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eighties。
Some ten years later than this M。 S。 A。 Andree； having obtained sufficient assistance； took up the idea with the determined intention of pushing it to a practical issue。 He had already won his spurs as an aeronaut； as may be briefly told。 In October； 1893； when making an ascent for scientific purposes； his balloon got carried out over the Baltic。 It may have been the strength of the wind that had taken him by surprise； but； there being now no remedy； it was clearly the speed and persistence of the wind that alone could save him。 If a chance vessel could not； or would not； 〃stand by；〃 he must make the coast of Finland or fall in the sea； and several times the fall in the sea seemed imminent as his balloon commenced dropping。 This threatened danger induced him to cast away his anchor； after which the verge of the Finland shore was nearly reached； when a change of wind began to carry him along the rocky coast； just as night was setting in。
Recognising his extreme danger； Andree stood on the edge of the car； with a bag of ballast ready for emergencies。 He actually passed over an island； on which was a building with a light； but failed to effect a landing； and so fell in the sea on the farther side； but； the balloon presently righting itself； Andree； now greatly exhausted； made his last effort； and as he rose over the next cliff jumped for his life。 It was past 7 p。m。 when he found himself once again on firm ground； but with a sprained leg and with no one within call。 Seeking what shelter he could； he lived out the long night； and； being now scarce able to stand； took off his clothes and waved them for a signal。 This signal was not seen； yet shortly a boat put off from an islandthe same that he had passed the evening before… …and rowed towards him。 The boatman overnight had seen a strange sail sweeping over land and sea； and he had come in quest of it； bringing timely succour to the castaway。
Briefly stated； Andree's grand scheme was to convey a suitable balloon； with means for inflating it； as also all necessary equipment； as far towards the Pole as a ship could proceed； and thence； waiting for a favourable wind； to sail by sky until the region of the Pole should be crossed； and some inhabited country reached beyond。 The balloon was to be kept near the earth； and steered； as far as this might be practicable； by means of a trail rope。 The balloon； which had a capacity of nearly 162；000 cubic feet； was made in Paris； and was provided with a rudder sail and an arrangement whereby the hang of the trail rope could be readily shifted to different positions on the ring。 Further； to obviate unnecessary diffusion and loss of gas at the mouth； the balloon was fitted with a lower valve； which would only open at a moderate pressure； namely； that of four inches of water。
All preparations were completed by the summer of 1896； and on June 7th the party embarked at Gothenburg with all necessaries on board； arriving at Spitzbergen on June 21st。 Andree； who was to be accompanied on his aerial voyage by two companions； M。 Nils Strindberg and Dr。 Ekholm； spent some time in selecting a spot that would seem suitable for their momentous start； and this was finally found on Dane's Island； where their cargo was accordingly landed。
The first operation was the erection of a wooden shed； the materials for which they had brought with them； as a protection from the wind。 It was a work which entailed some loss of time； after which the gas apparatus had to be got into order； so that； in spite of all efforts； it was the 27th of July before the balloon was inflated and in readiness。
A member of an advance party of an eclipse expedition arriving in Spitzbergen at this period； and paying a visit to Andree for the purpose of taking him letters； wrote：〃 We watched him deal out the letters to his men。 They are all volunteers and include seven sea captains； a lawyer； and other people some forty in all。 Andree chaffed each man to whom he gave a letter； and all were as merry as crickets over the business。。。。 We spent our time in watching preparations。 The vaseline （for soaking the guide ropes） caught fire to…day； but； luckily no rope was in the pot。〃
But the wind as yet was contrary； and day after day passed without any shift to a favourable quarter； until the captain of the ship which had conveyed them was compelled to bring matters to an issue by saying that they must return home without delay if he was to avoid getting frozen in for the winter。 The balloon had now remained inflated for twenty…one days； and Dr。 Ekholm； calculating that the leakage of gas amounted to nearly 1 per cent。 per day； became distrustful of the capability of such a vessel to cope with such a voyage as had been aimed at。 The party had now no choice but to return home with their balloon； leaving； however； the shed and gas…generating apparatus for another occasion。
This occasion came the following summer； when the dauntless explorers returned to their task； leaving Gothenburg on May 28th； 1897； in a vessel lent by the King of Sweden； and reaching Dane's Island on the 30th of the same month。 Dr。 Ekholm had retired from the enterprise； but in his place were two volunteers； Messrs。 Frankel and Svedenborg； the latter as 〃odd man；〃 to fill the place of any of the other three who might be prevented from making the final venture。
It was found that the shed had suffered during the winter； and some time was spent in making the repairs and needful preparation； so that the month of June was half over before all was in readiness for the inflation。 This operation was then accomplished in four days； and by midnight of June 22nd the balloon was at her moorings； full and in readiness； but； as in the previous year； the wind was contrary； and remained so for nearly three weeks。 This； of course； was a less serious matter； inasmuch as the voyagers were a month earlier with their preparation； but so long a delay must needs have told prejudicially against the buoyancy of the balloon； and Andree is hardly to be blamed for having； in the end； committed himself to a wind that was not wholly favourable。
The wind； if entirely from the right direction； should have been due south； but on July 11th it had veered to a direction somewhat west of south； and Andree； tolerating no further delay； seized this as his best opportunity； and with a wind 〃whistling through the woodwork of the shed and flapping the canvas；〃 accompanied by Frankel and Svedenborg； started on his ill…fated voyage。
A telegram which Andree wrote for the Press at that epoch ran thus：〃 At this moment； 2。30 p。m。； we are ready to start。 We shall probably be driven in a north…north…easterly direction。〃
On July 22nd a carrier pigeon was recovered by the fishing boat Alken between North Cape； Spitzbergen； and Seven Islands； bearing a message； 〃July 13th； 12。30 p。m。； 82 degrees 2 minutes north lat。； 15 degrees 5 minutes east long。 Good journey eastward。 All goes well on board。 Andree。〃
Not till August 31st was there picked up in the Arctic zone a buoy； which is preserved in the Museum of Stockholm。 It bears the message； 〃Buoy No。 4。 First to be thrown out。 11th July； 10 p。m。； Greenwich mean