The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-28

conjunction with a sail that may thus
change its course several points of the
compass.
The explorers have provisions and stores
sufficient TO maintain them for more than
three years. and should they land upon ice
or terra firma without serious accident
they would be ready TO take care Of them
selves at least until they reached some
point where they could find natives TO aid
them or could secure sufficient food with
their guns and ammunition 10 carry them
beyond the danger area-that is. three
years rations would be food enough II
they could carry Il All with them: but
they viii probably find. as all other explor-
ers have found. that the difficulty is not
simIsy 70 have enough food on hand when
you start on journey. but 10 have II
just while you need il while travelling.
For instance. the stores and provisions
of the .baHoonists weighed more than 200
pounds. and this IS more than three men
could haul for any considerable distance.
even upon a light and well-iced sled. over
smooth snow, and it is not likely that they
could return 10 their base 10 re-supply
themselves with provisions as needed
When sailormen from expedlGonsry ships
have been employed 10 drag the sleds
their own food for the trip has 10 be car
RED along. and a man cannot drag much
more than his own ra1ions for thirty days.
With dogs for motive power there is the
same trouble. although not 10 the same ex-
tent, for when you put dogs on low diet
they don't grumble and rebel as men do.
So it is a question OF transportation only
whether or not the North Pole may be
reached.
Nansen had a shipload OF provisions
when he left the Fran with one CON-
panion and two dog sieds. and yet after
reaching his farthest north he was com
PEELED 10 turn back because he had barely
enough provisions 10 take him 10 place
OF safety. and yet he had taken on his
sleds the utmost limit OF food that IL was
possible to handle. He could have reached
the north pole at the rate OF progress he
was then making with the provisions he
had, bat would have had nothing for his
return journey. This VIII probably prove
to be Andree's most serious difficulty.
As to the most recently reported find
ria. there was nothing whatever n the
story 10 give il the least show OF proba-
biity 10 any one who i acquainted with
tina; part Of the world. The fact that II
is so inaccessible makes Taimur Peninsula
q favorite place 10 locate the finding Of alb
sent explorers. but generally a graphic
description Of the barren landscape and
the bleak surroundings OF the miserable
hut in which the refrigerated remains are
discovered accompanies the story.
The first story OF this kind I remember
was published in the New York Herald
in the winter Of 1sS2-S3 and gave a pIctur-
esque description OF the finding OF the
bodies of two or three OF the last surviv-
ors OF the boatload OF sailors from the
jeanette under Lieutenant Chipp. who
persisted during the gale that separated
and nearly wrecked the boats under Cap
tain De Long and Chief Engineer NOW
COMMODORE G. ". Melville. The writer
OF that story said that he found on one
of the bodies a pocket Bible with the
names OF several men on one OF the fiy
leaves Then followed a list OF the crew
OF Chips boat, which was not hard 10
get, for It had previously been published
several times. OF course. II was afteTward
proved TO be fake. and was denounced
as such by several Siberian travellers as
soon as they read the story.
The year before hansen returned there
was story. said TO have come from
mammoth ivory hunters. who had just re-
turned from the New Siberian Islands
northeast OF the Lena Delta. that hansen
had been seen in that vicinity. having re-
turned from the north pole. which he was
said to have found to be on a range OF
mountains. That. too. was lie.
In connection with both these stories
was the information that the police mag
istrate Of the district referred 10 had sent
trusted officers 10 verify the truth OF the
story; but that. toe. was as false as the
stories themselves.
This Is not the first time there have been
false rumors OF Andree's balloon. which.
IL was claimed. had been seen making
a landing in western Canada. not far from
the border Of the United States. and after
ward seen floating over Hawaii This time
the story was nailed BY the question. II
Il wac not Andree's balloon. whose bal
loon was lt?'' You either had 10 believe
the story OF answer the question.
There are 4 number Of people who stil
believe that the chances OF Andree's being
alive are about even. Among these Is
Professor Lachambre. the Geronaut who
built the great ar ship that carried An
dree and his party away RE believes
that Andree r. now az the north pole and
will return this year.
There are a great many more people
who only hope that he may come back.
and when he does may be there % see.
for there viii be the grandest dcmonstra-
ton in his honor that ever this world wit
messed. ". II. GLIDER