The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19
HERR ANDREE'S VOYAGE.
A YEAR AGO HE SAILED AWAY
IN THE BALLOON.


Back Again.
On July II, 1897, Solomon August Andree
| started for the North Pole in balloon.
He took with him two companions, Nils
srlddberg and Knut Hjalmar Ferdinand
Frakel.
| 1t was the most daring exploit in the
history of Arctic adventure. For years
Andree had been known as a balloonist
and a student of the air Two years be-
fore he had notified King Oscar of Sweden
that with the proper facilities he could
reach the North Pole in a balloon, and
after investigation King Oscar donated
| 5000 krones to the enterprise and the
Swedish Geographical Society made up
| the rest.
! The start was made from Danes Island
near Spitzbergen, which is rocky island
in the Arctic circle. 1t took place July IL.
1897 or just a year ago. A large number
of balloon enthusiasts made a journey
from Europe TO see the ballon start on its
voyage.
Herr Andree had personally superin-
tended the transportation of the balloon
and had stored it with provisions to last
eleven days. His plan was to reach the
pole within twenty-four hours. make OBJ
servations and return the next day, get
ting back to Danes Island within three
days.
In case a westerly wind continued to
blow he would continue west and would
cross the pole and come down to San
Francisco, landing there in three days.
When Andree was ready to start he
shook hands with his friends and stepped
into the car. His companions stepped in
after him. The great sphere was loosened,
the ballast was thrown out, and the bal
| air Andree shouted "In the name of my
colleagues send you our warmest greet
ing to our country and friends"
That was the last seen of him. Although
many expeditions have sailed to find him,
none have been successful If he
reached the pole he found It i'm
possible to return. Or did he fail to
reach the pole at all? Did his balloon
collapse and precpltate him in the ice
foes of the Arctic sea? Did he cross
the pole many have claimed sue
ISSSlully anu starting on MS WcBtWa I'd
| journey, intending to encircle the earth
fail to find land again? What became of
him? Is he alive. and if so where is he?
Did he die and IL he did where is his body?
Previous to his attempt to reach the
pole Andree had made so many ascen-
sions that he was by no means a novice
in the air.
| He was at one time chief engineer of
| the Royal Patent Office in Sweden and
was elected to the Geographical Con-
| gress in London, July, 1895. Here he vas
subjected to the most rigid cross-examln-
alton concerning his balloon scheme, one
| of the chief inquisitors being Gen. A. w.
| Greedy All had to own that Andrees
idea was level-headed one, if 1t could be
made to work The whole thing hung
| upon the extent to which balloon making
| had been carried.
The order for the balloon In which An
| dree was to start for the pole, was finally
| lodged with Lachambre of Paris in 1896
| and the maker kindly consented TO allow
| twenty men of science to advise him in
| the construction.
On July 4, 1895, the balloon was ready,
| but Andree preferred to wait until the
next year owing to certain Arctic calcula-
| lions he wished to perfect.
| Thus it was not unnl July H. 1897 that
he set out. simultaneously with his start,
circulars advising people how to capture
| the balloon In case 1t got away were
printed in four languages and were dlstri-
| buted throughout Scandinavia, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Russia, Siberia and Brit
| ish America
After the balloon sailed away people
were on the lookout for 1t for days as
| large reward was offered for Its rescue
| and a very substantial sum was put Up
for proof that it had been seen.
Andree told his friends that, If perfectly
successful and if he found a good station
| Ia In
away from three to five years. All would
depend upon his ability to get supplies
If, as he hoped. he could find an Esqui-
| maux village near the warm regions Of
| the open pole, he would remain there I'M
til he had completed his fun geographical
survey
A year has passed away, however, and
as no news has been heard of him, Il IL
| feared that he is dead. The other alter
native as most interesting He may be
away and living In the beautiful region
| which is said 10 exist around the pole.
| ii so, he must be in a tropical country,
for scientists agree that there is an open
polar sea.
An expedition to the rescue of Andree
started out under Walter Wellman He
took with him generous contributions from
President Mckinley, Senator Mark Han
| ma, Ambassador Hay, William X. Wander
| bllt j. PeirpOnt Morgan and the officers
of the National Geographical Society.
Numerous other expeditions have start
ed out after him. August Bandroe
hardy Norwegian sea captain, took a boat
several hundred miles north OF Danes Isl
and looking right and left for Andree
| Russell, the Russian explorer, penetrated
TO the extreme point of the Tichookcheo
peninsular off Northwestern Siberia look
ing for him without result
King oscar equipped a royal Swedish ex-
pedlton last September, which went fur
Their north than any other expedition had
ever done at that time Of year; but still
no trace of Andree
On Nov. q Jack Carr, a British sailor
heard that pigeon had been found in the
vicinity of Point Barrow. He got the pig
con and found that the message IL bore
was undoubtedly from Andree.
Many have been the futile suppositions
regarding him, A short time ago he was
located in Alaska, and again a carrier
pigeon arrived from him In British Amer
lea.
The samozendend peninsuIar In latitude
10 degrees north and longitude 20 degrees
east, entertained a Danish expedition sent
out by the Royal Society of Denmark.
| This station Andree intended to make one