Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1901-02-01
saw the Andree balloon for ave min,


utes.
1t is certain that Mr.. Andree did not
take sufficiently into account all the
meteorological conditions. But at least
four learned professors did take them
into view on their comments at the
time on Mr. Andree's daring venture.
Professor Bezold held that as the winds
at the pole cross one another a direct
passage could not be- hoped for. He
argued that the distance the aeronaut
must travel would be extended from
3,40O kilometers (the distance in a di-
rect line from Spltzbergen across the
polar regiOn) to from 10000 to 10000
kilometers, and that the balloon could
not possibly keep afloat long enough for
that. But should this not prove true,
the professor continued, he thought it
very possible that Andree might sail
over the polar regions without knowing
1t, since it is precisely in that part
where the usual methods of navigation
are likely to be faulty and difficulty
would be experienced in determining
ones whereabouts. These difficulties,
he pointed out, consist not in the alb
sence of the means of help afforded by
the stars, but also in the fact that the
midnight sun, even if it be not yelled
for hours and days in mist, alters its
altitude SO little that the exact moment
of noon, so important for taking obser-
vations, cannot be determined. The
rapid changes of longitude, moreover,
which the balloon must make would
render the operation of observation ad-
ditionally difficult Even should An
dree succeed in crossing the pole, an
extraordinary concatenat tion OF favor
able circumstances would, in Professor
Berson's opinion, be necessary to ren.
der safe landing possible.
Professor Neumayer, of the admiral
ty Office, did not agree with those whc
regarded Andree's venture as Il pure
act of suicide, but he emphasized the
impossibility of 'prognosticating in any
degree the direction the balloon
would follow. Though not denying
that the voyage might be scientifically
useful, he failed to see how Andree
could make the necessary meteorolog-
ical observations at the time he should
believe himself to be crossing the pole
Tedious Waiting for News.
Definite news was expected to be re-
ceived of Andree before he had been
many days out, for, as has been stated
he was prepared with supposedly relia,
BILE means of communicating with the
lower world, but days passed and nc
news came. A month elapsed and still
no news of him out Of which anything
much could be made. Then Andree's
friends and the scientists and the pub
lie began to feel great anxiety. Six
weeks elapsed and as nothing was
heard of the aeronaut that could bt
credited, an expedition was sent out b!
the Swedish Geographical and An
thropological Society in search of An
dree. This expedition reached thu
neighborhood of the Lena delta, where
most perilous portion of the journey
lay before them. There they built q
boat and in the necessarily frail Graf
crossed the open sea to the mouth OF
the Olenck and thence proceeded to the
new Siberian Islands, where, 1t was be
lieved, traces Of the Andree expedition
might be found. But no traces were
found and the searchers made theil
way back to Sweden as best they could
Since then the search has in variou.
ways been continued, but all without
| avail.
Imagined or faxed reports of An
dree's safety and exact whereabouts
have from time to time been sent over
the world, whose effect has been tC
keep alive in many people the hope tha
he may yet be found alive. But the
| opinion of the most is that he was los
but few hours or possibly days after
his floating away from the sight of his
| friends, and yet II such were the fac
1t would seem strange that some ind 8
putable evidence was not long ago dis
covered. But 1t is not so strange thai
no evidence Of the disaster has beer
discovered, as would be Andree's sur
vival after all these years In the polar
region. And now again men Of science
and meteorological observation are go
ing over the known facts and so Ions
after the almost certa' n catastrophe are
able satisfactorily to themselves to es
tablish that Andree was ignorant ol
disregardful of meteorological condi
tions and that he was more foolhardy
than any Of his predecessors had been
And this appears to be true enough.
HOrst shoes for Luck.
/ Thn nf Irn