The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-18
RIVER AT s A. NJ.
4 USELESS SACRIFICE.

and elevation. p. +. Lyons, observer.
-zz.
4 USELESS SACRIFICE.
Purposeless, from the practical point
of view, as most polar expeditions APP
pear to us to be, that upon which Prof
Andree has just embarked is the least
rational of all. We do not say this
with regard to the method that he has
chosen or the theories by which he sup
ports it, concerning which we do not
profess to be informed We speak of
the value of any possible results of the
desperate chances that he has taken, as
compared with the cost of the eXpedi-
ton and the risk of human life. An
dree's idea, followed with almost as
much enthusiasm and studied out with
almost as much care as that of Nansen,
is that it is possible to traverse the
space that surrounds the cap of the
pole by a passage through the air. His
theory is that, at some time during
July or August of each year, there is a
period of several weeks in which the
wind blows constantly on the Euro
pean side toward the pole. He has cal
culated the steadiness of this breeze
and its velocity to a nicely, from a
great volume and variety of observa
tons. His estimate is that in possibly
six days, but not less than two weeks
at the maximum, a properly construct
ed balloon would be carried by a wind
from the most northerly point availa-
BILE as a starting place up through the
polar zone, over the polar point itself
and down on the other side far enough
to be within the reach of habitabIe re-
gions once more. Thus, if his SUPPOSE
tons be correct and if he meet with no
mishap, he would expect to start from
the point selected, beyond Spitzbergen.
and land somewhere in the vicinity of
Boring strait, according to the direc-
ton and velocity of the prevailing
winds.
This theory became a fixed idea with
Andrea and he represented it so plau-
sfbly that he was able to secure the nee
essary support, from private individ
uals and from government itself. to
make his preparation. Last year he
spent weeks with his balloon at the ut
most extremity of Norway, waiting for
favorable opportunity to start. but
was prevented by battling and contrary
winds. After weeks of waiting again
this year, 1t is announced that he start
ed on his perilous journey on last Sun
day afternoon. Every precaution, of
course, has been taken. The balloon
which he uses is of special construction
and believed to be proof against all
the dangers of the air. 1t is fitted, as
far as practicable, with sailing and
steering apparatus, and is proyisioned
with several months supply for the en-
tire party that it carries. 1t is evident
in moment that the chances not
merely Of success, but of survival, are
infinitely less for these investigators
than for the adventures in the ordi
nary polar expedition by means of shins
and sledSes. Let any accident happen
to the airship, or, what is much more
probable, let the atmospheric c,rrant
fail, and the voyagers are depositad
without hope of rescue, somewhere
within the icy regions never vet reach
ed by the foot of man. To escape with
their lives with the limited provisions
that they carry and without facilities
for travel in those regions, would an
pear an impossibility. The regions ~
the upper air, to which they entrust
themselves, are of necessity an un-
known country, where movements and
laws are TO be met with not calcuIable
in advance.
On the other hand, suppose that the
expedition meets with all possible sue
cess and that every anticipation of its
protector is realized. What results are
to be hoped for beyond the bare SET
tlement Of the unimportant question
whether there is or is not an open polar
sea? Previous expeditions have pene-
trated far enough north for us to know
that, If there be a polar sea, 1t is not
of such vast extent as has been i'm
terest in attempts to reach the pole has
been in ascertaining what would be the
effects upon the magnetic needle. and
In making other scientific observations
Suppose that, by one chance In a mill
ion. Andree's balloon should drift over
the exact spot of earth, or of water. or
OF ice, which marks the geographical
pole. What good would that be to man
kind, or what would 1t add to the re-
sources OF science? Nobody supposes
that there is a painted post set up
there with a polar bear on top Of it, or
that the end of the imaginary axis Of
the earth differs physically from any