LETTERS FROM THE ANDREE PARTY. 407 



the house, and it crashes more than ever. One of the poles at the 

 upper balcony, to which canvas is fastened for protection against the 

 wind, yields to the pressure and falls over the balloon, and might cause 

 the whole expedition to come to naught, did not quick hands check it 

 in its fall. The whole thing seems to hang on a hair. But Andree does 

 not seem at all excited. He takes in every detail of the jjreparations, 

 and gives his orders, which are carried out rapidly and carefully. 



" In about an hour's time the north wall of the house is torn partly 

 down, and all hands are called to assist in raising and managing the 

 balloon. Finally there is nothing left to do but attach the car — an 

 extremely difficult job, as the raised balloon sways to and fro more than 

 before. But even this is accomplished successfully, and now, about 

 three and one-half hours after the work began, our three daring coun- 

 trymen are ready to start on their hazardous journey. A few moments 

 for the last farewells, and Andree with his two companions, Mis 

 Strindberg and Knut Fraenkel, jumps aboard the 'Ornen,' and orders 

 are given to cut the retainiug ropes. The captain of the Svensksund, 

 Count Ehrensvard, proposes a 'long life' for Mr. Andree, which is given 

 with four hearty hurrahs. Andree and his companions answer with, 

 'Long live old Sweden!' 



"As the last ropes are loosened I hurry up a hill behind the balloon 

 house to take photographs of the ascendiug balloon. Just as I reach 

 my elevated position, the immense balloon slowly and majestically 

 rises out of its prison. On account of its undulations the lower part 

 catches on something connected with the house, but slips off" again the 

 next moment, and the balloon rises to between 600 and 700 feet, at the 

 same time moving in a northeasterly direction out over Danes' Gate. 

 But suddenly it drojjs down again, in a course straight toward the sea, 

 being depressed by a current of air that has descended suddenly upon 

 it from the mountain top, and also being somewhat pulled down by the 

 catching of the guide ropes. The car touches the waves, but like a 

 giant ball the balloon rebounds, and when some sand bags are thrown 

 out (nine bags, each weighing about 42 jDounds), it rises until it reaches 

 a height of about 3,000 feet. Then flying free, it continues at the height 

 of about 3,000 feet, first in a northeasterly direction over Danes' Gate 

 and toward the southern cape of Amsterdam Island. This it passes, and 

 then turns toward the north, keeping over the sound between Amster- 

 dam Island and Fogelsang. After a while it again turns toward the 

 northeast and passes the northern cape of Fogelsang. Then it dis- 

 appears in a cloud. But in a short while it reappears in a north-north- 

 easterly direction, between Fogelsang and Cloven Cliff', then changes 

 toward the west, and finally disappears altogether — about an hour 

 after the ascension." 



LETTERS FROM STRINDBERG'S FATHER. 



Nils Strindberg's brother in New York received from his father in 

 Sweden a number of letters written about the time the expedition 



