The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-02

great mass Of molten earth in its effort
to get a breath, as it we're, Of oxygen,
to burst hole through this delicate
shell of hardened earth. The earth
in rotating has centrifugal motion
which would tend to make the crust at
the poles thinner and weaker than
anywhere else. It may be seen,
therefore, that the earth in cooling
may have kept this vent constantly
open, and if at any time it became
closed up it would be possible for the
great interior force to open another
vent at the same place.
It will occur to everyone that since
the world contains such an immense
body Of molten matter protected by so
thin sheet it is curious that it does
not at times break through, devastat-
ing enormous sections Of the earth's
surface. The theory of the existence
of these great polar chimneys makes
the present stable condition Of the
earth seem the more conceivable.
Instead Of the earth being capped with
eternal fields Of ice, it seems probable,
therefore, that they are the immense
safety valves Of the earth.
What then is the condition Of the
poles of the earth? Even if it be
proven that these world chimneys
exist, the effect on the polar regions
still remains mystery. Mr.. Harri-
son believes that this escaping heat
may have served to transform the
polar section for considerable area
into land capable Of sustaining some
form of vegetation, and even Of sup
porting animal life. This section, if
it exists, would be circular in form
and surrounded by a sea formed from
the water from melted icebergs. The
open polar sea. Of which there has
been so much speculation, can be
readily accounted for on this theory.
The opening into the earth itself may,
besides, be surrounded with geysers
aud similar formations.
The theory which Sims urged was
that the opening was veritable fun
mel through which poured enormous
volumes of oxygen, forming huge
vortex which swept everything in its
path inward to the very depths Of the
earth. If this theory be true vast
funnel Of air several miles in extent
is constantly sweeping down. sucked
in by the internal fires Of the earth,
which no human force could contend
with.
It will be remembered that Mr.. Har-
rison points out that Andree had
made several plans for sending word
as soon as possible to the outside
world. All the explorers who have
gone before have either made their
way out or got some word to civiliza
tion In less time than has elapsed
since Andrec disappeared. The
friends of this explorer, therefore
argue that he must have met with
some very sudden fate to be silenced
SO quickly and completely as he has
1t will be remembered that the ex
plcrcr took with him, in addition te
his ordinary outfit, generous supply
Of food tied to the rigging Of his bal
loon, which would support him ever
in case he lost the car Of his balloon
until he might reach some civilized
point. He was known, besides, to b.
very resourceful. When he started
for the Pole he was travelling, a
stated, at speed which would carr,
him there in less than two days. Fo
many days after. his departure tn
same wind continued, so that he woul'
presumably have been swept over tn
Pole and quickly on past the NOR
dangerous regions on the other sid
towards civilization. In the light o
these facts, Mr.. Harrison $ theor
!; seems the more probable.
If the Harrison-Sims theory be tru
Audree was swept on to his awful fat
and perished miserably in little NOR
than day after his departure. Hi
, balloon, with its freight. was swep
swiftly down into this great crater a
{ a fly might he drawn into grca
chimney There seems to be no othe
theory which accounts for -Andree
complete disappearance.
It's probable that this crater coul
t not be seen, Or at least that the dar
] ger could not be realized until til
balloon was within the clutches Of th
awful maelstrom, and then it woul
be swept onward and downward irr'
: sistibly.