The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-16
The Daring Explorer Was Seen at
Ready for the Famous Trip.
MADE Il FAILURE LAST YEAR
WHEN VOYAGE WAS PREVENTED BY
CONTINUED ADVERSE WIND.
Description of the Great Silk Bag
That Is to Take Him Across Polar
Sea in FOrty-Eight Hours.

TROMSOE, Norway. July 15.-Aeronaut
Andree. the venturesome explorer, may be
to-day above the north pole Five days ago
voyagers who visited him at Danes island
learned that the big silk balloon was all
ready and the scientist and his companions
expected to launch it not later than July
Is. 1t was expected to require forty-eight
hours to reach the pole.
The Hamburg-American express steamer
Auguste Victoria, Captain Kaampff, which
went on cruise to Norway, the North
cape and Spitzbergen reached Tromsoe yes
terday at p. m. on her return from Spitz-
bergen. The steamer left Trondhjem July
6 for the North Cape and Spitzbergen. On
July the North cape was reached. which
the passengers assembled at midnight, ia
vored by splendid weather. The steamer
then proceeded northward for about four
hundred miles, reaching Spitzbergen at
about n degrees northern latitude on July
10. 1t is interesting to note that this is
within one-half degree of the latitude
reached by Nansen's ship, the Fran, when
she was frozen in. The passengers disem-
barked near the magnificent ice ford, some
arranging hunting trips while others ex-
plored the vicinity and took photographs.
They met Captain Sverdrup, the former
commander of the Fran, who was In COM
mand of the steamer Lofoten, and reported
that he had just left Professor Andree,
the aeronaut, at Danes island, on the
northwest coast of Spitzbergen, and that
ms preparations to reach the north pole by
balloon had been completed. The start was
to be made before July Is, to-day.
A dispatch from Hammerfest, Norway,
the northernmost town of Europe on the
Qual-Oe island (whale island) says that the
officers of the steamer Lofoten visited Mr..
Andree, the aeronaut, at Danes island, on
the northwest coast of SpitZbergen, on the
10th. Mr. Andree stated that he would not
be ready to make the start for the north in
his balloon until the 18th. A strong storm
4rom the south nearly carried off the bad
loon on the I'd instant, he stated and since
that time the north winds had been con-
tinuous.
S. A. Andree's idea to reach the north
pole by balloon came to him years ago,
from study of polar air currents and a
knowledge of the regularity of trade winds.
King Oscar of Sweden gave his approval to
the Voyagers plan in 1895, and capitalists
followed the Kings example in subscribing
funds for its execution. The patronage Of
the car of Russia was also obtained. In
the beginning of 1896 Andree made a con-
tract with Lachambre, of Paris, for silk
balloon seventy-tiVe feet high, which might
carry to an elevation of 1872 feet three ex-
plorers. their provisions and equipment.
The balloon, the cost of which was SO POO
was finished in May last year and exhibited
in Paris.
DR.. Ekholm and Nils Strindberg met Pro
lessor AnuTee at IKE House, In West SDltZ-
bergen, opposite Danes island, in June last
year. The entire equipment ready
there June p. The explorers had only 10
wait for favorable winds and atmospheric
conditions. June and July were passed in
waiting. August came with clouds and ad-
verse winds. Nansen, returning from the
Arctic lands. arrived at Danes island and
increased Andree's anxiety TO go north
ward, but unpropitious winds continued
ana the season was TOO far advanced when
they ceased to permit thought of his
aerial voyage 1t is postponed, not aban-
doned, l." iAndree said.
He returned to London, where scientists
acclaimed him. All encouragement came
to him. DR.. Nansen had SAID, Il will not
attempt again to reach the north pole in
a ship, but will perhaps lead a sledge ex-
petition over the ice from Franz Josef
Land"
Andree retorted then, II will lead an ex-
petition soon through the currents of the
air" He caused the volume of his bal
loon to be increased, adding to it 10000
cubic feet, so that its capacity might be
10000 cubic feet.
This increase of capacity was insisted
upon by Ekholm, who withdrew from the
gnderta akin os ne H., had f studied ed the plans Of
the Zenith, in 1873 and of Hermite and
BesancOn, who never received encourage
ment. From them the idea of the guide
rope, which trails on the ground or is
raised, for ballast and unbalasting, was
acquired.
Stockholm. He was born at Grenna, Oct.
Is, 1854. His father was druggist at
Grenna, which is on the shore of Lake
Wettern, in sweden. The aerial traveller
is over six feet tail, weighs 185 pounds,
is robust and has charm in manner which
all those who have written of his work in
detail. and have had the advantage of his
personal explanations of it, have observed.
He is not married. His mother seventy
two years old, is not the least enthusiastic
among the Swedish persons who have faith
that the voyage will be successful. Alfred
Nobel the inventor of dynamite subscribed
$17.75 to the undertaking, regretting that
he could not give more and the rest of the
subscriptions excepting the Kings and
Baron Dickson's which made sum equiv
alent to NobeIs, came in small amounts
from merchants.