, and you may
one day be surprised by news Of our arri-
val somewhere. And II motif you neve.
hear from us-others win rufow IN our
wake until the unknown regions Of the
north have been surveyed"
Those who think the expedition a feat
OF foolhardiness should remember that,
humanity speaking. all possible precautions
were taken toward securing a safe voyage.
A new and larger balloon might have been
made during the previous winter, but An
dree preferred to enlarge the old one; be-
sides, a larger balloon would have been
still more difficult to handle. :.
AS the balloon was being cut loose I ran
upon the side of the mountain behind the
ballooon-house. from which point / saw it
ascending. and took number of pictures
of it as it started. With its weight of
about five tons, the gigantic balloon rose
majestically to height of about six hum
dred feet: then 1t suddenly 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 nine hundred 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
severed from the balloon and left on the
shore. Notwithstanding this mishap-
which II is hoped caused no injury, since
to the balloon were attached eight ballast
lines, each two hundred and fifty 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, following the current
of the air between the mountains, first
northeast and then north. whereupon II
rose ITO some fifteen hundred feet, enabling
1t to pass over the mountainous island of
Fogelsang, after an hour finally disappear
ing in north-northesst direction.