The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-31
THE FATE OF ANDREE.

NJ. Lachambre, the aeronaut, who
made the balloon in which his friend NJ.
Andree started on his journey to the
North Pole on the 18th of July, 1897, has
again explained his reasons why he does
not despair Of seeing him one day back
in France safe and sound. He says that
when Andree flew his third pigeon,
which is the only one that was found,
he had previously indicated his position
and complained of being carried west
ward. which would throw light on the
satisfaction shown by him in returning
southwark Tt may, therefore be regard
ed as almost certain that the balloon
passed within fifty or sixty miles to the
east Of the Seven Islands Of Spitsber-
gen, where the pigeon was found.
Mr. Walter Wellman, who is very
competent in such matters, and is him
self preparing a Polar expedition, de-
clares that under such meteorological
conditions the balloon must have been
carried first southwark over the open
portion of the Behring Sea, and then
towards Franz Josef Land. If the pas
sengers in the car of the balloon then
touched terra frma, it could not have
been elsewhere than within the limited
space btween the Behring Sea- Splits
bergen, Nova Zembla to the south. and
Franz Josef Land, and the Polar Ocean
TO the north-that is to say, beyond the
eighty-hfth or eighty-siXth parallel.
1t is thought improbable that the aer-
onauts drifted as far as Siberia OF Nova
Zembla, for in that case they would Ger
tainly have succeeded in communicating
with the civilized world. The general
movement of the tempest which pre-
vailed towards the East precludes the
hypothesis of the balloon having drifted
towards Greenland or Spitsbergen- NJ.
Lachambre, therefore, considers there
can be but three hypothesis concerning
the spot at which the balloon touched
ground. The first is that it reached
n c-lf =,
would have recognized the impossibility
of proceeding northward, and would
have come southwark. The explorers
would have easily reached Cape Flora
on the eightieth parallel, where Jackson
left a comfortable house and abundant
provisions for wintering- If they had
failed in reaching that spot they would,
according to NJ. Lachambre, certainly
have been able to construct ice-hOuses
Tor themselves and to shoot sufficient
bears, seals and moose to feed upOn
The second hypothesis is that the bal
loon 1elI into the sea to the southeast
of Spitzbergen. Being questioned a
few days before his departure as to
what he would do if such an accident
happened, Andree replied. We shall be
drowned The third hypothesis is that
the balloon may have been carried to
the northeast of Franz Josef Land In
that case the aerOnauts would probably
nave per1shed- In admitting that they
reached the ice fields of the Polar
Ocean. with their equipment and guns
they would in eight weeks march have
been able to reach land. But with the
exception of stray bear they would
nave had nothing to live on. With the
provisions they carried with them it
would have been necessary for them to
reach land before the end of September.
1897, and in that case news would have
certainly been received from them be-
fore now
Summing up his opinion, NJ. Lach-
ANDRE says that if the balloon fell into
the sea, the aerOnautS are drowned. if
1t fell on the ice-fioes to the southeast
OF Spitsbergen, they have probably per
tshed; but if they had reached Franz
Josef Land, Andree and his companions
would almost certainly have been found
last summer in Jackson's house at Cane
Flora NJ Lachambre has not. how
ever, lost hope He considers it quite
possible that Andree reached the North
Pole. and landed from his balloon on the
further side of it. and he was Obliged to
winter where the balloon fell No rea-
sonable conviction can be formed be-
fore the expiration of three years If
after the expiration of that period from
the day of his departure Andree has
neither returned nor been heard of. if
is only then that he might be regarded
as having periShed.-PariS CorresDou-
Gence London Standard