Monday, 31 October 1910

Scott

Robert Scott (second from left), his wife Kathleen Scott, and Lawrence Oates (4th from left), with Mongolian ponies, on Quail Island, circa 1910, prior to the British Antarctic ('Terra Nova') Expedition of 1910-1913. Other persons unidentified. Photograph taken by Steffano Francis Webb. [1]

"Captain Robert F. Scott (in uniform), Captain Lawrence E. G. Oates (standing behind Scott) and party inspecting sled dogs at the training centre on Quail Island, Lyttelton, before leaving New Zealand for the British Antarctic ('Terra Nova') Expedition. Photograph taken by Steffano Francis Webb, circa 1910. " [2]

"Robert Falcon Scott and his wife Kathleen, on Quail Island, circa 1910. The 2 men on the left are unidentified. Photographer unknown." [3]

"To Quail Island to see dogs and ponies," wrote Scott, "greatly pleased ... think dogs finest ever got together -- Meares has done his work splendidly." [4]

Oates, however, was appalled. "Victor: Narrow chest, knock knees, suffers with his eyes," he noted in his diary, "Aged. Wind-sucker.... Snippets: Bad wind sucker. Doubtful back tendons off fore legs. Slightly lame off fore. Pigeon toes. Aged. James Pigg: Sand crack near hind. Aged. Chinaman: Has ringworm just above coronet on near fore. I think the oldest pony we have which is saying a good deal. Both nostrils slit up. Christopher: Aged. Ringbone off fore. Slightly lame off fore. Jehu: Aged, suffering from debility and worn out. Nobby: Aged. Goes with stiff hocks. Spavin near hind. Best pony we have. Michael: Lame near hind. Ringbone. Aged.... In mentioning the ponies' blemishes I have only mentioned those which appear to actively interfere with their work or for identification." [5]


Amundsen

The dogs had their muzzles removed, and were allowed run of the ship.


Notes:

[1] Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand.
[2] Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand.
[3] Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand. Caption supplied by the Turnbull Library; the man on the far left is probably Oates.
[4] R.F. Scott, [source not given], 31 October, 1910, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.388.
[5] L.E.G. Oates, diary, [date not given], quoted by Sue Limb and Patrick Cordingley in Captain Oates : Soldier and Explorer (London : Batsford, c1982), p.100. Windsucking, also known as cribbing or crib-biting, is a habit that some horses have of chewing the sides of their crib (manger) or stall or other handy surfaces, and thus sucking in air. Horses who do this are often underweight or malnourished and colicky as a result.

Thursday, 27 October 1910

Scott

In Wellington, Scott was interviewed by a local newspaper and asked for a comment on Amundsen's announcement. "Scott fell silent," Gran wrote later. "But the interviewer did not give up. Then Scott became angry and brushed the man off by saying, 'If, as rumour says, Amundsen wants to try for the South Pole from some part of the coast of the West Antarctic, I can only wish him good luck.'" [1]

Scott still had not cabled Nansen.

"Though we did not appreciate it at the time," Cherry wrote later, "we were up against a very big man." [2]


Notes:

[1] Tryggve Gran, Fra Tjuagutt til Sydpolfarer, p.220, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.322.
[2] Apsley Cherry-Garrard, The Worst Journey in the World, ch.2.

Monday, 24 October 1910

Amundsen

Amundsen had noticed that the workmanship on the sledges was defective, and so Bjaaland rebuilt them -- ten sledges in six weeks -- and made a pair of loose runners for each. These would both guard against wear and be coated with a thin layer of ice in order to slide properly in extreme cold, something that Amundsen and Helmer Hanssen had learned from the Netsilik.

Bjaaland also trued the skis and adjusted bindings, and made sledging boxes for the Primus stoves.

Wednesday, 19 October 1910

Scott

Scott and Kathleen travelled to Sydney with Simpson.

"Dined with Lord Mayor," Scott noted in his diary. "Excellent dinner. David proposed my health in a fine speech full of his fine enthusiastic personality.... My reply was poor enough -- then to everyone's surprise Mr Sam Hordern got up and after stating that David had convinced him as to the usefulness of the enterprise said that if the Government could not see its way to make up the extra £2500 required he would do so -- a splendid round up to the evening." [1]


Amundsen

Amongst all the work on equipment, Amundsen spent time "sorting Christmas presents ... -- 300-400 -- and divided them over 5-6 years. We take one year's supply [ashore]". [2]


Notes:

[1] R.F. Scott, diary, 19 October, 1910, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.384.
[2] Roald Amundsen, diary, 19 October, 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in The Amundsen Photographs (London : Hodder & Stoughton, c1987), p.74.

Sunday, 16 October 1910

Amundsen

Ilha da Trindade, date unknown [1]

According to noon observations on October 16, the Fram was in the vicinity of South Trinidad, off the east coast of Brazil. "It was our intention to go close under the island," Amundsen wrote, "and possibly to attempt a landing; but unfortunately the motor had to be stopped for cleaning, and this prevented our approaching it by daylight. We caught a glimpse of the land at dusk, which was, at all events, enough to check our chronometers." [2]


Notes:

[1] Source unknown.
[2] Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, ch.4.

Saturday, 15 October 1910

Scott

"I have had a long letter from Norway about Amundsen," Markham wrote to Scott Keltie. "He got the loan of the 'Fram' from the Government and all the subscriptions, for the North Polar drift. He pretended to be going out to Madeira in the 'Fram' to see how she behaved, then coming back to raise more money, and to join the 'Fram' at San Francisco. But he had quietly got a wintering hut made and on board and on board 100 dogs from Greenland, and a supply of tents and sledges. His secret design must have been nearly a year old."

"They believe that his mention of Punta Arenas and Buenos Ayres [sic] is merely a blind, and that he is going to McMurdo Sound to try and cut out Scott...."

"Shackleton's rush and failure was a very dirty trick, more especially as he owed everything to Scott and would never have been heard of if Scott had not befriended him. Amundsen's is a very dirty trick, but not so bad as he owes nothing to Scott. I have sent full details of Amundsen's underhand conduct to Scott, hoping it may reach him before he sails.... I always thought Master Shackles was a cad, but I confess I was taken by Amundsen and was under the impression that he was a straight forward and very able sailor. I am afraid Nansen and Johansen were in it but I hope not. If I was Scott I would not let them land, but he is always too good natured." [1]


Notes:

[1] Sir Clements Markham, letter to Scott Keltie, 15 October, 1910, quoted by David Crane in Scott of the Antarctic (New York : Knopf, c2005), p.382.

Friday, 14 October 1910

Scott

At a luncheon the day after receiving Amundsen's cable, Gran noted that "Scott, as always, seemed calm, but made a few remarks which indicated that inwardly he was irritated; perhaps even that he suspected something fishy. The circumstances were not exactly suited to put any questions, but I did so nevertheless.... I received no reply. In the selfsame moment, our host, the Mayor of Melbourne, took Scott away. After lunch I did not see him." [1]

Scott said nothing about the subject, either to his officers or to the press.


Notes:

[1] Tryggve Gran, diary, 14 October 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.318.

Thursday, 13 October 1910

Scott

Gran on deck of the Terra Nova, 1910 [1]

On board the Terra Nova, Scott summoned Gran to his cabin. "When I entered," Gran wrote in his diary, "he handed over to me an opened cablegram, saying, 'What can you make of this?' I read with mounting astonishment: 'Beg leave to inform you Fram proceeding Antarctic. Amundsen.'" [2]

The cable was dated 3rd October, and had been sent from Christiania.

Scott apparently hoped that Gran, as a Norwegian, could shed some light on the matter, but Gran was as mystified as Scott, and suggested cabling Nansen for more information. "Hope Nansen answers quickly," Gran added to himself.


Amundsen

"I know that I have been reproached for not having at once made the extended plan public," Amundsen defended himself later, "so that not only my supporters, but the explorers who were preparing to visit the same regions might have knowledge of it. I was well aware that these reproaches would come, and had therefore carefully weighed this side of the matter. As regards the former -- the contributors to my expedition -- my mind was soon at rest. They were all men of position, and above discussing the application of the sums they had dedicated to the enterprise. I knew that I enjoyed such confidence among these people that they would all judge the circumstances aright, and know that when the time came their contributions would be used for the purpose for which they were given. And I have already received countless proofs that I was not mistaken.

"Nor did I feel any great scruples with regard to the other Antarctic expeditions that were being planned at the time. I knew I should be able to inform Captain Scott of the extension of my plans before he left civilization, and therefore a few months sooner or later could be of no great importance. Scott’s plan and equipment were so widely different from my own that I regarded the telegram that I sent him later, with the information that we were bound for the Antarctic regions, rather as a mark of courtesy than as a communication which might cause him to alter his programme in the slightest degree. The British expedition was designed entirely for scientific research. The Pole was only a side-issue, whereas in my extended plan it was the main object. On this little détour science would have to look after itself; but of course I knew very well that we could not reach the Pole by the route I had determined to take without enriching in a considerable degree several branches of science.

"Our preparations were entirely different, and I doubt whether Captain Scott, with his great knowledge of Antarctic exploration, would have departed in any point from the experience he had gained and altered his equipment in accordance with that which I found it best to employ. For I came far short of Scott both in experience and means." [3]

In his diary, he calmly noted, "[Work] on the dog harnesses was started. The yokes are to be covered with cloth, so that they will not wear out too quickly. Besides, we will sew a complete new set of traces." [4]


Notes:

[1] "Tryggve Gran", Eldre Nygaardsgutters Forening, enf.no.
[2] Tryggve Gran, diary, 14 October, 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.317. Cherry-Garrard gives the text as "Madeira. Am going South. Amundsen", an even more cryptic message that the one quoted by Gran; other sources give slightly different versions of either. There seems to be no published image of the actual cable.
[3] Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, ch.2.
[4] Roald Amundsen, diary, 13 October, 1911, quoted by Roland Huntford in The Amundsen Photographs (London : Hodder & Stoughton, c1987), p.65.

Wednesday, 12 October 1910

Scott

At about nine in the evening, the Terra Nova arrived in Melbourne, in heavy seas.


Amundsen

Aftenposten noted with amazement that the Times "has not mentioned the matter by a single word." [1] Only a few English papers had carried the news at all.

The Evening Standard had run an interview with Shackleton, who could not see "how Amundsen can hope to reach the South Pole unless he has a large number of ponies on board. He may have dogs, but they are not very reliable." [2]


Notes:

[1] Aftenposten, Christiania, 12 October 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.320.
[2] Evening Standard, 4 October 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.320.

Monday, 10 October 1910

Scott

Herbert Ponting had been signed on as expedition photographer, the first such to be part of a polar expedition. Now forty, Ponting was as much an adventurer as a photographer -- he had travelled from his native Wiltshire to California at the age of twenty, attracted by stories of the American West, and had there worked in mining and fruit-ranching before taking up freelance photography. He reported on the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05, and later travelled to Burma, Korea, Java, China, and India. His work appeared in "The Graphic" and "The Illustrated London News", among others, and his book In Lotus-land Japan appeared in 1910.

Ponting was much impressed by Scott. "[He] talked with such fervour of his forthcoming journey; of the lure of the southernmost seas; of the mystery of the Great Ice Barrier; of the grandeur of Erebus and the Western Mountains, and of the marvels of the animal life around the Pole, that I warmed to his enthusiasm .... [The] determined face; the clear blue eyes, with their sincere, searching gaze; the simple, direct speech, and earnest manner; the quiet force of the man -- all drew me to him irresistably." [1]


Notes:

[1] Herbert Ponting, The Great White South, p.2, quoted by Diana Preston in A First Rate Tragedy (Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1998, c1997), p.114.

Sunday, 2 October 1910

Scott

The British aboard the Terra Nova, perhaps blissfully unaware of the storm breaking back in Europe, were busy settling into life aboard ship and sizing each other up, their high spirits dampened only slightly by Scott's presence. "The Owner," Wright noted, "has a thirst for scientific knowledge that cannot be quenched. He takes no part in the skylarking -- but always looks on with a grin." [1]

Oates -- who had almost instantly been nicknamed Titus after the near-legendary 17th-century conspirator -- wrote home, "The ship has only two speeds, one is slow and other is slower; however I can't abuse her as we had very strong weather last week and she behaved splendidly.... I do all kinds of jobs wire splicing, mending sails, stoking, trimming coal, painting etc: and one way and another I am picking up a lot of knowledge." [2]


Amundsen

"Roald Amundsen will be first to the South Pole". [3]

"FRAM FORGES TOWARDS THE SOUTH POLE," headlines in Christiania newspapers shouted. "SENSATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY ROALD AMUNDSEN."

"From Madeira," ran Amundsen's letter to the public, "Fram sets her course South for the Antarctic Regions to take part in the fight for the South Pole. At first glance this will appear to many to be a change in the original plan for the third voyage of the Fram. This is, however, not the case. It is only an extension of the Expedition's plan, not an alteration." He was careful to make it clear that praise or blame would be his. "Alone I have taken this decision; alone I bear the responsibility." [4]

"With a single blow," Morgenbladet cheered, "Roald Amundsen ... reawakens the attention of the world when the exciting fight for the South Pole is on." [5]

Gjertsen dressed as a ballet dancer for the festivities marking the crossing of the equator. [6]

Amundsen noted calmly in his diary, "The southerly breeze continues. Went about at midday, and are now sailing SE. Today we had our equator dinner, even though we were a few degrees north. We did not have the time to waste a weekday on that kind of nonsense. After a good dinner, coffee and liqueurs were served on deck, decorated for the occasion with flags. Gjertsen appeared as a dancer, performing admirably. Indeed, he looked so convincing in a little, short, flowered dress made of gauze -- and in dark, false curls -- that certain members of the expedition played along with the deception and made the obvious approaches. Thereafter, Nilsen played the part of a comedian. A better performance would be difficult to imagine. Both turns were warmly applauded." [7]


Notes:

[1] Charles S. Wright, in Silas : the Antarctic Diaries and Memoir of Charles S. Wright, quoted by Diana Preston in A First Rate Tragedy (Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1998, c1997), p.127.
[2] L.E.G. Oates, letter to his mother [date not given], quoted by Sue Limb and Patrick Cordingley in Captain Oates : Soldier and Explorer (London : Batsford, c1982), p.97.
[3] "Sydpolekspedisjonens siste dager i Norge i 1910 : Avreise".
[4] Quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.319.
[5] Morgenbladet, Christiania, 3 October, 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.319.
[6] Roald Amundsen Bildearkiv, Nasjonalbiblioteket. The NB dates this photograph 4 October, apparently the date when the Fram actually crossed the equator; Amundsen's diary (see next note) says that the festivities took place separately on the 2nd.
[7] Roald Amundsen, diary, 2 October, 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in The Amundsen Photographs (London : Hodder & Stoughton, c1987), p.58.

Saturday, 1 October 1910

Amundsen

The Hotel Continental, Christiania. [1]

Almost the moment that he arrived back in Christiania, Leon Amundsen had an audience with the King to tell him about his brother's change of plan; at the same time, Helland-Hansen delivered a letter from Amundsen to Nansen.

Nansen is reported to have said, "The idiot! Why couldn't he have told me. He could have had all my plans and calculations." [2]

In the evening of 1st October, Leon held a press conference at the Hotel Continental. "The excitement was great," wrote the Bergen Anonce Tidende the next day. "We knew that it was an announcement concerning Fram which Herr Leon Amundsen was going to make; but of what it consisted, we had not the slightest inkling. And as we waited, the excitement mounted." [3]


Notes:

[1] "Oslo of yore", skyscrapercity.com.
[2] Herlof Harstad, Erobring av Antarktis, p.88, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.318.
[3] Anonce Tidende, Bergen, 3 October 1910, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.319.