Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30
The Weird Balloon Journey Toward
the Pole.
TO BE GONE PERHAPS A YEAR
An Eyewitness Describes the Scene
at the Start.
NON ENTS OF SUSPENSE

the November Century an article entitled
Andree's Flight Into the Unknown" This
is accompanied by a number OF interesting
photographs. including several of the bal
loon after it had been cut loose and had
begun its flight. Mr.. Stadllng says:
The aeronauts were impatient to start
this year. They had decided TO wait for
really favorable winds until the l1th OF
July. After that date they were prepared
TO start with less favorable wind
In my talks with them about the risks
and dangers of their undertaking. they said
at various times:
We have taken all into account We are
prepar I'd to face whatever may happen"
suppose the balloon should burst" L
asked; what them"
We shall be drowned or crushed"
Suppose you alight on the pack ice far
away in the desolate polar regions; what
will you do?'
We shall do our best. and work our way
back as far ss possible. Having during
these last years thought, worked ana cal
cuiated in preparing for this expedition,
we have, so to speak, mentally lived
through all possibilities. Now We only de-
sire to start. and have the thing finished
some Way or other"
While talking about home and the loved
cnes their faces would assume a more Sc
rious expression, ard faint CULVER of the
voice might be noticed, but there was no
VI puIpCst
When may we begin to hope TO hear
from your" i asked.
AT least not before three months: and
one ye1r, perhaps two years may elapse
Before you hear from us, and you may one
day be surprised by news of our arrival
somewhere. And il Motif you never hear
from us-otkers will follow I'm our wake
until the unknown regions of the north
have been surveyed"
Precautions.
Those who think the expedition feat Of
foolhardiness should remember that hu-
manly speaking. all possible precautions
were taken toward securing a safe voyage.
new and larger balloon might have been
made during the previous winter. but An
dree preferred to enlarge the old one; be-
sides. larger balloon would have been
still more difficult to handle.
After sound sleep during that night
tJuly lo). W. We're awakened the following
morning with joyous cry, which rang out
IN chorus from the younger members of
the balloon expedition: Southwark, A
strong and steady south wind.' We rolled
out Of our beds. Jumped into our clothes
and ran up on deck. Andree had already
gone ashore. 1 hurried after, gave the car
rier 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. Il feel that 1t
Will not be long before We shall go up"
looked trfhe more serious than usual as
ne MIhtu dDoul INSIDE the balloon house
and locked up at the balloon.
After few moments consultation, IL
was decided to wait for an hour during
which time the three aeronauts were to
finish their correspondence and all private
preparations. The fated hour passed; an
other consultation WAS held on top of the
balloon house. Besides the aeronauts NJ
Nee huron 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 Svensksund seemed to be
more pensive than ever.
Getting on.
The next morning Andree told the cap
tain of the gunboat, Count Ehrensvard
that he had decided to start Immediately
the order was given to make the final prep
arations. This was 10:45 am, on the llth
OF July. Then followed a few hours of
intense work and great suspense In less
than an hour the northern side of the bal
Icon house was pulled down. and in a little
over two hours more the balloon had been
raised n few meters, the basket securely
fastened to its place, and everything else
belonging to the last preparations accom-
plished.
All being ready to start Andree called
me aside and told me that he had decided
to call his balloon the Eagle 0Ornen). aud
authorized me 10 publish lis name: he
me some messages and saiutations to mis-
relatives and friends, whereupon he Mr.
Strindberg and Mr.. Fraenkel. smiling and
without ceremony, warmly shook our hands
and bade us farewell Then Andree jump
ed into the basket and called out: ..Strini-
berg! Fraenkelr'-each jumping quickly
into the basket they were ordered. The
extra sacks of sand were then unfastened
by Strfndberg and Fraenkel and the bal
loon was held only by three strong ropes
manned by number of sailors.
Andree low instructed the sailors to cut
the ropes when he should say ''Threer"
There followed few moments Of suspense
and painful waiting for a favorable mo-
ment when the wind should not blow so
hard. Exactly at 2:30 in the afternoon
Andree called out with calm and steady
taneous snap, and the gigantic balloon
rose majestically out of its prison, while
Count Ehrensvard shouted. "Lefre An
dree" c'Good luck to Andree'D.
Away She Went.
Then followed strong Swedish four
field "Hurrah. Hurrah, Hurrah! Hurrahr'
while the daring aeronauts shouted back
from above 'Hesla gamla Sveriger' c'Sa-
lutte old SwedenrD as the balloon lifted
and started before the strong wind, on its
way to the unknown regions of Ultima
Thule-a voyage more daring than any
since old Pylheas more than twenty-five
hundred years ago sailed out of the port
OF MaSSllla lMarSellleSb. steering toward
the unknown 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 I saw ii
ascending, and took a number OF pictures
of IT ii started. With its weight of
about five tons the gigantic balloon rose
to a height of about six hum
dred feet, then il suddenly descended until
the basket touched the surface of the
water. This depression doubt
caused by the great resistance of the three
heavy guide ropes, each measuring more
than nine hundred feet, and which in some
v ay or other must have caught upon some
thing 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. 1T is hoped caused no injury since
to the balloon were attached eight ballast
lines. each two hundred and fifty feet
fong, which might be used to lengthen the
guide ropes-the ascension was ACCOMPLISH
ed successfully. in spite of the strong wind.
When the balloon had been relieved from
the tension Of the tangled guide ropes il
rose again. following the current of the air
between the mountains, first northeast and
then north. whereupon IL rose to some ff-
teen hundred feet, enabling II to pass over
the mountainous island of Fogelsang. after
an hour finally disappearing in a north
IA % -. II