| Summary: | Title: The Graphic. A Novel Arctic Expedition- The Polar Balloon in which Herr S.A. Andree Intends to Reach the North Pole. 1896. -Drawn by W. Thomas Smith Excerpt: A NOBEL ARCTIC EXPEDITION HERR S. A. ANDREE is the author of the latest scheme for reaching the North Pole. He proposes to make the attempt in a manner never before tried - namely, in a balloon. He has had a balloon specially constructed. The start is to be made at the Norsk Islands, Spitzbergen, and he calculates that if the wind were favourable he ought to cross the Pole in about ten hours after leaving Spitzbergen, and even if the wind were only moderate the journey should be accomplished in forty-eight hours. The distance from Spitzbergen to the Behring Straits, it is thought, ought not to take more than five days, but the Expedition have allowed for thirty days in case of accident. The top of the balloon is covered with a cap of cloth soaked in oil, the idea being that the thin air reservoir which is placed between the cap and the balloon shall act as a guard against any sudden changes in the temperature, and also that no snow shall rest on the top of the balloon. There is no valve in the top, but the balloon is provided with two at slightly different heights near the widest part. The diameter of the balloon is about 67ft., and it holds 135,000 cubic ft. of gas. The covering is of cloth treble varnished. The car for passengers is made of cork, with a roof, and contains sleeping places for two. The balloon is furnished with a sail about 888 square ft., the object of which is not only to form a steering apparatus, but also to accelerate the speed of the balloon. Above the passenger car is another for carrying provisions, &c. The balloon is built to carry 4,620 lb. of ballast, food for four and a half months, various articles of clothing, guns, sufficient ammunition for 1,500 charges, scientific and photographic instruments, and a cooking stove.
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