Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24
DC. MANDEsCR|BEs.
ANDREE TRAGEDY.
Dir. Gore Has Grim Relic of
lovisit to Scene of Balloon
Wof Take-0ff.

t&&0b ACtCk Al00 a OAAuAASCt tkACAC - Az
the possession of local veteran Of the
Arctic, . quaintly-wrought wooden re-
plica of the old Swedish Norwegian
Union flag, left on the bleak shores OF
Spitzhergen SO years ago by the coura-
geous Swedish aeronaut, Salonioa Au-
guste Andree.
The nag. together with a photo
graphic record of Andree's Inflated ex-
peditioh of 33 years ago, has been
brought to light by Its owner, Dr. James
Howard Gore of the National Geo.
graphic Society, in connection with
news of the discovery of Andree's' well
preserved body on white Island, Frid-
tiof Nansen Land.
They said he never had q chance"
DR.. Gore, himself white-haired sur
yivor of narrowing Arctic adventure,
remarked yesterday. But, chance or
no chance, Andree was man Of admir-
able courage. 1t was a mishap at the
very outset of his flight that spelled an
early doom. He must have forseen his
ultimate fate not long after the take
on"
Ballast and Gas Both Lost.
The mishap was described by DR..
Gore as q tricky down-current Of air
that sent the heavily LOADED balloon
careening toward the sea, necessitating
frantic discharge of valuable ballast
% Andree and his young companions,
n. Fraenkel and NJ Strindberg Imme-
diately the bag shot skyward again,
this time lifting the curious guide
ropes out of the water and Andree was
forced TO release quantity of his
previously guarded gas.
The hight. If at any time capable
OF success, certainly was destined to
fail after that" DR.. Gore declared, as
ne gazed refiectively upon the resur-
rected pictures and other reminders of
the tragedy spread before him at his
home at 22I0 r street.
Although DR.. Gore did not know
Anuree and did not see the Start.of the
fatal flight, he is well qualified to ex-
press an opinion regarding 1t. He in
spected the scene of the take-off on
Danes Island, Spitzenbergen, the year
following Andree's departure, during the
course Of scientific expedition that
nearly ended disastrously for both DR..
Gore and his lone assistant. 1t was DR..
Gore, moreover, who was named chair
man of the special committee of the
National Geographic Society assigned
20 investigate the polar discovery claims
OF DIR. Frederick G. Cook The commits
tee decided that Cook never reached the
Pole.
Small Flag Recalls Patriotism.
The small nag, painted by. Andree or
nis colleagues on piece of timber used
IN construction Of the huge sectional
hangar" erected to house the craft,
remains rs mute evidence of the patri-
otism that fired the explorer In his
tragic effort to achieve the Pole for
the glory of his native land.
This patriotism, which did not falter
even when Andree was subjected to
sarcastic criticism for his failure to
make the fight during the preceding
Summer, was joined with the mans
inherent urge for adventure and brand
OF daring not exceeded by any chal-
lengers OF the Arctic wastes.
Yes, sir" DR.. Gore reiterated, can
dree was brave man. He had to be,
70 start out, hlindly, as he did, In q
wind-tossed bag devoid of such modern
devices as motors. radio, and rudders.
Inc only means Of steering he had was
curious apparatus Of his own design,
consisting of q wooden spar from which.
~ means OF pulleys. trailed long drag
ropes. Andree proposed to alter his
course by letting out more rope on one
end OF the spar than on the other. So
that the sea would create more drag
on the longer rope. In addition, he
nad mutton-leg sail on each side of
the basket, hoping thereby to take adj
vantage of favorable winds.
Ihe balloon; with its house, rested
ON o 30-fo0t stone shelf at the base of
q towering mound of rock and only
about SO feet from the sea. The jagged
rocks between the shelf and the water
were covered with wide wooden rum
way, smeareo with black axle grease.
Creased Way TO Eternity.
when saw that grease on the run
way ] remarked to my assistant that
Andree creased his way TO eternity
and made that comment seriously, not
humorously.
Il am convinced that it was current
Of descending air, sweeping down from
the top Of the hill, rather than any
fouling Of the drag lines, as has been
recently suggested, that caused the
balloon to dip toward the water Just
after 1t was launched. was told that
Andree and his companions quickly
threw over considerable ballast, with
the result that the bag rose to q great
height, lifting the drag lines out of the
water. With the lines out of the sea,
steering was impossible, so Andree re-
leased some Of the hydrogen that he
had sought to preserve so carefully.
The balloon then settled down again
and when the craft disappeared on the
horizon 1t was processing favprably in
O wind blowing from the SOUTH"
Besides the flag, DR.. Gore brought
from Danes Island q section Of one OF
the crates in which the balloon had
been transported from Sweden, and an
envelope bearing the official insignia of
the expedition.
Or. Gore went to Danes Island July
~, 1898, just year and a day after
Andree's ascent, to conduct some gravi-
rational experiments. He arrived at the
deserted outpost In steamboat he had
chartered for the purpose at Advent
Bay. Spitzbergen. He instructed the
captain of the ship to return for him
In six days, and he carried only pro-
visions enough for about week
Gore Had One Companion.
His lone companion was young man
name Prise. The two established them
selves in the little house which Andree
and his party had used.
"On the wall Of the house, in blue
pencil, were written the names of Oscar
SPECIAL NOTICES.
Twill NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEBTS
sn'i HARRY Y. TRIP, sco 2and s.. INV NV. 2s.
Will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
debts contracted By any other than myself