The funeral took place on Sunday, May 29th, in the little Presbyterian church at McMurray, the coffin being covered with the Hudson's Bay flag and borne by Hudson's Bay men, C. C. Sinclair, J. Cunningham, L. Lane, G. Petty, H. Porter, Captain McLeod, Ed. Jones and J. Sutherland. The little church was crowded with people who followed to the cemetery the remains of the respected old timer whose only relative present was a son of sixteen years. Mr. Cooper leaves a wife and seven children. His record with the Company follows: Date Capacity Post 1884-1885 Clerk N.D. Office, Winnipeg 1885-1887 In charge Fort Ellice 1887-1895 In charge Touchwood Hills 1895-1899 Accountant Chipewyan 1899-1904 Clerk in charge Fond du Lac 1904-1905 Clerk Onion Lake 1905-1912 Clerk Fort Smith 1912-1914 Post Manager Chipewyan 1914-1921 Post Manager McKay Tried for North Pole by Balloon _H.B.C. Was on Lookout for Ill-Fated Andree Polar Party, 1896_ By H. M. S. COTTER While I was stationed at North West River Post on the Labrador coast in 1896, the government of Norway and Sweden sent out an arctic expedition in a polar balloon to make an attempt at reaching the North Pole. The Company, anxious to lend a hand to the success of this scientific exploration to the top of the earth, despatched to its many far northern posts drawings of the balloon like the illustration shown, accompanied by the notice: "In the summer of 1896 a balloon (an object like that shown on the drawing) may be seen floating in the air. This balloon will convey a party of three Swedish scientists who have been making explorations towards the North Pole by these means. The Government of Sweden and Norway has requested that the explorers may receive all possible assistance. Natives should therefore be told that the balloon is not a dangerous thing, but merely a mode of conveyance in the air just as a ship is in the water. Natives should be told to approach the people in it without fear and to give them all the help in their power. If the balloon is seen only, the natives should be told to communicate the day and hour, the direction and time it was visible, and the direction of the wind. If the people arrive, having lost the balloon, the natives to be told to give them all possible assistance. It is requested that the travellers may be supplied with passport and all necessary official documents, the names being: Mr. Solomon August Andree, aged 42; Dr. Nils Gustaf Ekholm, aged 48; Mr. Nils Strindberg, aged 24." [Illustration: _The Drawing of Andree's Polar Balloon._] According to instructions, I informed all the Indians to be on the lookout for the balloon.