The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-04
THFRE MAY BE ANOTHER CANDIDATE
CITY COMMITTEE MEETS TONIGHT
DID ANDREE FIND
THE NORTH POLE =?

is franz Josef Land to be the future
rendezvous of all lost, straxed and missing
explorers of the North Pole?
1t certainly seems to be the consensus of
opinion among those whose experience or
study entities their views to respectful con-
sideration that, as it was Nansen's first OBJ
Jective point on his way southwark from
MS farthest NORTH so it will prove to have
been the first station, or resting place
toward which Andree turned his weary
footsteps upon his return from the north
pole; that is, If he really did reach that
goal OF his ambition; the point where lat
itude ceases and all meridians of longi-
tude converge; where there is no north, no
east no west-ndeed, no direction but
south.
Never since the middle of the present
century, when Sir John Franklin failed to
return with his expedition that went out
on the Erebus and Terror in search of the
Northwest passage, has there been such
deep and widespread interest in any party
OF explorers as is now felt in Andree and
his two intrepid companions, Fraenkel and
Strindberg, who left Danes island near
spitzenberg. July II, 1897, to endeavor TO
reach the north pole in a balloon. especf ally
constructed and equipped for this voyage
upon the most advanced scientific prnci-
pies.
Ever since the big airship sailed away on
Its course it has been quite the thing for
Wlseacres to scott at these brave men and
10 say, They are gone sure enough, and
nothing more will ever be heard of Them"
But quite as many people-and those of
exactly the same classs-made similar pre-
dictions concerning Nansen. and yet, with
in very few days of the date upon which
fxyIfA 10 Oo1r 1T
home, that splendid Norseman landed on
the northern coast of his native country,
AFTER mountaineering voyage of six
days from Franz Josef Land. where he had
spent some time with Frederick jackson,
of the A. c. Harmsworth polar expedition,
getting rid of personal dirt deposit, re-
sulting from his wonderful ice journey, and
taking on little flesh from the good cheer
at Jacksons winter camp on Cape Flora.
No matter what others said concerning
Nansen's plan and outfit on the Fran
and even before he sailed, both were liber-
ally and severely criticised-his own faith
was never shaken. The result proved that
his faith was well founded. So, too. was II
with Andree. But adverse criticisms of his
airship and his general preparations rolled
away from him like water off the back of a
duck, and there is really now no more rea-
son to believe that Andree is lost than there
was that Nansen was lost at the time he
was cheerfully plodding along and making
the greatest polar journey that was ever
made, and the carping critics still were in
sisting that he never would be heard of
again
Barring accidents, 1t Is more than likely
that Andree accomplished his purposed voy-
age to the pole in the way he expected, and
that he is now well along on his home
ward journey. He may be heard from any
time this summer or fall. Franz Josef
a fiIrt
known land, and he would probably en-
deavor to make that his first station, unless
he saw some other group of islands between
that arch pelago and the north pole on his
outward trip. This Is doubtful, though,
from the fact that when far north of Franz
Josef Land, Nansen found the depth of the
sea constantly increasing, which would
seem to indicate that he was not approach
ing any land masses in that direction. That
Franz Josef Land extends so far north Is
the reason why students of Arctic lore
recommend thorough search of that arch
ipelago for traces of missing explorers An
other reason is the lands accessibility. as
1t is possible to reach it with a vessel any
summer. 1t also has been, and still Is. a
favorte starting point for search parties
bound toward the north pole, and Andree
would reasonably expect to meet some ex-
petition there or find food stored for the
use of future travellers that would be of
great benefit to him and possibly assure
his safe return to the civilized world. where
multitudes are waiting to give the daring
explorers such a welcome as has never he
fore been accorded to any human being on
this planet All this is possible, provided
no serious accidents have marred the trav-
elers programme. But that accidents do
sometimes occur to balloons and balloon
its is well known fact.
A newspaper comrade who had done a
In daxv fo,, A..
paper with which he was connected once
told me that there was really no danger In
travelling in a balloon, that 1t was in trying
to make landing that the trouble usuallv
occurred. This was much like the man who
found little danger in jumping from the
top of house. but discovered that 1t was
in alighting that the element of danger
must be considered.
1t would be well just now to consider
what are the principal dangers to be en-
countered by Andree and his companions
in making either a forced or intentional
landing The worst that could happen would
be to come down in an open sea far from
shore. Their condition then would be
well-nigh hopeless. But while their course
was toward the north 1t is not likely that
they would find large stretches of open
water. Wherever human beings have been
in the highest ATTITUDES Ice and
land prevail, broken by occasional polynias.
Is fully prepared to overcome. To be sure
they might be blown in heavy gale of
wind against tall hummocks of ice. OF
against rocky coast and come to grief or
lose their stores. Their airship. however,
is provided with long rope that trails over
land and ice, or drags through the water
to steady the vessels motion, and acts in
conjunction with a sail that may thus
change its course several points of the
The explorers have provisions and stores
sufficient to maintain them for more than
three years, and SHOULD they land upon ice
or terra frma without serious accident they
would be able to take care of themselves at
least until they reached some point where
theycou find natives to aid them or could
secure sufficient food with their guns and
ammunition to carry them beyond the dan
ger area-that is, three years rations would |
be food enough If they carry It all with |
them: but they will probably find. as all |
other explorers have found. that the diff |
Guilty is not simply to have food enough on |
hand when you start on a journey. but to |