Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-12
1T is POSSIBLE.
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covered is an absolute desert. and is rare
| ~ visited. even by the Eskimos. What
| became of Andree's two compa Mons. if
| the discovered remains prove to be his, is
| problematic, but light probably will be
thrown upon their fate by an examina
| ton Of the papers.
Capt. Chalker is a. half-caste Eskimo
who took Part in the landing of the Peary
Expedition in Greenland
The expedition to discover the North
pole, organized by Prof S. A. Andree,
a Swedish explorer, left Danes Island,
| Spitzbergen, in a balloon on the after
noon of July II, 1897. Prof. Andee was
accompanied by two companions,
Stindberg and Fraenkel. He was pre-
pared TO drop messages relating to his
progress, and various such communi-
cations We're discovered during the
three months following his departure
No authentic news, however, ever was
received concerning the fate of the bal
loon or its occupants.
Curious rumors have been current
of the finding of relics of the expedi-
tion but none of them ever was con-
firmed. In September of 1899 a buoy
marked "Andree, Polar Expedition"
with an anchor attached, was picked
up on King Charles island and later
identified as the buoy which Andree
was to drop when passing the pole, but
the general opinion was that it had
been lost overheard or thrown out to
Tighten the balloon. In September of
1900 a bottle containing a note num-
bered 143 was found near VardOe, the
most northeasterly port of Norway.
1t has twice been reported that An
dree's body had been found, but neith-
er of these statements were substan-
tiated In July Of 1902 circumstantial
| story was received from York Factory,
Northwestern British Territory, set
ting forth that Andree and his two
companions had been murdered two
years previously, that is, in 1900, by a
party of Eskimos at a point several
hundred miles north of York and near
Fort Churchill. The Eskimos saw the
balloon alight on a plain of snow and
three men emerge from it. The natives
approached and as they did SO one of
Andree's companions fired a gun This
was regarded as a challenge and al
most instantly the natives, according
to this story, fell upon the three eX-
plorors and massacred them. Every
thing pertaining to Andree's outfit was
carried to the homes of the natives on
the borders of the Arctic region
Many expeditions. some equipped at
great expense. have searched the Arc
tic regions for the missing balloonists,
but not one of the was successful.
Andrec's balloon was so constructed az
to be capable of remaining in the air
for over 50 days, but he took provisions
for only four months. The start from
Danes Island was made under exciting
circumstances. There was strong wind
| at the time. which frequently blew in
fierce gusts. From the west side of the
balloon waved the Swedish colors side
by side with a white silk flag with a blue
anchor embroidered thereon, the gift of a
woman friend of the aeronaut. Immediate
" under the balloon was fastened dag
onaly a piece of bamboo to which we're
attached sails like wings; these the zero
nauts hoped to be able to manipulate
from the car by means of ropes. Shortly
before go in the afternoon of July II, II
II years ago Andree was ready. He
shook hands heartily with those friends
who had assembled in the balloon house
nodded to the astonished trappers who
stood watching hin, and addressed a few
warm and heartfelt words to those whose
hands lie could not shake.
| Then tho three men. Andree, Stringbere
and Fraeknel, standing in the car, sever
ed the ropes. The machine rose mates.
tically while Andree gazed in happy con-
fderce upon those who remained behind
Then all three waved their caps anG
soutcd: Greetings to all at home II
Sweden
After n narrow escape from being driv'
en- against rock in Sweerenburg sound
the balloon was seen moving northward
exactly as Andree wished. The direction
of the first flight intimated that it would
be driven toward Greenland. or the north
coast of America.
Prof Andree first began the study OF
air currents in 1877 when on voyage
to the United States with the idea OF
crossing the Atlantic in balloon. Be
tween 1892 and 1897 he experimental II
Sweden with the help of King Oscar The
famous balloon In which he started FOL
the pole was constructed under the super
intenderce of NJ. Lachambre.
4 Danes island. the site upon which An
dree made his fatal start for the poll
, was selected by Walter Wellman of Chi
cago. as the point to make his start 1
years later, on the second proposed EN-
deavor to get to the pole by means o
an airship. Wellman returned from TIM
8 island, however, without having been abl
!. TO get away. The point of departure o
8 both expeditions is identical and Wellmal
v found the ruins of the huts used by An
e drce and his companions during the d2y
e preceding their flight.
&. ST. Johns. n F., Nov. n.-Capt
r James Chalker, master of the FISHING
v schooner Pilot Of Brigus. Conception
J. Bay, n F., said tonight that while HI
:, vessel was cod fishing in Mugford bay
northern Labrador. about Aug. 8
! Aug. 10. he started overland across tn