TRAGEDY IN ARCTIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 267, 25 August 1930, Page 5

TRAGEDY IN ARCTIC.

EXPLORERS’ BODIES FOUND. FATE OF ANDREE’S PARTY. (United Press Association—Copyright.) QSLO, August 23. A 33-year-old mystery was revealed to the world to-day by the discovery in the Arctic wastes of the remarkably preserved body of the Swedish explorei Solomon. Andree, who set out with two companions in a balloon in 1897 from Danes Island, Spitzbergen, in an attempt to drift with the wind across the Pole. They had arranged to tell the world of their progress by means of carrier pigeons, but after they had been gone two days nothing was ever heard oi them. The last message gave the position of the balloon as 82deg. .north. Although numerous search parties were sent out, no definite 'conclusion as to their fate was ever reached.^ The discovery was made by a Norwegian scientific expedition under the leadership of Dr. Horn, which landed on White Island, 100 miles south-east of Spitzbergen, in Franz Joseph Land. Andree’s expedition apparently came to grief after covering 400 miles from Spitzbergen. Andree’s body was fully dressed in Polar equipment, and lay nehr a sledge. It was so well preserved that it was possible to recognise the features. A diary, and a trinket on which was engraved the name “S. A. Andree” were found in a pocket. Discovery of Camps. The camp established by the explorers after they had been driven by the wind was discovered by the expedition when, they landed, but at first it was given little attention, as they thought it was an abandoned, camp. Later, on consulting records, it was found that no previous explorers had landed on the island. Closer investigation was made, and cooking utensils were found near the shore. A little further inland the explorers found the remains of the last camp, and the bodies of three men. Clothes and other equipment were lying nearby, together with several instruments marked “Andree’s jPolar Expedition, 1896.” To all appearances Andree outlived his companions. Dr. Horn (the leader of the expedition) stated that much equipment was hidden in the ice, and digging operations were most difficult. The bodies, with the equipment, were taken on bbard the ship, which would shortly leave, for Norway, and was expected to reach Tromsoe on September 10. No trace of the balloon was found. Tt was lielieved that when they were forced down the explorers set out on foot to reach the shore in the hope of rescue. The positions of the bodies led to the conclusion that they were caught in a snowstorm while pulling sledges. One of the party sought shelter in a small boat, which became filled with snow, killing the occupant. Andree endeavoured to seek protection in a sledge, and was frozen to death. All three bodies were well preserved.