BALLOON EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5637, 7 August 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

BALLOON EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE.

A cablegram published this week announces that M. -Andree, the intrepid Swedish aeronaut — accompanied, no doubt, by bis "selected companion, Dr Ackbolm and Herr Nils Strinberg — has left Spitzbergen in his balloon in search of the North Pole. This is "the most novel exploring expedition that has yet been devised, and its fate will be awaited with keen interest in every part of the world. M. Andree, when speaking (at a farewell fete given to him and his companions at Gothenburg six or seven weeks ago, referred most confidently to the result. His balloon, which has been specially constructed for the voyage, is composed of three thickneßses of silk firmly glued together, and havingfive coatings of varnish on the outside. On the outside of this there is the netting which supports the suspension ring from which depends the car. The apparatus connected with this car is said to be a perfect wonder of ingenuity and contrivance for the storage of provisions, instruments, ammunition, &c. It is about sft deep, quite round, with a wicker cover. In it is a bedstead for one person, the arrangement being that one of the explorers shall sleep while two watch and make observations. For cooking an apparatus will be dropped down 15ft below the basket by means of a rope. It will be lighted by pulling a string, and when the cooking is done the fire will be put out by pulling another string. Whatever doubt the outside world may have as to the success of the expedition, it is not, as may be judged from H. Andree's remarks at Gothenburg, shared/by the three persons who are undertaking it, and, furthermore, the adventurous Swedes seem determined that whatever honour may . come of. it shall fall exclusively to their own country. They were deluged with applications for passages in the car — one coming from the proprietor of the New York Herald, who offered 100,000 francs for a place for a member of his staff — but they firmly declined to add to their party. The balloon, which has been provided an entirely new steering apparatus, is expected to travel under favourable circumstances at about twelve miles an hour, and at this rate of speed it should cross the Polar region in something less than a fortnight. Before the end of the month we may hear of M. Andree and his companions being welcomed in New York by the enterprising ' proprietor of the Herald.