Andree's Big Airship

Berlin, July 20.- The best scientific apinion here is not sanguine of the suocess of Professor Andree's undertaking to reach the north pole by means of nis airship. Further details have been received as to the circumstances under which the ascent was made from the Island of Tromsoe in the midst of a strong wind which frequently ín fierce grusts. The cook had carefully stowed in a small barrel tbe first dinner to be eaten aloft and Herr Franke' took along a few bottles of beer for immediate use. From the west sid" oí the balloon wáved the Swedish colors, side by side with a wliite silk lag adrorned with a blue anchor, the gift of a woman friend of the aeronaut. Hope to Use Sails. Immediately under the balloon was fastened diagonally a pioce of bamboo to which were attached sails like wings which the aeronauts hoped to be able to manipúlate from the car by mear.s of ropes. Shortly before 2:30 (July 11) Andree was ready. Then the trio, Andree, Strindberg and Frankel, standing in the car, severed the ropes, holding the balloon and, countlng "one, two, three," the balloon rose majestically. All three waved their caps and shouted, "Greetings to all at home in Sweden." After the narrow escape from Leing driven against the rock in Sweringburg sound the balloon was seen moving northward exactly as Andree wished over the flat península Hollaendernaes. It will protably be driven towarcl Gree-land or the north coast of America. Sometliing Aboi't the Italloon. rne Danoon in which Andree hopijs to reach the rcrth pole is made of three thicknesses of silk, firmly glued together and with f.ve coatings of varnisti on the outside. It is 75 feet from the surnmit to the opening, and 97 feet from the summit to the bottom of the basket. This, basket and the apparatus attaaiied to It are wonders of ingenuity. The basket is 5 feet deep, with a wicker cover. ïn it is a bedstead for one person, the arrangement being that ene person shall sleep while two watch and make observations. These o'bservaticns will be made from the top of the basket. The travèlers will stand on the lid and will have around them, in a ring breast high, all the instruments which they will require for their observations. For cooking an apparatus will be dropped fifteen feet below the basket by means of a rope. Worked by a String. It wül be lighted by pulling a string and when the cooking is done the flr wül be put out by pulling anothe string. These precautions are taken to obviate the danger of having a fire too near the gas of the balloon. The total weight of the balloon and all it wil carry is 5,200 kilograms. With Andree are Dr. Frankel an eminent raeteorologist of Sweden, and Nils Stringberg, a Stockholm scientific man. Ándree has attached to the balloon several dra? ropes, by means of which he expects to be able to steer. Diagonally across the balloon, above the suspension ring, a large sail can be carried. This, in the ordinary course, would simply help to carry the balloon before the wind, but by using the drag. ropes, Andree contenéis, he will be able to move sorae degrees aside from the direction of the wind.