The evening times., 1899-02-14
NO FURTHER news OF
ANDREE'S TRAGIC FATE
Scientists Hope to Obtain VAL
liable Notes of the Voyage.
Satisfactory Identification of the
Bodies Will Be Slow Work.
After 1t Sailed Away to the
North From Davis Island.

London, Feb. 14-No further details of
Explorer Andree's supposed fate has been
received here. 1t will probably be some
! time yet before satisfactory information
can be had from the place where the bod
les of Herr Andree and his companions
are said to have been found.
There is yet nothing to the story more
reliable than the word of ignorant na-
tives from the province of Yeniseisk, on
the Taimur Peninsula, but strange
enough there are few who doubt that the
explorer met the fate described Scien-
lists, however, are Withholding from any
| discussion OF the matter pending ident fl
cation of the bodies, which cannot be had
for some time. 1t is hoped that notes OF
the balloon voyage will be found preserv-
ed, and these will be of immense value TO
science
Professor Andree and his two assist
ants. Strindberg and Fraenckei, started
on their sensational aerial search for the
| North Pole on July IL, 1897. The start
was made from Danes Island. of the
Spitzbergen group. in the specially con-
structed and equipped balloon, LIE Pole
Nord (the North PoleJ, which was D. o.
ylSIoned for three years.
1t had been Andrees intention to make
the trip in July OF the preceding year. All
preparations were complete, but after the
expedition had rested on Danes Island for
three weeks it was found necessary to
postpone the departure for a year. owing
to the absence of favorable atmospheric
conditions.
The following year there was very little
Delay Two steamers from Tromsoe Nor
way, had taken to Danes Island besides
the explorer and his assistants party of
enthusiastic scientists. In their presence
the side of the balloon house was removed
the inflated sphere attached to the car thar
was to bear the voyagers on their perilous
mission. and without further ceremony the
ropes were cast off and the balloon rose
gracefully. floating off TO the nOrthWsrd
followed by the cheers of the spectators.
Andree's last words 10 the world he had
left behind. scribbled on a page of his note
DOCK and dropped over the side of the car,
were:
In the name of all our colleagues. I
SEND you our warmest greeting 10 our
country and friends"
For about an hour the balloon was visi-
bic to those on Danes Island: then il van.
ished into the haze OF the polar sea. When
they could no longer see the car of the
yoyagers or the sphere that upheld il, An
dree's friends were suddenly aware that
they were. in all probability, witnesses Of
one OF the greatest tragedies of the CEN
tury- On returning to Tromsoe several of
them spoke privately of this feeling of de-
preston which came over them while they
made public announcement of the favor
able start.
Only one authentic message from Andrae
was ever received. The explorer took car
rier pigeons with him, and for several
periodical reports OF messages returned
! by pigeons. and one OF message found in
! a bottle, but only one of these was yerI-
fed
The message was wrapped in a straw
paper roll. which was made waterproof BY
! wax covering On the roll was written
IN Swedish the following instructions:
open the roll from the side and take out
/ two letters The letter written in regu-
lar script please wire at once TO Alton
badet. The shorthand letter mail by ear
/ liest post to the paper"
The captain of the Aiken did not find
the letter mentioned, but the other mes
sage was found. 1t said:
From Andree's polar expedition 10 Af-
/ tonbladet- Stockholm, July 13 1880 D.
m, So degrees minutes north latitude.
10 degrees . minutes east longitude. fine
trip to the east 10 degrees south. Every
/ thing well on board. This is nv third
! message by carrier pigeon
| Prof. Andree was an engineer and chief
examiner of the Royal Patent Office in
! Sweden. He was a delegate to the Geo
| graphical Congress held in London in July.
| 1895. and at that time first made public
/ his purpose 10 solve the North Pole prob
/ lem by means of balloon voyage. His
I announcement was greeted by q storm of
/ enquiries from the savants present. the de-
bate being especially spirited between the
| aeronaut and Gen. y. W. Greely. the Unit
! ed States Arctic explorer.
/ 1t ended in applause for Andree when,
| in answer to the enquiry of a Frenchman
! present as to what he would do if his bal
/ loon collapsed and he came down in the
/ water without time TO adjust his boat he
replied with the one word:
Drown"
] After that Andrees enterprise was dis
! cussed with respect by scientists every
| where.