The explorers S. A. Andrée (1854–97), Nils Strindberg
(1872–97), and Knut Frænkel (1870–97). Set off from Norway in 1897 on a journey
to the North Pole by Hydrogen Balloon. Merchandising and heavy promotion in
Sweden did not sway the majority opinion, that this was a dangerous and risky
venture with a high fail probability. Disregarding many signs, Andrée went ahead
with the expedition in an almost Polly-Anna optimistic flurry and some would
say over confidence.
They communicated with the rest of the world with steel buoys
wrapped in cork and homing pigeons.
A buoy was found with a message from Andrée, saying that so
far all was good. Two days later they disappear.
For years people speculated on what had happened and their disappearance
was shrouded in mystery. Decades later their bodies were discovered in 1930, with
journal entries, equipment and photographs proving that they had landed safely, so
now they had the task of finding out what had happened.
Not far from their last camp was the carcass of a polar bear,
it was tested and found to have trichina worm…..
There are some great pictures of the ill-fated exhibition that
was found in 1930 here
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