ANDREE'S PARTY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 11

ANDREE'S PARTY.

THE LAST JOURNEY. SUMMARY OP LEADER'S DIARY. IUSHED PEESS ASSOCIATION—BS ELBCT3IO TELEGRAPH—COPYJUOHT. 1 STOCKHOLM, September 19. 'The Swedish Government has issued a. summary ot the diary of S. A. Anuree, the remains of whom and his companions on the Polar night by uailoon m IoJ/ were recently discovered on White i&iand, north-east ol opj taueigen iiio uiuiy contains 142 pages and covers tne penou Irani Juiy llui. lam , to Uctooer 2nd, lot*/, wiieu tuo last note appears:—"With such continues one ssnuuid be able to get turougii under any circumstances." J.ne diar.v coiKa.ns observations and reflections <h human and scientmc importance. Althougu Andree was tne eldest of the party he constantly enoeieu Jus companions and withstood hardships, better man the rest. iNevertneiess, the aiary thus tar lias not cleared up many of thu bumiug circumstances of tne night. Un Jim ll!t n and 13th tho gondola of the balloon was repeatedly forceu down, until it touched* the ice. i< ire broke oul in the gontiola on July 14th, but was easily extinguished, and that day the flight was abandoned in latitude 83 dug. N , longitude 30 deg. ii., out no reason is given. The diary only states: '"The baboon struggled upward, but Andree opened botn valves to prepare for a bate landing." ihe timo from Julv 14th to 2<sth was devoted to the organisation of the sleds and plans for the trip across the ice, which was begun on July 27th, when the diar.v notes: "A bit hazy regarding our actual goal in travelling over the ice." A not* written on July 30th explains that the expedition decided not to attempt to reach the depot .stations at Spitzbergcn. but instead proposed to proceed' to Franz Josef Land. It made the slowest progress, never exceeding a few miles daily, hut all the time taking observations which Andree was confident would bo t>f great scientific value.

Shortage of rood. On August 4th the trio were compelled to abandon hope of reaching Franz Josef Land, as food stores were dwindling, while Frunckei and Stnndberg were suffering constantly from stomach and teeth troubles, .however, all kept recounting humorous anecdotes in a brave of.'ort to keep up their courage. Early in August the shortage of food became more acute, and the party was compelled to shoot Polar bears and seals Meanwhile they were continually taking samples of soil and Arctic plants. There is a humorous entry to the effect that Franckel was making delicious Polar bear pancakes, whicn were very tasty. Approaching Spitzbergen the party had an opportunity to use the canvas boat, but found that drifting ice made it impossible to reach the Seven islands The diary n*>tes mcreasinglycold storms from September 12th to 17th, forcing the trio to admit that it must be winter ice. . On September 17th they sighted White Island, which Andrea named New Iceland. Again supplies were at the lowest ebb, but on September 20th they killed bears and sea l ", giving provisions enough to last till April. 1898 They then constructed a hut which thev called hom«. An ontry on October* 2nd records that a heavy ftorm swept away part of their provision* and equipment, despite the most valiant efforts to save -them. The diary ends on the samo date, Andrce apparently still trying to maintain his comrades' cheerfulness, and paying a Rowing tribute to Franckel and StrindAfter examining the Andree diaries legal experts decided that the Swedisn copyright law must apply, but as more than 30 years have elapsed since the diaries were written the copyright has lapsed, and anyone is at liberty to publish the contents. The exports report that the diaries were carefully written and contain 142 pnges. which constitute a most remarkable human and scientific document.