ARCTIC MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 47, 23 August 1930, Page 10

ARCTIC MYSTERY

ANDREE PARTY'S FATE

POLAR BALLOON VOYAGE

DISCOVERY OF BODIES

Unltcl Tress Association—By Electric Tele-

sraDli —Copyright. (Keceived 23rd August 2.30 p.m.)

OSLO, 22nd August,

A 33-j-ear-old mystery of the Arctic was revealed to the world to-day by the discovery in the Arctic wastes of the remarkably-preserved body of the Swedish explorer, Captain Salomon Andree, who set out with two companions in a balloon in 1897 from Dane's Island, Spitzbergen, in an attempt to drift with the wind a-cross the Pole. He had arranged to tell the world of his progress *by means of carrier pigeons, but after he had been gone two days nothing was ever heard of him. The last message gave tho position of the balloon as 82 degrees north. Although numerous search parties were sent out, no definite conclusion as to the fate of the expedition was ever readied. Tho discovery was made- by a Norwegian scientific expedition under the leadership of Dr. Horn, which landed on White Island, a hundred miles south-east of Franz Joseph Land. Andreo's expedition had apparently come to grief after covering four hundred miles from Spitzbergen. Captain Andree's body was fully dressed and his polar equipment lay near the sledge. His body was so preserved that it was possible to recognise his features. His diary and a trinket, whereon was engraved "Sa Andreo" were found in his pocket. Tho ghostly camp was established by the explorers after they had been driven down. It was discovered by tho expedition when it landed but at first little attention was paid to it, everyone thinking that it was merely an abandoned camp. Later, on consulting records, it was found that no previous explorers had landed on the island and <i closer investigation was made. Cooking utensils wore found near the shore, and a little further inland, the explorers found the remains of the lost camp, then the bodies of three men, with clothes, and other equipment- lying nearby, together with several instruments marked "Andree's Polar Expedition, 1896." To all appearances Andree had outlived his companions. Dr. Horn, leader of the expedition, states that much equipment was hidden in tho ice. Digging operations were most difficult. The bodies, together with tho equipment, were taken aboard the ship, which will leave shortly for Norway, and is expected to reach Tomsoe on 10th September. Thcro is no trace of the balloon. It is believed that when they were forced down the explorers set out on foot to reach the shore, in the hope of being rescued. The position of the bodies leads to the conclusion that the explorers ware caught in a snowstorm while pulling sledges. One party sought shelter in a small boat, which became filled with snow, killing the occupant. Andree endeavoured to seek the protection of a ledge, but was frozen to death. All three bodies are well preserved.