Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/165

 XIX. ANDRÉE'S BALLOON EXPEDITION TO THE POLE

1897

One of the most hazardous attempts to reach the pole was that made by S. A. Andrée in his balloon. Andrée was born in Sweden in 1854, and was carefully educated. He became a mechanical engineer, and held an important position under the Swedish government.

In 1876 he visited America to attend the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. While crossing the ocean he noted the regularity of the trade winds, which led him to believe that balloon voyages might be made across the Atlantic. Some years later Andrée passed a winter in Spitzbergen, directing experiments and observations in atmospheric electricity. This scientific work strengthened his belief that a balloon might be navigated through the air in much the same manner as a ship through water.

From this time Andrée studied the construction of balloons with great care, and in 1895 he astonished the world by making known his plan to reach the North Pole by means of an air route. He needed the sum of $36,000 in order to carry out his project. This amount was generously provided by King Oscar and two citizens of Sweden.

Then Andrée set about the work of having a balloon constructed which would suit his purpose. He went to Paris, and secured the services of the most noted balloon maker in the world. This man built a balloon for Andrée