Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Frank Hurley diary, 1 January 1915 13 January 1916
MLMSS 389/Box 2/Item 3
[Pages 1-32 of printed material, not transcribed]
[In this diary printed calendar dates have been transcribed]
[Page 33]
1915 31 Days January
1 Fri Bank Holiday
Hurly to bed, Hurly to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy & wise.
[P] P Carlyon
And not a bad motto if one could only carry it out on Antarctic Expeditions.
2 Sat
New Year resolutions are rife but I have broken mine already by not entering up my diary for the 1st. The pack ice is opening up providentially, & at noon today we covered 120 miles our record since Entering the pack at the Sandwich Isls. Latitude at present being 69°.45. The character of the ice is changed & bears great resemblance to that which we saw between Adelie Land & Gaussberg. (Mawson Ex) It bears evidence of considerable pressure. Bergs have become very numerous. Our fine run tomorrow is now marred by bad weather
[Page 34]
January 1st Month 1915
3 Sun Sunday after Christmas
Have been manoeuvring in the lee of icebergs weathering out a gale. This weather & packice are making the voyage rather monotonous. During the evening I repaired to Clarks Cabin where he & Wordie took turns reading Scotch verse & as both are Scots I enjoyed their accents & brogue immensely.
Hudson & Self had another attempt to receive wireless time signals last night but I am afraid our aerial is too small & as it is bright daylight all night the efficiency of the receiver is further marred.
4 Mon
Day temp 29.2 Rm temp 28
Uneventful day. Weather moderated & we made another attempt Southward only to find that the pack walled us in. So we had to return Northward. We have succeeded in finding another lead to the south, which we are now following.
Today, as Wordie puts it, is one of blessed memory for on arising from my bunk which is immediately over his, I slipped onto his face with my stockinged foot & as the stockings were washed some three months previously, he was awakened most effectively.
[Page 35]
1915 31 Days January
[Note in margin] 70.27S 20.8W 6th 2400 fath
5 Tues Everybody seems to be vieing with each other for musical honours or rather dishonours. From the various cabins emanate efforts on the violin mandolin banjo & accordion whilst other are joining in with strained vocal efforts.
Was awakened last night towards midnight to take photographs. The midnight sun shining brilliantly & as the low light tipped the heavy pressure ice & floes the effect was very beautiful. During the day we have been manoeuvring to find a way south through the heavy & impenetrable coastal ice.
6 Wed Epiphany After following a lead for a few miles southward we were called out of bed to moor the ship (at 11PM.) On going on deck we discovered we were in the midst of an impenetrable field of heavy pressure ice. It was impossible for the ship to go ahead or astern, so making fast to a large hummock, it was decided to await favourable conditions. During the day the dogs were taken for a run on the large floe to which we were anchored. The exercise did them a great deal of good it being the first they have had for nearly a month. We were forced to change our moorings this evening owing to the floes drifting together. Fortunately we were able to do so as the result may have been serious to the ship.
[Page 36]
January 1st Month 1915
[Note in margin] Temp 21.4 [indecipherable] 22.3
7 Thurs It was decided to retrace our course northward, & look for a more open lead that will enable us to find a way through the belt of heavy coastal ice. This ice which is at present impeding our way is the heaviest I have yet seen. It has apparently been subjected to great pressure & is a consolidated field of hummocks which in places are higher than our bulwarks. It is probably the great belt of ice similar to that which we found between Adelie Land & Gaussberg & through which we could not find an opening to the land for over 800 miles. In order to economise on coal we are sailing with a favourable wind. Spent most of the day in printing photographs.
8 Fri Our course has been north till 4PM. when the ice having thinned somewhat, we altered the course to SE. We have had to retrace our course to the point which we reached on the 4th. The monotony of slow progression I have relieved somewhat by printing a series of prints from my negatives, with the intention of binding them up into a pictorial log of the Expedition.
The wind having died down we are now running under steam a much more satisfactory state of affairs as when under sail we are compelled to keep four
[Page 37]
1915 31 Days January
[Note in margin] 69 47 16 40W
hour watches, alternately with the starboard watch and not being able to sleep during the day, one only manages to secure about 6 hours out of 24 in bunk
9 Sat It is our custom to drink Sweethearts & Wives every Saturday night, which all hands do with much fervour.
Shortly after 10 am we entered open water & we have been at full speed ever since. It is phenomenal that no ice is in sight beyond a few bergs especially after having had to force our way through over 600 miles of packice! Time is passing much more speedily with me as I have plenty of work printing & taking pictures of personal interest.
72.2S 15 59W
10 Sun 1 aft Epiphany A notable day! First Glimpses of Coates Land at 5.20PM. After four weeks difficult navigation in dense packice. Seal & penguin life is becoming much more plentiful, while the ocean has altered its tint from a deep blue to a light bottle green due to the presence of an immensity of diatomaceous deposits. I had a glimpse through Clarks microscope of a single drop of the ocean water & wonder of wonders to see the beautiful & exquisite shapes of the microscopic forms. After a magnificent run in open water we are again in heavy bay ice which tends to show the closer proximity of land.
[Page 38]
January 1st Month 1915
Sounding taken this evening recorded a depth of 195 fathoms & at noon 155 fathoms. Small rock specimens were brought up in the snapper. 12 Tues 74-6S 72.41W. [Page 39] 13 Wed Steamed along close to the barrier in a N.W. direction, being forced to take that course, owing to a protecting barrier tongue, which forms the South Coast line of the bay in which we were in yesterday & which is blocking our further progress. We are now anchored to the ice, which seems to be breaking up & drifting north, in anticipation of it further dissipating & clearing a lead Feeling very tired & wondering how the good water family & Elsie are at present. May God keep them. [Page 40] [Note in margin] kept extremely busy with the camera & [indecipherable] Exposed 12 1/1 plates & 200 feet Cine film. 15 Fri One never knows what is going to happen next in Antarctic circles for as if by magic a lead opened up to the south & we have been following it ever since. We are following up the land water by the Glacier & as absolutely no packice is visible all sails are set & engines racing as we have not heard them for many weeks. During the day we witnessed a phenomenal sight. About 100 Crabeater seals speedily made toward the ship & treated us to a true aquatic display. Gambolling, sporting, racing & diving under the ship. We marvelled at their sinuous & graceful evolutions & as he kept with us for at least Ό hour I had a rare opportunity of securing unique film. Being [indecipherable] midnight the sun is still shining brightly. Sounding at 11.30PM. 120 fath. 16th Saturday Our speedy run with crowded sail & racing engines came to a somewhat ignominious] ending shortly after noon by packice & bergs. We followed the trend of the glacier which in many places is much crevassed no rock being visible during the days run of 124 miles. Our Latitude is 76.27. Long 28.40. Wordie secures a few rock specimens from a small berg. The weather has been pleasant & sunny during the morning but is now freshening. Started reading "For the term of his natural life." [Page 41] 17 Sun 2 aft Epiphany The freshening winds of yesterday afternoon have developed into a strong gale of up to 50 miles per hr. NE We are compulsively hove to in the lea of a large berg. Sunday at the best of times is a lazy day on board & is especially dismal today on account of the gloomy & fierce weather. Lying on my bunk & reading most of the time, I can glance out of the porthole onto a very dismal prospect of huge grey white bergs, rough sea & lowering nimbus clouds. It is typical of moody Antarctica. I finished reading For the term of his natural life. This book has impressed me greatly & left me with curious feelings of misgivings & resolutions. I reason what is the trial of Antarctic hardship compared with the terrible existence of the poor devils of which I have just read a mere picnic. 18 Mon A moderation in the weather conditions enable us to start 7.30 am But after a run of eight hours we are again held up by packice. It is now seven weeks since we first entered the packice & since then it has been almost an incessant battle with it. It is gratifying to feel we are only 80 miles from our intended base. Vahsel Bay. 75.47 & we are all keen to reach it as the monotony is telling on some of us. [Page 42]
19 Tues An uninteresting day. Held up in the packice. 20 Wed Held up in the pack. Weather snowing & dull. Had a singsong in Clarks cabin with Wordie, James & Clark. Spent most of day letter writing in anticipation of the ship returning to Sth Georgia. Secured a crabeater seal for the larder. AM - PM [Page 43]
21 Th Still held up by the pack. Towards afternoon pressure set in from S.E. jambing our helm in a dangerous way. We tried to free it by drifting away the floe, which eventually was done & the helm freed. Our position however is disquieting: as here with the goal in apparent reach, it looks as though there is a possibility of us becoming fast & part of the floes which menace us. 22 Fri Sounding 337 fathoms. [Page 44] [Note in margin] Still froze in the pack. 23 Sat Midnight. This evening we have been favoured with sunlight. I climbed up into the barrel lookout from where a magnificent panorama was to be observed. From horizon to horizon & stretching N, S.E. & W the packice extends. Dazzling white with the hummocks relieved by long shadows the sight was very inspiring & made one feel the tinyness of themselves. The shadows of our ship the only black speck amid this eternal whiteness were thrown in weird skeleton fashion far across the snows. Absolutely calm & warm. It is a heavenly evening. 24 Sun 3 aft Epiphany A glorious sunny day. Took advantage of same to secure a number of Paget Colour plates. The pack bears no evidence of opening & so here we are with the land in sight (being only some 20 miles therefrom) absolutely helpless. This is extremely annoying as the weather recently has been uncommonly good & most of our stores could easily have been landed. Still I suppose it could be a great deal worse. After dinner Wordie, James & self repaired to Clarks cabin. [Page 45] [Note in margin] Each taking turn in reading aloud a short story & this we find very enjoyable & a pleasant diversion. Extracts were read from The Human Boy by Phillpots. 25 Mon 76.48S 33.22W Towards midnight 24th the ice began to break up & a lead opened only 200 yards ahead of us. All sails were therefore set & with the engines at full an attempt was made to break through the barrier. Our attempt so far has only been to free the helm but as the ice continues to break up ahead we are hopeful. Crean sustained a nasty bruised leg whilst chipping the ice from our ship sides The ice suddenly closing in jambed the ice chisel against his leg & the side of the ship. Took pictures of ship in full rig also bound up the Color plates taken yesterday which were extremely successful. 26 Tues [Page 46] [Note in margin] Temp 4 am +17 27 Wed It appears as though we have stuck fast for this season. A noticeable drop in the temperature at midnight, +9 being recorded. This has had the effect of freezing up many of the small pools & cementing together the floes, an ominous happening still things could be a deal worse as the lead is visible about 20 miles away & it is quite possible that sledging operations could be conducted therto during the autumn. Read Idols by [indecipherable] one of the most delightful tales I have read. 28 Thurs Temp 4 am 9.5 Noon 15. Pools around ship begin to congeal. I am afraid we have stuck for the winter. James takes mag dip mean [indecipherable] 68°-16 lat 76-46 Temp 4 am +2 [Page 47] 29 Fri Spent day in developing weather gloomy & snowing. am - pm
30 Sat Lees unpacks motor crawler & tries engine. [Page 48] 31 Sun Septuagesima Today is the 15th day of our confinement in the pack. Life onboard is extremely monotonous. The weather is dead calm. I might almost say stagnant. There is not so much even as an "ear" of wind. I striking contrast to Adelie Land where fiendish blizzards rage incessantly, there seems something uncanny about this place & if I had the choice I scarcely know which I would select. This calm weather would be very welcome on the plateau sledging but we are all longing for a blizzard to break up the ice & free the ship. Spent the day in photographic work & Most of the other members indulge in football on the floe. 1 Mon [Page 49] 2 Tues Spirits were brightened up this morning by the appearance of several seals on the ice. Seal flesh is urgently required for dogfood & also our larder. Seven were secured which will provide a sufficiency for 14 days. These had to be hauled over the hummocky sea ice for a couple miles very arduous sledging as there was a great deal of soft snow & the going extremely rough. The dogs were treated this evening to a good healthy ration of seal meat which they devoured as though starved. 3 Wed Two seals were observed & secured. We are hopeful that the sea ice will break up as a large lead in the Sth during the morning & towards evening almost encompassed the floe. Anxious to develop the cine film, the refrigerator was cleared & I spent the remainder of the day opening up cases & filling up [Page 50] 4 Thurs Sledging party collect two seals. The floe bears evident signs of breaking up as a large lead is opening to the stern of us. Lowest recorded temperature at noon 14°F 5 Fri Had amusing argument this morning at breakfast concerning a monkey and a pole which evoked much heated & witty debate. We were surprised at noon by a violent shock, which an investigation showed to be the cracking up of the floe: the crack extended the length of the floe, our ship being in its direct path. Great cheers went up as all hands rushed on deck to witness this joyous happening the release of the ship after being frozen in for nearly three weeks. Our joys however were only shortlived, as the floe after cracking up hemmed us in again, apparently in little better position than before. [Page 51] 6 Sat Whilst our watch was scrubbing out the alleyway the weekly custom, a tack passed right through one of my fingers. The position of the ship is improved. We are moored to the floe in a small pond, surrounded by ice: while numerous large pools and cracks in the pack are hopeful. Have packed & unpacked my cases several times barometrically with the ships condition in the ice. Numerous Crabeater seals spotted around the ship this evening. Position Lat 76.55S Long 34.30W. 7 Sun Sexagesima Had quite a run of sitters for portraiture today & took the individual portraits of the shore party & developed same 20 negatives in all. Also cinemaed the pups. Feeling extremely tired so turning in at 7PM. [Page 52] 8 Mon Lying In pool of young ice with close pack all around. Temperature last nigh fell below zero. A killer whale & numerous seals blowing alongside. Dogs much excited. 9 Tues Lat 76.55S Long 35.01W Temp +13 Play an amusing game of Elimination in the Ward room. One leaves the room the rest arranging what has to be guessed. On returning the victim asks various questions of the assemblage who only may answer yes or no & by a process of judicious elimination the questioner is enabled to finally solve the answer. The game bids fair to become popular. It certainly exercises ones faculties & ingenuity. [Page 53] 10 Wed Had splendid view of two killer whales which broke through the young ice astern of us poking their alligator like heads through & blowing arduously. The seemed to be regarding the ship with much astonishment & I must say we felt very pleased to have her stout timbers below us. More villainous or rapacious looking creatures I have never seen. 11 Thurs Engines have been unable to move us out of soft floe in which we are jammed at 9AM. Engines are put full astern & we "Sally" Ship. That is all hands & the Cook at a given signal double over to port, then to starboard & so on the idea being to give the ship a rolling motion & so force her from the young ice. This unsuccessful. All hands muster on the poop & in rhythmatic time jump up & down. This sallying provokes much hilarity but has the desired effect & we remoor the ship in a postion, to advantage of the [Page 54] first opening. 12 Fri 13 Sat All hands indulge in a game of soccer on the floe. Lat 76.50 Long 35.18W Sounding 529 fathoms [Page 55] 14 Sun Quinquagesima Shrove Sunday Land seen faintly to SE about 40 miles off. A decisive effort was made to force the ship all hands continuing till midnight. Everyone as a Trojan would wielded a Jack, ice chisel or other implement. The ship herself 15 Mon All hands again attack the ice & we work the ship 1/3 of the way to the lead ahead & all keep hard at it till midnight when a survey is made of the remaining 2/4, some 400 yards. It is reluctantly determined to relinquish the task as the remainder of the ice is unworkable being too deep a jumble of hummocks & rafted blocks & we keenly regret this announcement which unfortunately is only too obvious & we needs must now await natures pleasure to free us. [Page 56] 16 Tu 17 Wed Ash Wednesday Sun set at midnight. [Page 57] 18 Thurs All hope is not yet given up of breaking free. Yet to be on the safe side we are now beginning to lay in a stock of seal meat for the winter. For kitchen & the dogs. 3 seals secured during the day. 19thDuring the morning went for a stroll to the old lead ahead which is now nearly a foot thick. I was much interested in examining the contexture of the young ice formed on the lead ahead of the ship & on some pools in the vicinity. The growth [Page 58] 20 Sat 4 seals secured. The seals were shot some 2 miles from the ship it taking us 3hrs to go out & sledge them in. The surface is atrocious having to plug through soft snow into which we sink knee & thigh deep. Land in sight SE Lat 76.57Sth. Long 34.56W Temp +10 21 Sun Quadragesima 1 in Lent [Page 59] 22 Mon Three dogs in extremely poor condition & apparently with little hope of recovery were shot. Ten dogs exercised in harness. Their first lesson since leaving Hudson Bay 23 Tues Two seals secured today All indulge in a game of hockey on the floe Parahelia See large diary for notes [Page 60] [Note in margin] Land seen to S & E 24 Wed Ice conditions unchanged. Hole sawn through ice around the rudder well. Keeping rudder & propeller free. All hands put off ships routine we now practically cease being a ship & become a shore station. A nightwatchman, all taking turn (except forward hands) in alphabetical order comes on duty at 8 pm remaining thereon till 8 am. He is responsible for the safety of the ship during night keeping [indecipherable] alight & the taking of meteorological obs. 25 Thurs Lat 76.57S Long 35.28W. Two seals secured All hands busily engaged checking stores in hold & after hold Fit up the refrigerator as a darkroom for the development of Cine film, being dubious as to its keeping qualities. Commenced developing Cine film find same OK. Difficulty in obtaining sufficient water for washing operations. Dry the film by hanging it in refrigerator, & Sir Es Paraffin heater.Temp. 0. [Page 61] 26 Fri Dogs all placed on shore much to their delight. All hands engaged building Igloos or Dogloos from ice blocks & snow. The Dogloos are arranged in an extended circle, around the ship & are detached. The dogs are secured by chain one end of which is buried in the ice & frozen therein. /Secure 1 moulting Emporer Penguin 27 Sat Attempt to receive wireless signals during evening After tea a plentious supply of winter clothing is issued to all & the clothing is precisely similar to the Mawson Expdn. Supply. [Page 62] 28 Sun 2 in Lent Secure 1 Emperor Penguin. Land still visible to SE & one can distinctly observe crevasses thereon. All leads have frozen up no water being visible anywhere. Full preparations are in swing to encomfort ourselves against the surge of the coming Antarctic winter. 1 Mon St. David Lat 76.55S Long 35. 21W 5 Weddells & 2 Crabeater seals shot. 4 are brought in but owing to mild blizzard conditions setting in the others have to be left for a clearer time. Very difficult surface returning to the ship & both sledge tows are broken. As it is my nightwatch, I keep a keen lookout in case of ice movement. These blizzard conditions are zephyrs compared with those of Adelie Land. [Page 63] [Note in margin] (Cleaning between deck for [indecipherable]) 2 Tues Lat 76.55 Long 35.21W Temp +16 Dogs all buried but do not appear to mind a great deal curled up & sleeping all the time except at Hooch when they awake very rapacious & noisy Hands engaged in building snow houses for the dogs on the floe. All engage in soccer during afternoon. [Page 64] 76.56S 35.43W 4 Thurs Bright sunshine. Work of building Dogloos continues & dogs are housed therein. Their chains are secured by simply burying the end in the floe & pouring on water. Carpenter erects woodwork shelter around poop 5 Fri Lat 76.53 Long 35.54 [indecipherable] temp -19 561 fathoms A line of mounds marking a track to the lead ahead, also a wide circle around the ship have been raised & a wire hauser stretched connecting them to act as a guide for straying explorers during the coming winter or blizzard times. The track is called VIA PILEON Phenomenal parhela with wavy 22° 7[indecipherable] [Page 65] 6 Sat 3 Weddell Seals secured [Page 66] 8 Mon Lat 76.45 long 35.30 + 13 + 6 [Page 67] 10 Wed bunks. Except the Billabong, 2 Cubicles having united resulting in a double length Dr Macklin, McIlroy, Hussey & self constitute the occupants. Between the two rows of cubicles the table is placed where all take meals and near the after end is the Bogie for keeping up temperature. The Holders of the various dens or cubicles have assumed various cognomons for their 6 ft 3 x 5 ft. The Anchorage, Auld Reckie, The Poison Cupboard, The Nuts, & The Billabong. The amalgamated dwellings are styled the Ritz. The wardroom Wordie, Worsley & self visit the Rampart berg see described 15th & 16th. Inst. Commenced erection of magnetic hut. [Page 68] 12 Fri The rush to tenant the Ritz cubicles having subsided, I am besieged by many to bind photographs The Billabong is furnished with a table, an array of neat shelves & minor cupboards in which "perks" are secreted. It, as most of the other cupboards boasts a compact wash basin &. The Ritz is an underlapping abode where one can study the anatomy of the ship. Magnetic hut completed some 200 yards from ships stern. 76.53 S & 35 20 W. SW wind Temp. 19 to 12. [Page 69] 14 Sun 4 in Lent Lat 76.54. 36.10 W. Out of Bunk 8 30Am Breakfast 9Am Lunch 1pm. Afternoon tea 3.30pm Dinner 6pm. 15 Mon Visit to the Rampart berg. (11th Inst) Having overcome Sir Es reticence by persisted "askings of leave, Wordie, Worsley & self visit the Rampart berg. The Berg is located [Page 70] 16 Tues sunshine. This first walk from the ship across great snow covered plains of smooth ice & areas of hummocky pressure was heartily enjoyable. We made the Berg shortly before noon & after partaking of some sledging nut food went inspecting. This colossal block of ice had a base of some 300 acres & raised its pinnacled towers 180 feet. Along it top face were immense battlemented embrasures the open ends of crevasses that gave it the appearance of a titanic 17 Wed St. Patrick Bank Holiday [Page 71] 18 Thurs Lat 76 53 S Long 37-17 19 Fri A large number of seals seen from the Crows Nest no less than 17 being within easy reach Perhaps this may be evidence of their northward migration. Seven are secured chiefly crabeaters. Two killers keep pushing their snouts through the young ice in the crack ahead of ship craftily keeping an eye open for a stray crabeater [Page 72] 20 Sat Noon Lat 76-48 Long 38-17. 21 Sun 5 in Lent 76 48 37.42 [Page 73] 22 Mon Training the dogs. The tuition of canines can only be successfully accomplished by the frequent & judicious application of the whip assisted by a stringent vocabulary. Spare the whip & spoil the dog is the imperative motto of all dog drivers. The leader is trained generally individually in a light Bob Sledge. At the word Mush! He immediately moves forward should he fail in this respect the following dogs would overtake him with much 23 Tues [Page 74] 24 Wed 25 Th Annunciation Lady Day [Page 75]
26 Fri [Page 76] 28 Sun Palm Sunday Wind NNE temperature responds immediately by rising above zero 29 Mon 76 24 S 37 48 W [Page 77] 31 Wed 76.18 S 37 55 W S by W land -3 -4 [Page 78] 1 Thurs When leaving Buenos Ayres we had 69 dogs aboard. The mortality has been heavy we now having 54 + 8 pups. 2 Fri Good Friday Bank Holiday [Page 79] is a benefit to the dogs & considerably ameliorates the efficiency of their now 4 Sun Easter Sunday [Page 80] 5 Mon Bank Holiday [Page 81] Wind ENE 8 Thus NW. wind Lat 76 22 Long 40 8W. Temp -19 [Page 82] 9 Fri Dog characters [Page 83] the Ross Sea base. [Page 84] 14 Wed 75 59S. Long 39 13W. [Page 85] team are an unexcelled combination. 16 Fri Lat 75 55 Long 38 48W +4 -8 [Page 86] 17 Sat Lat 75 57 Long 38 57W. 75.57 39.5W +17 [Page 87] 19 Mon Clark, who during the day secured a great number of amphipods - by lowering a piece of seal in a net handed them to the cook to prepare a dish. The culinary experiment was not a success. The cooked amphipods resembled small shrimps & were without taste or substance. They were all shell. 20 Tues [Page 88] 21 Wed 22 Thurs [altered to 24] The Gehrig motor taken out on the floe & given [note in margin: arrow to 24 Sat] a trial trip. Unfortunately we lack a motor specialist & the machine is more a source of pastime than general efficiency. Hussey & I nightwatch. We banquet Macklin & McIlroy the other Billabongites with sardines on toast & copious cups of cocoa. They in their turn do likewise for us. [Page 89] 76.2S 41.2W -13 -15
Lat. 76.2 Long W 42.3 -15 [Page 90] 75.56 40 54 -9 -16 [Page 91] 75.45 40.55W -16 -25
28 Wed 75.38S 40 46W Wind SW [Page 92] 29 Thurs Lat 75 29 Long41 25.
30 Fri Light South +17 -6 [Page 93] 75.2S Wind W to Sly Temp +2 Sun 4 aft Easter [Page 94] 3 Mon [Page 95]
75.19S 41.37W SSW 3.4 Tem -8 6 Thurs Accession of King George V [Page 96] 75.7S 41.2W Temp -12 8 Sat [Page 97] 9 Sun Rogation Sunday Proclamation 10 Mon -15 -19 [Page 98] 11 Tues>/strong> -2 -11 NNW 12 Wed Wind (NE 6-7) Tem -9 -5 157fath. [Page 99] 14 Fri [Page 100] 15 Sat -5 -7 16 Sun Sunday after Ascension -5 +13 [Page 101] 18 Tues 75.23S 43.8W Temp -14 -18 [Page 102] [Page 103] 21 Fri 22 Sat [Page 104] 23 Sun Whit Sunday 24 Mon [Page 105] 25 Tues [Page 106] 27 Th [Page 107] 30 Sun Trinity Sunday [Page 108] 31 Mon 1 Tues [Page 109] 3 Thurs Birth of King George V. Bank Holiday Corpus Christi [Page 110] 4 Fri [Page 111] 6 Sun 1 aft Trinity uneventful 7 Mon [Page 112] 8 Tues 9 Wed [Page 113] 10 Thurs [Page 114] 12 Sat 13 Sun 2 aft Trinity [Page 115] 14 Mon 15 Tues [Page 116] 17 Thurs [Page 117] 19 Sat [Page 118] Uneventful 21 Mon [Page 119] [Two copies] [Page 120] 24th 25 Fri [Page 121] 26 Sat 27 Sun 4 aft Trinity [Page 122] 28 Mon -16 -24 Depth 255 fath Uneventful 29 Tues -9 -12 260 fath Uneventful [Page 123] 30 Wed 1 Thurs [Page 124] 3 Sat [Page 125] 4 Sun - 5 aft Trinity -10 -12 203 fath 5 Mon 184 fath [Page 126] 6 Tues -5 -18 192fath Uneventful 7 Wed [Page 127] 8 Thurs Cold & clear. Daylight duration increasing. Several sustain frostbites owing to low temperature Air -20.5 min -24. 9 Fri [Page 128] 10 Sat Lat 74 6Sth Long 49 40W. [Page 129] 12 Mon Two long leads ahead & astern running Nth & South. Take my team for a run amongst the hummocks, which they evidently heartily enjoy. It is wonderful how Old Shakespeare finds out the best track. Away we go jumping over pressure ridges hollows & ice slumps. I have added two extra inner runners to my sledge & supplemented the bow by one made from water pipe the result is most efficient It is called the Dreadnought. 13Tues Lat 74 12 S Long 49° 5W.w [Page 130] 14 Wed Lat 74°.1 Long 49 0W 15 Thurs [Page 131] 16 Fri Lat 73.36 Long 48.35 17 Sat [Page 132] 18 Sun-7aft Trinity 19 Mon [Page 133] 20 Tues 21 Wed [Page 134] 22 Thurs 23 Fri Exercise dogs but available area restricted on account of the alterations in the surface due to recent ice disruptions. Sir E is ever on the alert and as a wise precaution had all sledging stores paraffin sledges & sledging equipment [Page 135] 24 Sat Lat 73 ° 7.5 Long 48° 18W Bar 29.56 depth 186fth. 25 Sun-8 aft Trinity Cold wind with snow drifts all day. Iceworks grinding away on starboard bow in fine style unanxious for it to come any closer. [Page 136] 26 Mon 27 Tues [Page 137] 28 Wed New pressure ridges forming everywhere. Or hitherto unlimited exercising ground is now diminished to 300 yards radius. The dogs do not appreciate circling round & round the ship & speaking as a driver we like it less. Still it has to be done. 29 Th [Page 138] Ice thickness after 12 months 4ft 8in thick. 31 Sat [Page 139] Lat 72.16S Long 48 10 [Note in margin] 452 fath starboard [Page 140] 1100fath 4 Wed [Page 141] 6 Fri [Page 142] 7 Sat McIlroys puppy Buchanan alias the Guinea pig dies through eating saw dust & straw. 8 Sun-10 aft Trinity
[Page 143] 9 Mon Took interesting walk amongst the hummocks, leisurely inspecting their [Page 144] 11 Wed 12 Thurs
1915 31 Days August 13 Fri Small lead opens ½ mile to the eastward from which rises a dense frost smoke. Uneventful. 14 Sat Uneventful [Page 145] 15 Sun-11 aft Trinity Uneventful 16 Mon Clear afternoon. Worsley & self go picture stalking with cameras. He being used chiefly as a figure by which the size of objects & surrounding nature may be gauged. [Page 146] Beautiful sunny day 18 Wed Rigging encrusted with rime. 10 hours daylight Cold & bleak with drifting snow. Two Emperor penguins secured.
[Page 147] 19 Thurs Take cinema of the teams exercising. 20 Fri Capt Worsley, Greenstreet & self with my team endeavour to reach the Rampart berg some 11 miles from ship. We travelled over extremely diversified pack, Hummocks ridges & plains. Through which my leader old Shakespeare, selected his own road with an almost human intuition. Greenstreet & I pilot the sledge bows whilst the skipper at the
[Page 148] amazing what rough country [Page 149] 23 Mon Peculiar miraging of bergs & distant hummocks. 24 Tues Lat 70.12S Long 50.12W Temp -16
[Page 150] 25 Wed -15 -23 1900 fath 26 Thurs Sir E. Wild & Crean take the 3 man hoop tent out to some pressure ahead of ship & erect for cinema. The tent is an ingenious contrivance opening like a motor car hood. Unfortunately it lacks much in portability. [Page 151] [Page 151] 69.56S 50.8W -19 -23 [Page 152] 31 Tues [Page 153] ice salinity in situ Sample of top 2 ½ in surface freshly formed 13.1 per 1,000 [Page 154] 4 Sat 69 56 ° 50.18W Wind E Temp 3.2 Gramophone 5 Sun-14 aft Trinity 69.55S 50.23W. [Page 155] Fine mirage effects [Page 156] 8 Wed Lightly cloudy but clear. Bergs & hummocks are refracted & miraged up on the horizon in great diversity of form. Some appear like huge dirigibles others skyscrapers, yachts temples etc. 69.5S 50.10W Tem -16 -23 [Page 157] 69.50S 50.19W. Temp -6 -17.
[Page 158] 69.45S %0.29W Tem -15 -27 [Page 159] 69.33S Wind SE Clear weather & exercise dogs. Wilds team observes a penguin & takes charge.Wild being unable to stop them the bird is torn [Page 160] 16 Thurs 17 Fri
Tem -19 -28 [Page 161] 69.34 50.46W. Wind S to ENE [Page 162]
21 Tues 69.36Sth. 50.35 [Page 163] 22 Wed 69.36S 50.32W Wind light N to Nth E temp + 2 -11 23 Thurs 69.33. 50.36 Temp -4 -14 [Page 164] 25 Sat 69.30 50 58 +14 -2 [Page 165] 26 Sun-17 aft Trinity [Page 166] 28 Tues Lat 69° 32S Long 51°-15W 1876 fathm Temp +6.5 29 Wed-St. Michael-Michaelmas Day
Cracks observable from masthead running SE & W 69.29S 51.6W WSW +7 -10 [Page 167] 30 Th Experienced a nip today The most severe since entering the ice. The ship endures a terrific strain shivering from stem to stern when at last it seems her sides must give way the floe splits & with feeling of relief the strain is alleviated
1 Fri Lat 69 ° 23 51 ° 6W [From arrow]See page 45 Sept 30th in large book Ice salination for the month. [Page 169] 2 Sat Fine parhelia discerned during forenoon with bright mock suns. There are no less than 13 seals observable on the floe 3 were secured several were severely scarredExercise dogs. Greenstreet accompanies me as passenger. Whilst racing back to the ship & watching the Parhelion I happened to glance ahead just in time to notice Shakespeare disappear into a lead. Hastily jumping off we just secured the sledge & saved dogs & all from an immersion. The lead had opened during the time we were out exercising. 3 Sun-18 aft Trinity
[Page 170] 4 Mon Whilst out exercising dogs today I allow the team to cross a pressure ridge without riding on the sledge. The team bolted & made off to the ship minus driver & passenger. We raced in nearly 2 miles but the runaways reached the ship first. They looked very penitent when I arrived. On trying to drive them out again they took me across some dangerously thin ice & back again to the ship. The third time they were all thrashed & [Page 171]
[Page 172] 8 Fri Fine clear day & dogs exercised. Take photographs amongst pack of 9 Sat Sweethearts & wives toasted with music & song. One member places ice on Sir Es bogie fire extinguishing same & is wigged soundly. He also it is alleged put coal into the icepot probably the result of heartily drinking to the above toast. [Page 173] [indecipherable] to N NNE +29 +24 [Page 174] 12 Tues Much activity owing to migration from the Ritz to Summer cabins. Great cleaning up. Hammering sawing cheers songs etc. 13 Wed 69 Lat 50W Air tem +23
[Page 175] 14 Thurs Ship breaks free of floe. The water is very clear & one can look down & observe the twisted rudder which does not appear seriously damaged: having suffered only a slight twist from water line to the second rudder band. Meals again in the wardroom a marked improvement on the dark & vitiated atmosphere of the ritz. 15 Fri My birthday. 29 years. [Page 176] [Page 177]
[Page 178] 20 Wed 69.17S Long 51.5W. [Page 179] 22 Fri 69°.11.30" Lat Long 51.7.W. [Page 180] 24 Sun-21 aft Trinity 25 Mon-Labour Day-Bank Holiday [Page 181] 27 Wed [Page 182] [in margin] Temp -15 at midnight. Got up early cold & miserable with [indecipherable] & makes hoosh 29 Fri [Page 183] 31 Sun 22 aft Trinity [Page 184] Went to wreck this afternoon to rescue whatever foodstuffs or fuel possible endeavoured to rescue negatives. Alas! Covered by 3 feet water ice. Hands employed in breaking spurs etc. on back, cut away [indecipherable] & mizzen. 2 Tuesday [Page 185] Spent day making a blubber cooker. Blubber & oil is suspended in a receptacle over a blubber fire & on reaching a high temperature flashes volatalizing oil giving off a very fierce flame & the teams plying to or from the shop bringing in [indecipherable] & sundries I rescued today the Encyclopeadia Britannica. Other hands engaged Thurs 4 [Page 186] [Page 187] Blowing mild blizzard, all day from SE. During the past 36 hrs owing to the high winds we have drifted NW 15 miles, for which we are truly grateful. Completed the blubber store and installed same in Billabong. It is a great success & nearly as convenient as one stove aboard the ship. With very little attention beyond feeding with blubber, it cooks the hooches in less time than coal. With the addition of a chimney is very clean. The galley or billabong is quite comfortable & one can scarce believe we are adrift on an ocean 2000 fathoms deep. Have just escaped from the confines of sleeping after changing some of plates & am now comfortably ensconced in sleeping bag sucking butterscotch. With Sir Ernest & Wild paid a final visit to the wreck during afternoon. Yesterdays weather having moderated. The wreck is a pitiful sight the ship having been squeezed together almost like a bag, only ½ the foremast is standing with the blue ensign proudly flying still. The remnant of the hull unburied by ice is nearly obscured by drift snow. We returned to camp with sad feelings after having fired off a detonated salute which nearly scared the wits out of my team. [Page 188] [Page 189] Fri 12 [Page 190] Sun 24 aft Trinity [Page 191] [Page 192] Breakfast porridge & 1 bannock & milk Started making a pump for large whaleboat from Flinders cylinder of binnacle. Flow becoming very soft from temperature. Sink knee & thigh deep in snow. Ice appears to be rotting. Curious allure in camp. Cook with Sooty face in silk dress shirt. Others varied uniforms & miscellaneous civilian habiliments. Self in shooting suit. Wiskers sprouting & hiding soiled countenances. Great admiration for the boss who as ever considerate. celebrate & kindly disposed .A deckhand comrade- position remains unaltered. [Page 193] Breakfast Penguin steak . D
..d tough 2 bannocks{an orgie Weather light snow with NE wind. Everything damp & sodden. Just been discoursing [Page 194] Mon 22 [Page 195] Wed 24 Nov [Page 196] Banjo concert in our tent. Boss has slight attack lumbago. Good hoosh this evening made from peas, seal, tongues & livers made piquant with mustard dressing. We are becoming regular gastronomic epicures. Fri 26 Nov [Page 197] Sun 28 Nov- 1 in Advent Breakfast cods steak bannocks Boss excited on the account of stones in jam all cheerful & hopeful [Page 198] Tues 30 Nov-St.Andrew-Bank Holiday [Page 199] Days pass rapidly on the floe when one has something to occupy time. [Page 200] [Page 201] Mon 6 December [Page 202] [Page 203] [Page 204] Sunday 12 December [Page 205] Tues 14 December [Page 206] [Page 207] Sat 18 December [Page 208] Mon 20 December [Page 209] Wed 22 December [Page 210] Broke camp at 4.30am finding the surface most satisfactory between 10pm & 10am. It being knee deep soft during day hours - Boats hauled out 1 ½ miles only four small pressure ridges had to be smoothed out & all equipage hauled & camp erected 11am. This condition of affairs is extremely satisfactory - & all are in cheery spirits. The cook has manufactured some 800 bannocks. We have 40 days additional sledging ration exclusive of 60 days sledging supply. Fri 24 December [Page 211] Sun 26 December [Page 212] We are thankful being able to secure plenty of seals. Broke camp 8.30 pm. Fine seal steak breakfast. Seals are a blessing providing fuel and food for ourselves & hounds consumption being 1 daily. Reached berg the terminus of yesterdays scouting & ascended to survey future prospects. The prospect one might liken to a glimpse of the icy fields of the moon beautiful & grand beyond conception. During nights march many intricate passages had to be manoeuvred. One crossing over a narrow junction between two floes had to be negotiated especially gingerly. Frequently the odd sledges sank in a pool & the pulling was very strenuous. [Page 213] Wednesday 29 December [Page 214] [Page 215] With the New Year we are embued with fresh hopes for today the ice has shown the most satisfactory aspect of a change since entering it a year ago. This morning Capt Morsly & self went out to Pinnacle berg riding on my sledge- to investigate the conditions- From the top we observed the floe to be scarred & broken in all directions by long cracks & pools. Everywhere the ground is rotting & one is ever on the elert at each step of breaking through into the Waddell sea. A creek which has now developed into a Lake has opened only a few hundred yards from camp & we are hopeful of its issue 5 Crabeaters & 1[indecipherable] Sea Leopard which chased Lees around a small floe were captured & temperature is high 32.5 & a wet snow is falling & now 3 weeks seal meat for Man & dog [Page 216] [Page 217] [Page 218] Jany 5th 1916 [Page 219] [Page 220] [Page 221] [Page 222] Jany 9th 1916 Sunday Lat 66.58S Long 52.26 W Wind NE. Sir E. recounts Episodes of his South Polar Expedition today being the 7th Anniversary of his reaching the farthest South. It is also James Birthday & Wild & tentmates have just been wishing him luck. I have just walked around our tent three times being the prescribed method of exorcising Evil wind spirits. Struck tent today & rebanked a a snow platform for its base. Also dried sleeping gear. [indecipherable] pemmican Hoosh breakfast bonanza bannock & small piece cheese lunch. Dinner Thick Seal & Penguin Ragout. [Page 223] [Page 224] [Page 225] 13th Jany 1916. Ski-ing during morning & afternoon. Scouting for seals. It would appear as if the latter have migrated to more Southern latitudes as we were not able to secure any these few days. have not an abundance of meat for men & dogs a decision must be arrived at regarding the shooting of the latter. [Page 226] [Transcribed by Andy Netting, Margaret Broadfoot for the State Library of New South Wales]
A "Red Letter" day: six soundings were taken at depths varying from 98 to 210 faths. Clark had a most successful dredging. The dredge coming up Ύ full of life peculiar to to Antarctic waters. Towards evening a number of an apparently new species of penguins were observed on the floe, which, on closer observation, proved to be young Emperors. We secured a dozen for specimens. During the day we steamed into precisely the same Bay as Bruce in the Scotia, when he reached his farthest south & designated the land Coates Land. Started reading Guinea Gold by Beatrice Scrimshaw.
1915 31 Days Januaryfor us to the south.
Finished reading "Guinea Gold" a powerful tale which I enjoyed.
14 Thurs Tied up all day to the floe ice which is barring further southward progress. The day was magnificent. The finest day since leaving South Georgia & in fact the second sunny one we have had. The bergs & floes were reflected in the deep blue water, while the heavy pressure ice, glistening in the sunshine with its deep blue shadows was one of the fairest sight I have seen in the south. This ice was more like [indecipherable] than pack ice for it was so tossed, broken & crushed. Great pressure ridges thrown up 15 to 20 feet in height bear evidence of the terrific force & pressure of the ice in these latitudes. Was
January 1st Month 1915
January 1915 31 Days January
January 1st Month 1915
Lat 76°.34S Long 31°.18W.
To Vahsel Bucht 85 miles
From the crows nest it appears as if the recent NE gale has jammed the pack back into Vahsel Bucht as the sea appears densely packed in that direction. No water visible.
Time - 4 - 29 - 26.8
8 - 28.3 - 25.5
12 - 27.3 - 25.5
1915 31 Days January
Depth 350 fathoms
Temp
25.5-28
27-28
28-29
Conditions remain unchanged as regards the ice. No signs are evident of it opening up. The weather however is changing for the best. Spent afternoon writing.
January 1st Month 1915
1915 31 Days January
Held up in the ice.
Nothing of any moment takes place.
76.50 33.42
[indecipherable] secured & take colour picture of same
January 1st Month 1915
[possibly a continuation of dissertation on small pools etc.] Still in pack. Took number Autochrome plates. Many of the members indulged in a game of soccer on the floe.
1915 31 Days January
Sounding 449 fathoms.
Only about 25 miles from land.
4 - 12 - 20.9
8 - 21 - 21.3
12 - 22 - 20
Had musical evening in wardroom. As is customary Sweethearts & Wives & toast is drunk each Saturday evening. Chips the carpenter rather overdid the toast, with the result that the very strong rum made him quarrelsome & going down to the focsle created a disturbance which fortunately was quelled before any harm eventuated.
Jan-Feb 1st & 2nd Months 1915
There appears to be little prospect of a blizzard breaking up the seaice & freeingus. The weather today being calm, snowy & overcast. The idea of spending the winter in a keelbound ship is extremely unpleasant more so, owing to the necessarily cramping of the work, & the forced association with the ships party who, although being an amenable crowd are not altogether partial to the scientific staff.
1915 28 Days February
February 2nd Month 1915
1915 28 Days February
February 2nd Month 1915
1915 28 Days February
February 2nd Month 1915
1915 28 Days Februarywas hurled being commissioned as a battering ram. At midnight we "cocoa" & wish Sir E. Many Happy Returns. & / & [indecipherable] then to bunk very tired.
[Note in margin] yesterdays cutting freezes up to 6 to 8in over night
February 2nd Month 1915James & self Two Killer Whales blow in lead ahead & a large pool to the eastward continues open from which rise great clouds of frost smoke.
1915 28 Days Februaryoriginates commences by the (19 Fri ) formation of small fish scale like crystals which accumulate without definite orientation in horizontal layers. This formation extends below the surface for about ½" when the small plate crystals gradually arrange themselves into a more vertical position till they become vertical. This is probably due to the heavier saline solution sinking, & so directing the deposition of the plates. The accretion continues by the increments of these vertical scales. This new ice has a vertical fracto fracture at right angles to its plane. This ice subsequently undergoes a recrystallization becoming fibrous resembling a fibrous structure.
February 2nd Month 1915
1915 28 Days FebruaryThree dogs which are in very poor condition were shot apparently little [indecipherable] hope of
February 2nd Month 1915
1915 28 Days February
also 2 Crabeater Seals
Feb-Mar. 2nd & 3rd Months 1915
1915 31 Days March
Blizzard conditions prevail all day
+18 to 6
3 Wed Old Saint dies[indecipherable] obstruction in bowels
March 3rd Month 1915
1915 31 Days March
Young ice 4 weeks old 13 ½ in thick Build shelter for cutting up seals from the blocks cemented together by throwing water over them. Meteorological instruments placed in position.
During evening a singing musical competition takes place & The prize is awarded to Sir E. whose voice is quaint vacillating between sharps & flats in a most unique manner. Wordie now ex champ.
7 Sun 3 in Lent rendering an old favourite The Gambolier in a voice resembling the shrill tone caused by drawing a rasp across the edge of a sheet of galvanised iron. Clark renders next "My Nut Brown Maiden" in a nasal super Tenor & I render The Waltzing Matilda in the melting dulcet tones one often hears a swaggie crooning at sunset when finishing his frugal damper. It is astounding the musical talent we do not possess.
March 3rd Month 1915
-10.5
Several hands make straw mattresses for the dogs of his erect cubicle in the hold "The Ritz". Three seals sighted about three miles from ship. They are shot and brought in.
9 Tues As no hope can be entertained of freeing ourselves from the icy fastness this season & temperatures are falling the residential portion of the ship is undergoing considerable modifications. The main hold has been discharged & cubicles are being erected therein along the port & starboard sides. Each cubicle contains two
[plan of cubicle]
1915 31 Days March
(11 Thurs) has undergone a similar alteration & is known as the "Stables". It is tenanted by Wild, Crean, Marston, & Worsley. Sir Ernest occupies his original cabin right aft. A bogie has been installed for roasting purposes.
March 3rd Month 1915behind negative gl, a la Passe Partout. Mostly the portraits are of charming young ladies.
13 Sat No attempt being made to hide her stout ribs, beams or timbers. The ship however is a snug home & I doubt not she will be more comfortable than a hut.
1915 31 Days March
Air -1° [indecipherable] -7
Inauguration of winter routine. Have first meal in the Ritz by the light of the Blanehard.
lunch Bowl hoosh or thick soup bread jam or potted meat & afternoon free. afternoon tea 3 30pm 6pm. soup, meat, vegetables & pudding with cocoa & teaabout some eight miles south of the ship & on account of its irregular form is very pictorial. We left the ship on foot at 8 Am, hauling a light sledge carrying photographic gear & lunch. The surface proved hard & good going whilst the weather favoured us with bright
March 3rd Month 1915
fortification. Around its base the pack ice crunched rafted & groaned complainingly being goaded along as this monster drifted majestically amongst it. Standing on the rafting pressure we made its blue caverns echo with three hearty coo-ees. After securing six fine whole plates we returned safely to the ship & had an excellent tea & sound sleep after our enjoyable excursion. Covered 17 miles.
1915 31 Daysrch
Land still faintly discernible to SE
[Note in margin] X During day I rig up Husseys Dines anemometer.
My nightwatch have a warm bath in front of the bogie change my three months worn garments & wash socks. Several friends join me at midnight repast. We conversing in subdued whispers on our future prospects, on England, & Aust/a.
March 3rd Month 1915
During the evening I gave an illustrated Lantern Lecture on across Australia & Java. All hands Afterguard & focstle rolled up. It was quite a relief to see some decent tropical vegetation & flowers even though they were projected on the screen. The lecturette began at 8pm and ended at 9 pm. It was much appreciated
Temp -4 -9
Erect a hospital on floe alongside ship for dog under treatment. Dogs are now fed once a day in the evening. Sue gives birth to two pups. Erect a table & cosify the Billabong.
1915 31 Days March
harness tangling & fighting. At the word Gee! the leader turns to the left about 30 degrees The ejaculation How! causes him to take a leftward course whilst a long drawn out Woah! brings the team to rest. Hup there, assisted by explicit adjectives (such as dear doggies etc I dont think) causes the team to increase its gait. Of necessity, all dogs must keep their correct side of the main trace. Failing to
March 3rd Month 1915
do so, the driver intimates the certain dog with "get hover there" This information is effectively furthered by a flick on the ear from the whip. A good leader will ferret out the best track through rough or broken country, will not allow fights in the team or indulge in any capricious antics. Dogs must not roll with their harnesses on & must follow in detail the exemplary conduct of the leader. Failing
to comply, whipping inevitably ensues. As the dog drivers whip is some 20 feet long, with a very knotted handle the above specimen team can be produced from raw recruits in a month or so. A team of nine dogs can haul about 1000 lbs Its hauling capacity is proportional to the strength of the dog drivers arm
1915 31 Days March
& to the "compelling" vocabulary at his command (my team is one of the best)
76 27S. 30.6W Temp + 6.5 Wind SW.
Take two casts with the dredge & secured a couple of large boulders. Heavy incrustation of Rime over ship which I flashlight
1915
27 Sat Lat 76.22 S Long 38.50
( Temp -10
( 1916
( 27 March
Lat 62 58 S Long 53-10W
Gramophone concert in evening at which all hands attend foes included.
March 3rd Month 1915
ESE to S Tem -2 -4
Cheetham, Greenstreet & McCarthy engaged in fixing up three twenty foot poles with bamboo spreaders to carry 4 wires for the wireless Very cold work aloft
1915 31 Days March
Finish wireless receiver aerial Depth 258 fath
A crack opens at the stern of the ship & gives us hopes Dogs exercised
April 4th Month 1915
Engineers strip & oil up engines in order to preserve same over the coming winter No further hope being entertained of breaking out this season.
During the day I constructed a thaw box around the Ritz bogie funnel. This is intended to thaw our seal meat intended for dog food.
[Diagram included plus] Top deck Box in which meat is hung Main deck BOGIE
At present the seal meat is frozen so hard that it is with difficulty cut with a tomahawk & much is wasted in chips that fly off like as when cutting hardwood. 24 hours in the thaw box & the meat is rendered tender & may then be cut into rations with a knife. The arrangement
1915 30 Days April
3 Sat Bank Holiday
scanty rations 1lb per day seal meat & ½ lb blubber (The thaw box proved a boon throughout the winter)
Lat 76 17S Long 38 34 W. Temp -7.
The dogs have been split up into six teams of 9 dogs each
Wild, Crean, Macklin, McIlroy, Hurley, Marston, are in charge of dogs. The canines of my team are Shakespeare (Leader) Bob, Rugby, Rufus, Hackenschmidt, Jerry, Martin, Sailor, Noel
Training dogs. The arrangement of assigning teams to various personnel proves likely to prove a good move. Already improvements are being put in hand to ameliorate the comfort of the dogs with the individual care of the various dogmen. Many of the animals now in an emaciated condition will doubtless recover.
Lat. 76 9 37 50W SSW -19 -26
April 4th Month 1915
The arrangement of dogs in harness is as per sketch. A leader then 4 couples. The trace is between the couples
Each dog is capable of drawing from 100 to 110 lb load
The harness is similar to that used by Amundsen consisting of a padded collar attached to traces which fit over the dog & is secured by a bellyband.
[Diagram of dogs, traces & sledge]
6 Tues
Lat 76.12 Sth Long 39-4W.
Hussey & I are nightwatchers During the night we indulge in a game of chess We are both enthusiasts & it exercises ones otherwise stagnant intellect.
1915 30 Days April
7 Wed Strong wind with surface drift .Bring in the dogs from the outer dogloos & moor them close to ship to be hand in case of any ice movement.
Dogs suffering from parasites are kept in the confines of an ice sanatorium called the hospital & they are supplied with warm hooch & treated as invalids. Most now are in few stages of convalescence.
Thick driving & wet snow. Old dog kennels become buried up & we dogmen are kept busy excavating hounds from drifts.
Nearly finished building my new kennels from ice blocks [indecipherable] on the port bow & closer to the ship.
243 fathoms
April 4th Month 1915
Shakespeare aliases Tatchko The holy hound & [indecipherable] is a magnificent animal [indecipherable] ab English sheep dog, he is a noble creature dignified in [indecipherable], Master of the team in battle & a leader in canine intellect. His tail from which he derives one of his aliases was bitten by Bob resulting in a termination similar to a pine tree stripped of its branches except at the top.
Bob almost indistinguishable from Shakespeare [indecipherable] probably his brother. He
10 Sat
though lacking Holies intellect, is an ardent worker. Gives little trouble In fact this can be said of the pair. Rugby Similar to Bob but more friendly inclined. Rugby is minus his wagging extremity & is called by the sailors Bobtail.
These three dogs are section of a complete team of Shaggy Sledgers famous in the Hudson Bay Territory. Where old Shakespeare was called Light Unfortunately the team was broken up Half going to
1915 30 Days April
11 Sun Low Sunday 1 aft Easter Lat 76 24 Long 40 3 West [indecipherable] line of dogs exercising
Rufus has seen better days being a venerable old quadruped He has a curious method of expressing pleasure a groan resembling a snarl. On slow work he pulls when the others slacken a bit
Sailor a capricious rascal. Wiley & cunning apparently exerting himself greatly when [indecipherable] closer investigation shows
12 Mon a trace that is [indecipherable]. I keep him aft being handy to the whip where he acts as [indecipherable] in the team.
Hackenschmidt looks as though he will eventually become the largest dog in the pack. At present in very lean condition he resembles a young calf. He pulls well.
Noel or as I call him Edo is the smallest dog in the pack & has a rooted antipathy against Hack whom he does not fail
April 4th Month 191513 Tues to combat with at every opportunity. Only yesterday he became unfastened & dashed into Hacks kennel. A sanguineous fight ensued within. As the entrance was very small I could only grab a tail & back legs. Hussey & I nearly pulled the former off before a separation was effected.
Noel never loafs he begs for food standing on his hind legs.
Jerry & Martin Both brothers. The latter is much the better sledger Jerry being too much given to swank ambling & displaying an ostrich like tail. He forces friendship & with sharp claws tears ones clothes unintentionally Martin who is never chided for slacking is a rapacious eater & if not watched is given to appropriating. Collectively the
1915 30 Days April
15 Thurs Lat 75 54S Long 36 16 W
Surface sea temp +28.76
Wind SSE
192 fathoms o/c
Open up seal holes around the ship.
[Diagram]
April 4th Month 1915
196 20hours Temp -1
After the customary weekly toast of sweethearts & wives, the Ritz has again rigged as a lecture room where I displayed my slides of the Mawson Expedition Macklin run the lantern. The evening was greatly appreciated, Sir E complimented the slides.
18 Sun 2 aft Easter Wilds Birthday Celebrated by a "Tot" & musical honour. A discussion at the table re ages resulted in this finding. Average age of the 19 afterguard = 33yrs.
Cook manufactures excellent cake for the celebration.
1915 30 Days April
Train dogs during morning. Indulge in chess during afternoon. Aural display night.
Lat 76.0 Long 40.48 ½ W.
Depth 178 fathms.
Blowing fullgale with snow drift. Great dumps are formed around ship burying kennels & sinking the floe somewhat. With [indecipherable] weighting clearing gangs remove loads of snow from the ships vicinity & excavate the dogs.
April 4th Month 1915
Rugby of my teams very ill & is shot. P.M. shows him full of worms. A great pity more care was not exercised in the providing of suitable dog medicines, we being absolutely deficient. Many fine animals would have been saved. Two other dogs of the pack are in a similar state.
1915 30 Days April
23 Fri-St. George Bank Holiday
179 fathoms
Take down wireless poles.
24 Sat
Owing to fall in temperatures, [note in margin: arrow from 24 Thurs] it being -19, a heavy condensation develops on cameras when brought aboard. I have made a cupboard on deck where they may be kept at an even low temperature. Nevertheless my apparatus needs attention every occasion it is taken out. Lubricating with petroleum etc. especially the cine. The film becoming extremely brittle.
April 4th Month 1915
25 Sun 3 aft Easter Sun
Dogs doing splendidly. Dog ration from hence is altered daily for 3 day when it recurs 1lb seal + ½ lb Blubber, 1½ lb Spratts dog biscuit, 1 lb dog pemmican. The dogs appreciate the former most. The medial is a very unsatisfactory ration whilst the pemmican is the sledging ration & highly concentrated.
26 Mon
Commence installing the Stewart lighting Set. The small petrol driven motor is housed under the companionway into the Ritz. The installation charges up an accumulator Set. The light is intended for emergency purposes & reading the instruments. I am in charge.
1915 30 Days April
27 Tues
Sun still visible but with alt of only about 2Ί
177 fathoms
Tem -14 -17
Blue sky & clear 174 fath
Nearly full moon with glorious clear nights. Exquisite prismatic colourings in the sky at sunset.
April 4th Month 1915
depth 169 fathoms Min temp -17
Exercise my team accompanied by Capt. Worsley
172 fathoms
The rise in temperature makes everything feel damp & moist
Sun departs today but owing to cloud are unable to bid adieu to old Jamaica
1915 31 Days May
1 Sat
Observed sun today by refraction probably the last glimpse of old Jamaica till the coming spring.
175 fath
Sweethearts & wives.
75.23S 41.30W.
Seal sighted 3½ miles from ship. Wild Greenstreet & myself with team go out for same, but the weather falling misty we have considerable difficulty in locating. The dogs were very obstinate & the dim lights made the going atrocious
May 5th Month 1915
Hussey & myself on nightwatch.
During the small hours we endeavoured to cure Les of his habitual snoring. Asleep on his back with mouth wide open, the gap seemed to invite a capricious joke. Hussey, refreshing himself on sardines suggested plugging the gap with the tin, but I more humanely dropped in several fish. The sardines disappeared
4 Tues
but the snoring increased & the mouth opened wider probably anticipating a return. Lentils, however, being nearby, I emptied a handful into the cavern with much effect. The snores ceased & we were able to proceed, without their diversion, with our game of chess.
1915 31 Days May
5 Wed
Beautiful clear weather.
75.10S 41.30W -4 -13
Clear weather. Numerous cracks observed to the W of ship one of which 9 Emperor penguins emerge all of which fall prey to stock our larder.
161 fathoms
Hussey & Cheetham Birthday celebrated in the usual manner
May 5th Month 1915
7 Fri
Dogs exercised. Triangular dredge lowered & 400 fthm of wire. A heavy haul but only of clay & mud. Alteration in dog food rate. For two days hooch made from pemmican ½ lb per dog & biscuits Ύ lb per dog Hudson & Greenstreet look out after its cooking (the whole being mixed with water) & dolling out to the dog owners.
159 fathoms
Remarkable reappearance of the sun at noon today when it rose, disappeared & rose again> By the nautical almanac it should be 3 below the horizon. The fact that it was at all visible is due to abnormal mirage & refraction.
1915 31 Days May
75.9S 41.22W
Beautiful pellucid atmosphere with considerable refraction and glorious prismatic colourings. Teams go for longer run than usual to our old friend The Rampart berg. The distance covered being about 20 ½ miles.
Clear weather. Sadie gives birth to 1 pup in the night which closely resembles a guinea pig.
May 5th Month 1915
Cloudy dull & bad light
157 fathoms
Exercise dogs.
o/c sky with NE gale. Blizzard conditions & no one permitted to leave ship other than dogmen who perforce must attend to their dogs. Moderation in conditions during the afternoon.
1915 31 Days May
Temp +12 -2
13 Thurs Ascension Day Holy Thursday
Veering wind to E force 5 to 6. Dog team do not exercise owing to continual inclement weather.
All remain below in the Ritz.
75.23.5S 42.0W 163fath Wind SE/S Temp -5 -6
Clear day with light breeze. Take team out Greenstreet passenger & owing to the past two days confinement the dogs were unusually frisky & started off at great speed. We travelled some very hummocky ice but the dogs entered into the amusement. They are wonderful!
May 5th Month 1915
Secure 1 seal. 20 Emperor penguins secured during the . The birds are in full plumage & condition several scaling 85 lbs. The breasts provide about 14 lb meat per bird & when roasted, no meat is more delicious. Give my 3rd series of lantern lectures on NSW to which all attend.
Blowing SE gale till midday 153 fath but suddenly veering to opposite direction. Numerous small cracks & leads observable in various directions.
1915 31 Days May
17 Mon Wind SE Temp +12 +2
Cloudy & o/c. Dogs exercised but owing to the broken nature of the ice, the exercising area is restricted.
3 Emperor penguins secured.
157 fathoms
156 fath.
Uneventful day.
May 5th Month 1915
Lat S 75.27 Long 44.26 155fthms
20 Wed [Altered to 20th]
A form of midwinter madness has manifested itself. All hands being seized with the desire to have their hair removed. Much amusement was caused & luxuriant bald pates & parted crowns soon became akin. We are likely to be coolheaded in the future if not neuralgic. We resemble a cargo of convicts & I did not let the opportunity pass of perpetuating photographically this humorous happening.
20 Thurs
Have fitted & charged the batteries of the Stewart lighting sets. This indispensable acquisition has been erected under the companionway of the Ritz. Lights intended for intermittent use are installed two in the passageway to Sir Es cabin, two for reading the meteorological instruments. Two are arranged at the ships stern for observation work during winter. A cluster of 4 over the port side, a cluster of 4 over the starboard & a similar cluster arranged over the deck.
1915 31 Days May
The exterior lights are rigged on poles about 12 feet out from the ship & are blizzard proof. By them it is possible to inspect all around the ship. A desideratum in the event of being menaced by pressure during the night & winter & furthermore to inspect the dogs, stop fights & capture strays. Wild causes amusement at dinner by appearing with shaven head on which is painted an imbecilic countenance.
Fit a water boiling device to the Ritz bogie which works very successfully: boiling water for washing up dishes, faces & hands, a bucket of ice being raised to boiling point inside an hour. This is a great saving on our kerosene as hitherto Primus stoves were used. The arrangement is called the "Calorifier" & consists of a number of convolutions of copper steam pipe being inserted in the bogie fire. A circulation is produced by connecting it to an external copper tank.
May 5th Month 1915
Lees birthday celebrated, for which the chef produces a wondrous coloured cake. His health is toasted with the usual. Hes a jolly good fellow etc.
Exercise dogs during the day. Light very indifferent. During the evening we witness a fine double halo around the moon with mock moons.
1915 31 Days May
75.16S Lat 44.11W Long Temp -12 -13
Dogs exercised. Observe a fine Paraselene
26 Wed Birth of Queen Mary
Beautiful clear though nippy day temp -16. Took dogs out exercising with Macklin riding as passenger. We drove out amongst the hummocks ahead of the ship after afternoon tea it being then brilliant moonlight.
The moon shed a soft silvery glow over the floe lending a charming enchantment to our ride.
May 5th Month 1915
Lat 75.4 Long 44.51W Min -20. Had delightful run with team during the morning. The faint daylight mingling with the brilliant moonlight lent a peculiar enchantment to the frozen sea.
golden glow of the departing sun in which stood the full moon glowing like a silvery halo} [In box] The northern sky was aflame with the
28 Fri
The southern sky was more sombre being delicately prismatic with a faint blue horizon blending into a pink tint. [Arrow from golden glow] One felt quite elated riding on the sledge & driving straight into the moons face. Winter although hoary & blizzard bound is undersuch conditions the most charming term of the year.
1915 31 Days May
All hands walk in the dredge.
29 Sat
After three attempts I succeed in securing flashlights of my team being fed. The charges of flashpowder were placed in three shielded receptacles & suitably arranged for lighting. The latter was effected by depressing a button & firing simultaneously & electrically. The dogs were extremely scared the kennel entrances having to be barricaded to keep them out. Very cold work.
Macklins, McIlroys & my own teams rush into one another & have a sanguinary encounter. We restore order with the butt ends of our whips. This seemed an impossibility as the whole 21 dogs were a writhing fighting heap but judicious use of the whip has considerable persuasive powers.
May-June 5th & 6th Months 1915
74.49 44.33W 253fath -9 -10
Exercise dogs & owing to bad light am unable to discover the track. I leave it to the dogs which speedily find their way back to the ship.
74°.49S Lat Long 45 20W
Exercise dogs. Temp -3°
[Note in margin: average whole dogs 72.61]
Weighed dog teams as under.
Total weight Average Increase (Head dog
McIlroy 589 73.6 - +1.7 Samson 86
Hurley 643 ½ - 80.4 - -1.5 - Hack 98
Macklin 662 ½ - 66.2 - -4 Peter 75 ½
Crean 655 81.9 +4 [indecipherable] 100
Marston 470 67.1 - -3.5 Herc 97
Wild 538 67.2 - -4 Fran 77
1915 30 Days June
Lat 74.47 Long 45-11-45-45
2 Wed
Ice 200 yards astern cracks slightly & 4 Emperor penguins emerge therefrom. [indecipherable] is secured by making an imitatory croaking noise which attracted him across the crack. We are having him served up as roast steak for this evenings meal.
Wordie measures the ice which after 88 days growth is now 38 ins. thick. Temp -5.5° min -6.5°
Lat 74.45S Long 45 & 5W
Rigging encrusted with heavy rime giving the appearance of a Xmas Card Ship covered with glass powder. Six hours twilight. Dredged in 256 fathms but very poor haul.
Hoisted the colors & fired salute in honor of King George Vs Birthday. Evening musical honors.
June 6th Month 1915
Only now 3 hours dim twilight. Exercise dogs Frost smoke from open water patches
Tem -12&;deg Min -19°
The ship is practically frozen in a huge ice island. The floe we are in being Surrounded by water which evolves dense brown clouds of frost smoke.
5 Sat
74 43S 43 56W Temp -12 -19 254fath
Dog exercise. Run out to an adjacent lead which formed yesterday & has now a coating of nearly 6in of ice.
1915 30 Days June
74.32 44.5W. Tem -12 -9
This is our darkest part of the year. Moon sets at 9Am & only three hours of dim twilight at noon.
254 fathoms.
June 6th Month 1915
2 Hours twilight. Very dim at noon. Slight auroral display but nothing comparable with the magnificent bursts of Adelie Land. No animal life observed. And a dead calm & quiet reigns. Temp -7° LAT 74 27 Long 45.16 30W.
259 fathoms
Exercised dogs Clear & cold temp -24° min -27°
Take team out to lead ahead of ship & observe pressure working. Immense blocks of ice are pressed up into high ridges with irresistible power that makes one think. What would the ships fate be if she encountered such.
1915 30 Days June
Lat 74 25½ Long 44 30W Air -23° min -27°
Heavy pressure starts about 500yds from ship. Immense blocks of ice weighing 10 to 15 tons are broken & piled up in a ruin like chaos. The noise of this working is deafening. At times like the deep boom of artillery. The screaming squeaking & groaning as each
11 Fri
huge slab rafts up crushing a similar one beneath it. But nothing can stop this irresistible pressure. Up rises another huge ridge only to continue its work of building up an enormous pile of ice debris some 20 feet high. We are thankful that our ship is out of range.
June 6th Month 1915
Lat 74 28 Long 46.5W Min -16.
Sweethearts & wives toasted. Delicious meal of roast Emperor Penguins breast.
After two hours of dim twilight darkness sinks down. From within the cosiness of the Ritz it is hard to imagine we are drifting frozen solid in a sea of pack ice in the heart of the Weddell Sea. I often wonder what is to become of us all.
1 Emperor Penguin secured.
1915 30 Days June
Arrange dog team race with Wild. To take place over the "Khyber Pass" track to the ship. Bets are being freely made on both sides chiefly in chocolate. Betting is about equal weather permitting. The race comes off tomorrow. Some excitement prevails.
Great fancy dress betting today on the Antarctic Derby Stakes - all available chocolate & cigarettes the local currency are brought into requisition. Sir E. is starter & a line near the ship is home. All hands are given the day off. The day opens dull & overcast and the track is visible only by hurricane lamps. Several of the ABs are dressed as bookies but as they look a trifle "disreputable" their odds are not accepted.
June 6th Month 1915
The Khyber pass light flashes the signal
16 Wed & the teams are off. Great cheering excesses & the dogs join in. The teams seem to know what is expected of them. Wilds team is seen racing down the "pile on" track. Then comes McIlroy & Macklins team headed by bony Peter & the drivers urge their teams by shout & varied vocabularies. Wild wins covering the distance in 2 min 16 secs. Hurley next 2 min 26 secs.
Lat 74.37S 46.53W. Long.
Rigging & deck incrusted with heavy rime crystals. Some of the ropes being nearly as thick ones wrist. Had auroral displays last night but ineffective. Dogs exercised at noon. Very difficlt to find ones way about so leave it to Old Shakespeare to find the way home which he does in a marvellous manner. McIlroys dice give us amusement. All casting lots as to who will defray cost of Dinners.. Top is theatres etc on return. Temp -14./
74.37 Depth 256 fath
18 Fri
Put dredge down last night & walk it in during morning. Clark is satisfied with the haul.
2 hours poor twilight. Stars of 5th magnitude may be observed at noon.
20 Sun 3 aft Trinity
Preparations for midwinter. Lat 74.30 Long 47.44W Depth 260 fathoms min -7.5 SSE to SE.
The Billabong has an atmosphere poetic. Macklin on his bunk is writing topical verse & I am doing likewise. McIlroy is arranging a dιcolletι dancing rig whilst Uncle Hussey is being beset by applicants to rehearse accompaniments on his banjo.
lat 74 21S long 47 44W -17 temp.
1915 30 Days June
Observed as a holiday. The sun begins his return once more & a feast of able merrymaking custom ensues. After an excellent breakfast & lunch of reserved dainties we partake of a "feast" dinner after which all retire to their cubicles to array in stage dress. I erect a stage illumined with acetylene footlights & decorate with bunting. Sir Ernest opening the evening with an egotistic & satirical harangue which is admirably responded to by the Rev Dr Wowser Bubbling love (Lees) An overture Discord, fantasia in full flats by the Billabong band works
23 Wed Birth of Prince of Wales
the audience up to a high pitch. The BB opportunely retiring to their retreat. Many humorous sketches & makeups follow, interspersed with good natured persiflage. Rickinson makes an admirable flapper while McIlroy makes a very gay grisitte. Highly perfumed bet-[indecipherable] & traced out rope [indecipherable]. Greenstreet as dashing Kraut was a great success. James humorous German brogue dissertation on the [indecipherable] was loudly applauded
June 6th Month 1915
& Marston as a country farmer was superb.
24 Thurs St. John Baptist
The evening which comprised some 30 items with an interval concluded by God Save the King & Auld Lang Syne. After we partook of a midnight supper.
Overcast & thick snowdrift. No animal life observed. Dredge in 249 fathoms. Wind SW to SSW. Temp -15 Lat 74 02 Long 47.25W
James & Worsley obtain good occultation of Scorpio for chronometer correction.
We have now made a splendid drift of 39 miles for the past 5 days. Have another race with Wild over the Khyber Pass track. Wild comes in pulling 910lbs, 2 min 9 secs. My team same weight 2 min 16 secs. As Sir E. falls off Wilds sledge Wild is disqualified & I win. Worsley owes me £3 & Sir E. 1. Unfortunately the surface was glass- like so that my heavier team were at a disadvantage & speed average lb
1915 30 Days June
Exercise dogs during morning. A noticeable duration in the light is observable. Our drift from the time of being beset on 19th January to date is 667 miles.
Lat 73 58S Long 47 23W 238 fathoms. air -15° min -21.5
Erie sounds of distant working pressure are carried on the crisp wintry atmosphere. A faint booming groaning & creaking, a sound where the greater the distance the more the enchantment.
June 6th Month 1915
1915 30 Days June - July
My turn nightwatch. The duties of the NW. are to keep the Ritz Bogie glowing, the Stables Roasting & The Bosses which is right aft at an equitable temperature. The latter is a difficult job as the Bosses room is but a small cabin. The temperature within is either 90° or well below freezing according to the vicissitudes of the wind which great influence the bogie draught. Sir Es temper reciprocates with the room temperature.
The Night Watch also arouses his friends & they sit in quorum around the Bogie fire discoursing in subdued whispers & partaking of the Nightwatchmans homage, to wit sardines on toast (a great favourite) grilled biscuit & cocoa or tea. Frequently a special perk reserved for the occasion is produced & the visitors termed shouts are appreciative. All hands are called at 8.30Am.
July 7th Month 1915
Lat. 74.10S Long 48.45W
2 Fri A typical day.
Rise at 8.30Am generally 8.50Am Breakfast at 9Am sharp. Else woe betide! Sir Es humour in the mornings before breakfast being erratic. Morning, exercise dogs & "dinkus" about generally. Lunch 1Pm afternoon not till afternoon tea, at 3.30Pm till 4Pm, Nil till 6Pm. Turn in at own desire, after an arduous day endeavouring to make the time pass.
Dog weighing accomplished by lifting dog with a canvas sling & hooking onto a spring balance.
Total weight Average - Increase - Heaviest
McIlroy 620 77.5 -20 Samson 94
Hurley 690.5 86.3 27½ Hack 105
Macklin 701 70.1 10½ Peter 82
Crean 637 91 30 Jasper 111
Marston 498 71.1 14 Hercules 106
Wild 577 72.1 17 Tim 85
1915 31 Days July
Dogs exercised
Gramophone concert which we in the Billabong muchly appreciate. We lie in bunk drinking in every note & trying to imagine the singer & song under civilized circumstances.
Two penguins captured. Macklin team falls into a lead. He has great trouble in extricating them.
July 7th Month 1915
Menial discontent in forecastle. Several hands complaining of the Bosun having called them evil names & struck them. As harmony is imperative his promotion to Bosun has been cancelled & he resumes his former rating of Trawling hand.
Lat 74.7 Long 49°W MinTemp -18.1
1915 31 Days July
Stars stand out clear like twinkling lights. Sirius on the horizon gleams like a distant beacon.
Dog exercise & harnessing very cold work in -25° temperature. Small cracks in the neighbourhood of our customary exercising ground impedes free running. Forard hands cut the ice away from around the rudder making a hole 3ft radius.
July 7th Month 1915
Each day a fresh warm golden glow on the horizon indicates the Suns passage to the north of us. Each day he mounts higher in the sky the harbinger of old Jamaica. How we look forward to seeing his glowing face & feeling the warmth of his rays. It is only that we miss thee old Sol when thy radiance has been witheld these dreary wintry times. Gave lantern lecture on New Zealand. Worsley officiating as lecturer he being a native born - ineloquently. His descriptions being confined to this is at & so & so He however retrieved himself by executing a Maori wardance.
11th Sunday
Just ahead of ship a lead opens some 200yds wide but closes to some 40yards & rapidly freezes over. The temperature being -23°
1915 31 Days July
Old Rufus one of my team And a portly ancient canine dies of bronchial pneumonia.
Temp air -29° 6 Min -32°.5
July 7th Month 1915
Temp -23° Min 32°.5
A mild blizzard set in during the morning deluging & burying all the dogs on the port side of the ship. Clear away gangs are set to work & the dogs are excavated apparently little the worse. It is bitterly cold & no one is allowed away from the ship. We are not anxious however. The alluring cosiness of the Ritz being too enticing all day. Aeolus plays a merry tune in our rigging.
Blizzard conditions continue all hands busily engaged shovelling snow from decks & excavating the dogs
Lat 73 48 Long 48 50W.
min -33.5
1915 31 Days July
202 fathoms min -27°
The blizzard conditions moderated towards midnight. This morning the whole aspect of the circumjacent country appears altered. Around the stern & port side of the ship a huge snow dump has formed depressing the floe somewhat. Everywhere ramps & sastrugi may be seen. As for the dog kennels many have to be reconstructed on a higher site. Fortunately our floe remains intact.
The dogs greatly excited to go out today & rush off at a great speed. My sledge is loaded with five cases of benzine each weighing 100lbs which with my own weight of 181 makes a total of 681 lbs. This they haul along like an unloaded sledge & it takes all my time to keep them in hand. Today the golden glow marking the Suns position strengthens considerably.
July 7th Month 1915
My turn nightwatchman. Entertain Macklin Clark Hussey & McIlroy at nightwatchmans "Gorge"
-13 -17
Gramophone concert
Sleep all day after nightwatch
-23 -25
1915 31 Days July
Lat 73.26S Long 48 15W. min -25
Secure four Emperor penguins today from a small lead, a very welcome addition to our larder. In their stomachs Clark finds a large number of small stones & couple fish beaks. These weights vary sfrom 45lbs to 75lbs.
Worsley finds fog in Stables overmuch so vacates his bunk to Lees.
4 more Emperor penguins secured. Heavy ice pressure is heard SW of ship. Sounds like surf breaking on rocks. During the day one can observe much movement going on amongst the floes ahead of the ship accompanied by a strange creaking & groaning.
Ships deck cleared & chains secured in readiness to bring dogs aboard at any moment Diligent watch maintained.
July 7th Month 1915
Hourly watch kept on deck during the night. Crack starts from lead ahead & runs to within 30 yards of ship & about 400 yards ahead on the port bow the ice has been very active. Crunching & rafting in an irresistible manner huge fragments weighing several tons being forced up & balanced on the tops of pressure ridges over 15 feet high.placed stowed on deck in case of an emergency Viz the crushing of the ship.
1915 31 Days July
Min temp -16°.5 Ice grinding away in SW. Clark secures 1 Emperor penguin which was rounded up by Sues two pups
July 7th Month 1915
"Nor dim nor red
Like Gods own head
The Glorious Sun uprist"
For the first time for 79 days Old Jamaica peeped above the horizon & after glimpsing at us for 1 minute set in glowing majesty. Firing the sky with crimson & golden tints.
Lat 72°.47 Long 47.42W.
min -15° 190 fath
Hazy. Frequent open patch water which emit funnel frost smoke at this low temperature a pellucle of ice forms almost immediately
1915 31 Days July
Have just completed new residences on the floe for my team. The kennels of mediaeval Antarctic architecture & are constructed from ice slabs sledged in from the working lead ahead of ship. The new kennels have wooden floors, the access being by a small wooden door frame let into the ice. The slabs are cemented together by a cement made by mixing snow with water. This cement practically converts the arranged slabs into a solid mass by freezing
July 7th Month 1915
30 Fri
The dogs appreciate their crystal houses each illumined by a faint blue light which filters through the walls. Especially Sailor who is the tenant of a church boasting an icy spire & portico & prefers to curl up in the snow outside. its untidy precincts.
Lat 72.37S. Long 47 53W. min -5.2 depth 185 fthms
Sounds of pressure in distance working away to the south. Auroral display NNE to SE
2 Emperor penguins secured.
1915 31 Days August
1 Sun-9 aft Trinity Temp -11°
At 10AM the floe began to move in our vicinity of the ship, eventually breaking up & freeing the ship. Shortly afterwards great pressure began working, driving tongues of ice below the ship & heeling her over to starboard. The ships Our position was became extremely perilous as huge blocks began were rafting & tumbling over themselves in their apparent eagerness to hurl their force against our wooden walls An ominous creaking & buckling 2 Mon
of the deck manifested the terrifying strains being exerted against the ship. The dogs were hurriedly brought on board & gangways raised, only just in time for shortly after many of the kennels were overwhelmed by the incoming tide of ice. Close against along the our and we had the unique observation of a pressure ridge forming. The edges of a floe previously split came together with an irresistibility that forced the ice into a long ridge of crushed debris
August 8th Month 1915
& huge blocks some 15 to 20 feet high
3 Tues
When we were all feeling in a state of delightful uncertainty with boats ready for lowering & gear ready for quitting. The pressure stopped instantly & all assumed the Antarctic quiet once more. If we had been but 15 feet ahead of our present position or the working ice had advanced to that extent I think we would have had to abandon ship owing to crushing. Subsequent examination shows our rudder to be seriously damaged whilst all our crystal kennels are no more habitable.
The ship now appears to be supported under the starboard bilge by an ice ledge or tongue. We have a list of 4° to port. During the day wooden kennels are constructed from our hut timber on deck it being considered inadvisable to allow the dogs to remain on the floe owing to its now transient nature
Have about 1 Hours sunshine.
1915 31 Days August
5 Thurs
Viewed from the masthead the ice surface has entirely altered especially ahead of the ship, it appears as an immense field of pressure hummocks & ridges, ice needles & broken blocks piled up in wildest confusion. Two immense blocks have been launched up onto the surface of the floe & are over 5 feet thick of solid ice weighing 20 to 30 tons.
Sounding depths have increased being now 1146 fathoms.
All dogs now housed in kennels on deck.
Lat 71° 35S Long 49.18W
min Temp -11 Four hours sunlight & 9 hours daylight.
Crean puts his four pups into harness for the first time amidst much puppy yelping & howling. 1 Emperor penguin secured.
August 8th Month 1915
Arise early & go out with color camera to secure pictures of a magnificent sunrise.
Dogs very restive & pugnacious owing to lack of exercise. Take them out for 2 ½ hrs run roud. They frolic like jumbucks it taking all ones time to keep on the sledge. Lat 71.17 Long 49.20W
1915 31 Days Augustforms shape & theorising on their formation. Such diversed masses pinnacles & fractures needs a much more able pen to describe. What impressed me most strikingly were immense piles of ground ice some 15 feet high caused by the attrition of titanic floes, or rather fields, grinding off their margins. The sail area presented to winds by millions of such hummocks & thousands of square miles of ice develops a power profoundly irresistible.
10 Tues
71.15S 49.23W Sth Wind 2 to 3 Temp -3 -4
o/c & Hazy Sallie gives birth to 11 pups 3 only are found to be alive.
Dogs exercised
August 8th Month 1915
During last few day several fine parhelia have been observed with mock suns.
air temp -3.5 Depth 1550 fath Lat 71.3S 49.45W. ([indecipherable])
Have a bonfire on the floe with 300 gallons of benzine a wondrous display. It was thought advisable to dump the above as this amount on deck would affect our stability & be extremely unsafe stowed in the hold.
Temp 0 -11
+4 -6
Football & Sweethearts & Wives in Evening
August 8th Month 1915
Later go for fine ski run whilst others indulge in a fierce game of hockey.
Exquisite moonlight night
Lat 70.42. Long 50.30W
Min Tem -17 °
1915 31 Days August
17 Tues Endeavour to reach the "stained" berg some 7 miles N.W. of ship but only reach half way on account of rough & broken nature of the country. Take photographs Altogether a very delightful day.
Depth 1676 fathoms min temp -25 Lat 70.38 Long 49.58
-24 -25
August 8th Month 1915
10 Emperor penguins secured averaging between 55 & 60 lbs weight.back rear prevents overturns. It is
Covered 18 miles in 7 hours
1915 31 Days August
21 Sat one can traverse with trained dogs. Country one can with difficulty walk or climb over. When within 1 ½ miles of the berg we were priding ourselves on have a fine field of young smooth ice to travel. Out anticipations were too sanguine, however for I noticed the young ice bending under our weight. Calling to Greenstreet & the skipper to return at once I swerved my team just in time to avoid breaking through. Secured
22 Sun-12 aft Trinity
photographs of pressure [indecipherable] Beautiful alpinglitter on the pack at sunrise. Walk out 10 small lead ahead of ship & walk in a fairyland. The water is absolutely calm & the pink tinted hummocks & pinnacles bounding the margin are reflected therein. Sir Ernest joins me a little later & together we walk by the edge of the lead treading great fairy land. The pack to the sthn horizon reflects the rosy pink
August 8th Month 1915
of early sunrise & the grotesquely carved hummocks & ridges seem to glow with the most exquisite rosy shades, the air so exhilarates that one cannot refrain from singing to thy charms O Antarctica.
Took color cameras to lead this morning amidst similar gorgeous conditions of yesterday were repeated. More glorified perhaps for a fine crop of ice flowers have sprung up on the lead & they, illuminated by the morning sun resembled a field of pink carnations Secured several fine color reproductions.
1915 31 Days August
Leads open about a mile ahead of ship & groaning of pressure is heard.
[Diagram of tent with] Cloth mouth entrance
1.30 am all hand aroused by crack
August 8th Month 1915
starting from under mizzen Chains to starboard stern. All sledges taken on board
27 Fri Lat 70.0 Sth Long 50.4W -18 Min -24°
Cinematograph leaders of various teams.
During night take flashlight of ship surrounded beset by pressure. This necessitated some 20 flashes, one behind each salient pressure hummock no less than 10 of the flashes being required to satisfactorily illuminate the ship herself. Half blinded after the successive flashes. I lost
28 Sat
my bearings amidst hummocks, bumping shins against projecting ice points & stumbling into deep snow drifts.
The negative when developed was very proved satisfactory & well repaid for the cold endeavour.
Pack quit but away to the distant north clouds of sea smoke arise like from a distant fire.
-12 -24
1915 31 Days August
70.0S 50.5W.
29 Sun-13 aft Trinity
Cook puts salt beef brine into the dogs hooch driving them nigh crazy with thirst. We are kept busy the afternoon melting ice & quenching their insatiable desire for drink
Crack starts from rudder petering out in the floe some few hundred yards astern
Crack to the sth working with pressure
30 Mon
Develop plates accumulated. Darkroom work rendered extremely difficult by the low temperatures it being -13 outside. Modus Operandi is viz. The darkroom situated abaft the engine room is raised to above freezing point by a primus stove. A large bulb of Hypo is made into solution & raised to 70°. The dishes must be warmed with the developer which is kept reas-
Aug.-Sept. 8th & 9th Month 1915
-onably constant by additions from a warm source. Washing is troublesome as the tank must be kept warm or the plates become an inclosure in an iceblock after several changes. I place them in a rack in Sir Es cabin which is generally at an equitable temperature. The Dry plates are all spotted & carefully indexed.
1 Wed
Development is a source of annoyance to the fingers which split & crack around the nails in a painful manner.
Lat 69.51 Long 50W Min -17.
Heavy pressure set in through the night & I anticipated the beams alongside my bunk would be splintered. The floor in the Billabong & Ritz buckled in an alarming manner & the partition
Could observe slip & slide give about six inches
1915 30 Days September
between ours & Lees cabins sprang tongues from the grooves.
2 Thurs
Heavy pressure all night. Beset by pressure which is nothing new: but one cannot feel but apprehensive when the deck begins moving & opening under your ones feet & you hear the ship groaning & cracking under the icy embrace. I dont mind getting out & stretching my legs for it although land is some 200 miles off but I prefer doing it when the temperature is rather warmer it being now 53 degrees below freezing
3 Fri 69 53S 50.3W Wind NtoE
Exercise dogs Soccer during afternoon.
Overcast & cloudy Ice still
Ice Quiet today Soccer in afternoon
Sample seawater salinity 34.7 per 1,000.
Sept. 9th Month 1915
Ice conditions quiescent. All engaged transferring stores from the bunkers to storeroom
Usual Sweethearts & Wives
Calm day & exercise dogs The teams were recalled speedily by the Emergency Signal flag announcing ice movements. All hurried back to the ship. I had an exciting race in with McIlroys team. Having some rough ice to cross, McIlroy & his passengers (Greenstreet) were thrown off the sledge & their teams returning driverless Hussey & I were easy winners.
1915 30 Days September
69.54S 50.26W Wind ESE
6 Mon Temp -6 -11
Overcast & light snow
7 Tues 69.55 50.28 -8 -20 Temp
Exquisite day. Dogs exercised
Last nights light snow fall has covered everything with a layer of sparkling snow like ground pearl shell. The ship appeared as if her rigging was tinselled The hummocks & ice surface sparkling like as if they had been sifted with diamonds. Dogs & drivers alike feel the exhilarating influence of the exhilarating atmosphere
69 54S. 50 22W Tem -17 -22
Sept. 9th Month 1915
9 Thurs
Extremely heavy precipitation of rime crystals during the night Our rigging being heavily encrusted some of the ropes being over 3in in diameter. The effect is beautiful.
1915 30 Days September
69.53. 50.24W Temp +21 +2
10 Fri Extraordinary rise in temperature the wind blowing in from NE. & apparently from open water.
A groaning of the ice is heard away to the south.
11 Sat
Wind changes round to SW. & down falls the temperature. Dogs exercised.
Clarks birthday. He is the recipient of numerous letters & cards stamped & addressed & 2 miscellany of generally useless articles. Much merriment is caused by him reading the contents at the breakfast table.
Sweethearts & wives.
Sept. 9th Month 1915
69.48S 50.26W SW to SSE
12 Sun-15 aft Trinity Tem -8 -17
Misty day. Go for walk amidst hummocks during afternoon. Gramophone concert at evening.
13 Mon
Fine clear day but decidedly nippy driving the dogs into the face of the stiff breeze that is blowing from the Sth.
Greenstreet is my passenger & take photos of team.
1915 30 Days September
69.40S 50.37W temp -11 -23
14 Tues
S wind force 4.Much rime deposits during last night. Cold out of doors though pleasant if one walks or exercises vigorously.
50.43 W
15 Wed Tem -12 -22ripped to pieces. A summary chastisement ensues.
Sept. 9th Month 1915
69.29S 50.36W.
Tem -17
Nothing to note beyond refraction & overcast sky.
Beautiful day A long crack is seen from the crows nest extending N & S from which arises clouds of frost smoke.
Had five races with the dogs the surface being excellent.
1915 30 Days September
69.32S 50.43W S to Nth
18 Sat temp +3 -12
Cloudy & rimy. Another small crack opens to the Nth ½ a mile distant. Clark has slight increase of life in his "Plancton" net
Sweetheats & Wives
19 Sun-16 aft Trinity Temp +1 -5
Had protracted run with Greenstreet as passenger. Traversed some rough country which driver & dogs enjoyed alike. Good old Shakespeare is a superb leader.
Sept. 9th Month 1915
69.38 50.39W. Temp +6 -1
20 Mon Depth 1856Fathms
Overcast & cloudy with heavy rime. Ice conditions unaltered.
Cloudy with heavy rime precipitation. Exercise dogs Greenstreet my passenger. The surface extremely heavy being of the nature of piecrust i.e. the top surface layer is formed, incapable of supporting one weight so that a person continually breaks through intoknee deep into the soft underlayer.
1915 30 Days September
Fine day. During afternoon all engage in hockey. The game provided exercise and amusement.
I went for lengthy run on ski, the surface having improved.
Took cinema of dog teams being harnessed & leaving ship.
Rigged my cinema on my sledge & and set my team in motion at the same time took cinema of Macklins following team. Greenstreet gave me able assistance. The combination of movement should produce a unique effect.
69.30S 50.40W -7 -15
Sept. 9th Month 1915
E.S.E.
24 Fri
Wilds, Macklin McIlroys & own teams visit The Stained berg, some 7 miles distant. Each carried a passenger (Greenstreet) The run out was very enjoyable but the weather suddenly changed Cold & misty & we had a bleak return. Wild shot a female crabeater the first secured since winter.
Sweethearts & Wives toasted with much eclat & music. For teetotalls a box of Carsons winter chocolates is provided. Clark has good low net haul. In the evening a snow petrel the first sign of winged life returning flies past the ship northwards.
1915 30 Days September
Daylight saving clock advanced 1 hour.
Lat 69 33 Long 51.4W.
Overcast & misty
Wild & McIlroy bring in seal shot on 24th. Wild shoots an additional bull crabeater. The seals are highly welcome. Our dogs biscuit running out & seal meat depleting.
27 Mon-Dominion Day-Bank Holiday
69.35S 51.10W +5 -11
Ice Salinity
see 7th Sept Salinity ice INSITU in situ sample taken near ship 136cm thick formed since 13th Feb 1915 9in snow cover
5 4.4 per 1000 temp +0.4
25 8.8 +1.2
45 6.0 +6.1
65 5.3 +8.8
85 4.6
105 4.8 +12.7
125 7.1 +20.7
(130 7.2 +24.8
(136 +28.6
Sept. 9th Month 1915
Overcast & misty rigging encrusted with rime
The old crack along the port side of the ship opens again
1915 30 & 31 Days Sept.-Oct.
[Arrow pointing to bottom of page]
Secured 5 seals 2 Emperors Crab eaters have well developed foetus
Two very accommodating seals waddle up to within 80 yards of the ship disturbing the dogs & are secured for the larder.
October 10th Month 1915
69.14S 51.11W +3 -14
Fine baked seal. Potatoes, peas with tinned pears & cream for dinner this evening.
After dinner I lay in my bunk in the Billabong enjoying the gramophone concert.
Thickness of ice 236 days old is now 4 feet 5 inches 7 ½ in snow.
Crack opens aft freeing the rudder.
1915 31 Days October
5 Tues
taken out for an additional hours run & whipped individually After this handling they were very willing & obedient.
5 Tuesday
Lower fish trap metre net 200 fathom & all hands walk it in.
Took cine of same
Lat 69.11S Log 51 15W.
air -4° Min -23°
Run on ski during afternoon
October 10th Month 1915
69.12 51.19W -3 -12
6 Wed Ice cracked into pools & leads looking like an early breakup. Frost smoke rising from the water is tinged red by the sunset giving the appearance of a vast frozen fire an effect both quaint & magnificent.
Two seals secured. Sunshine
Dogs exercised in two batches so that they might be the more readily taken on board in case of a breakup.
7 Thurs
Leads & cracks begin opening
Up to date our 50 60 dogs have consumed about 10 tons seal meat & 1 ton penguin meat.
Most hands engage in a game of hockey.
69.15S 50 55W +11 -5
19 31 Days Octoberdog team
Leads working.
Lat 69.18 Long 50.40W
max +19 min +2
1 seal secured.
October 10th Month 1915
Lat 69S Long 50W. Temp +28° +10
10-19 aft Trinity Pack opens slightly water lanes reflecting in the sky. Throughout the day a thaw sets in today being the warmest since January. Everything between decks is dripping & in an awful mess. The dogs seem discomposed at the rise in temperature & as there is much snow thawing on deck they are very wet.
11 Mon
Thaw continues dogs exercised I take cine film of same.
Preparations in full swing for all to resume their old cabins on the main deck. Ships gear cleared & all in running order ready should the ice open up. Pack continues opening up. There is a working crack only a few yards ahead of the ship but the ice does not show inclination to disintegrate on our side.
1915 31 Days October
Wardroom being changed from "STABLES" sleeping abode into and its old mess room refinements installed. +28 +21
Remarkably mild weather. Helmets & gloves laid by. Wardroom resumes its original appearance & tomorrow have first meal therein. 2 seals 6 Emperors secured.
Bogie put in square opposite Greenstreet cabin. This will warm things up a trifle.
October 10th Month 1915
69.24 50.33 +28 +15
Temp falls from +31 ° to +3°. At midnight ship frees from the ice & drifts into the lead astern. Ship sails 100 yds along the lead.
12 inner whale observed. 2 snow petrels. 3 seals 6 Emperor pengs secured.
1915 31 Days October
Lat 69.19S Long 50.30W Temp +13
16 Sat
Out during morning exercising dogs on return my team rushes down old path to the original position of ship & only overturn sledge in time to prevent them rushing into the water. Had to stun one & whip them all soundly. Even then they could not be induce to go to the altered position of the ship. Bob breaks away & scampers over thin ice which just holds him. Worsley comes to the rescue & with some trouble we compel the team to go along side.
17 Sun-20 aft Trinity
The dread Sundays is then the pressure seems most alive. All hands run on deck after dinner & from gramophone concert as the floes separated by the ship come together. In the engine room the weakest part of the ship loud noises. Crashes & hammerings are heard. At the same time the iron plates on the floor buckle up & overide . Things are feeling a trifle uncomfortable aboard. The ship stands the pressure right nobly & we can see her rising out of the ice inch by inch. The maximum being 10 in fwd & 3ft 4in at the stern.
October 10th Month 1915
18 Mon
Day of great excitement. At 4.45PM Floes came together nipping the Ship & forcing her out of the ice. The ice presses under the port bilge heeling the ship over onto her starboard side with a list of 30°. Timbers kennels & dogs were thrown onto the lee side & for the moment it seemed the ship would be thrown on her beam ends. Secured several fine photographs of our gallant ship At 8pm floes open again & to our relief the Endurance arights herself.
19 Tues
Two seals & 8 Emperor pengs secured. Had fine view of killer swimming in the pool alongside the ship this evening. His graceful & sinuous evolutions could be clearly studied in the still water causing great excitement & uproar amongst the dogs. All available empty cases & timber thrown into bunkers for the boilers. Boilers pumped up with the Downton taking 2hr 50 min. Fires lighted under boilers.
Low Barometer 28:96
1915 31 Days October
4 seals secured.
Sea watches set in the event of necessity & all to be in readiness to work ship at any moment. Steam raised. Taking 1 ton of coal remainder being made up of wood blubber etc. It has been thought necessary to have the engines ready for any emergency. To maintain steam only consumes 1Ό to 1½ cwt coal daily. Engines given a turn. All O.K. after being frozen up for 8 months.
21 Thurs
Malignant rumbling through the night. We are however pretty well habituated to this kind of thing & it now disturbs us little.
October 10th Month 1915
Heavy deposit of rime crystals all over ship & rigging. A welcome capture of two crabeaters which replenish our depleted larder. Blubber packed in boxes for the furnaces to supplement coal. Two killers push their vicious heads through the thin ice.
23 Sat
Now have 22 hrs daylight
Cloudy with mist and snow.
69.11S 51.6W
1915 31 Days October
Ships stern post twisted & seriously damaged by heavy pressure. Hidden ends of planking started All pumps working & steam raised for Engine room bilge pump. All take watch and watch on pump & leak just kept under carpenter works all night building copper dam abaft engines.
Calk same with strips of blanket and pour cement in.
Leak kept under all hands assist on main pump & Downton. The building of the copper dam nearing completion Pressure moderating but large ridges menacing us on the starboard quarter & stern.
October 10th Month 1915
Lat 60.8 Long 51.28W Bright clear weather Temp 0 to -15
26 Tues
Extremely heavy pressure set in again opening planking 4 & 5 inches on starboard side while the ship twisted like a bow. At 7PM the order was given to lower boats & they with all necessary gear provisions & sledges were passed onto the floe out of immediate danger at midnight the floes ceased working so that the leak took up somewhat. We worked all night taking watch & watch on the pumps. All hope is not given up yet for saving the ship. Six Emperor penguins watch the crushing of the ship. 69.5S 51.32W.
[Note in margin] Temp -15 at midnight
The position became very grave this afternoon heavy pressure continuing. The ship rising on the crest of a great ridge was so squeezed that her beams cracked & great ice blocks were forced under her [indecipherable] away the stern fast & allowing the water to rush in.
Emergency stores also the dogs were lowered on the floe The whole time there was an incessant cracking & groaning of timbers as the ice began crushing the stout timber walls in.
I went down into the Ritz & found the water rapidly rising & fearing being jammed by crackling beams returned speedily to the deck. The night was hideous in the extreme, cold & lit by the half grey midnights light we were hemmed in by crunching pressure on all sides.
Lots times we had to shift the boats & stores owing to the floe cracking beneath us. While the booming & cracking of
splintering timbers told only too vividly the awful calamity that was overtaking the ship that had been our home for over 12 months & our only means
28 Thurs
of communication with the world We are homeless & adrift on the sea ice. Yet cheerful & hopeful as it is possible to be under the circumstances.
It is our intention to sledge to Snowhill some 300 miles distant a great undertaking with such a large (29) & inexperienced party.The pressure continued throughout the day. I had the Case] trained on the ship the whole time
The foremast & jibboom were snapped off by the starboard bulwark being forced under the pressure & she has the appearance of sinking at any moment. It seems impossible that the awful force of nature could so completely destroy such [indecipherable] that hardly now resembles a ship
Day spent in sorting out & dumping all unnecessary equipment. In the dump are observable gold links watches latest cut dress suits & relics of civilised gear all entirely useless here.Went aboard the wreck this morning to rescue miscellaneous oddments.The ship is in a frightful condition crunched to fragments. She was entirely full of water & is merely held up by the ice pressure which has splintered the bulwarks almost severing the top deck. The port & starboard cabins are crushed together & all that remains of the sturdy Endurance is a squashed concertina like chaos of splintered timbers
1915
30 Sat October Morning snowing
Finished preparations for starting. Made Blubber cooker from spirit drum. Visited ship during the morning & entered again the looking bearing away in triumph 3 tooth brush & a couple half used tubes of Kolynos. A creaking of splintered timbers caused me to beat a hasty retreat. The whole party started out during the early afternoon, 28 men, a party of 3 leading as scouts & path cutters 7 dog teams (50 dogs). Balance of party relaying on the two boats.
2 hrs 1 mile covered. Rowing all day & surface knee deep in soft snow, Hudson & I with my team return to last nights camp for sundries. At my suggestion we have altered our sledging routine & dispense with party relaying on boats & the party are proceeded by a pioneering party of five, then follows 5 sledges drawn by dogs, each laden with about 800lbs Wilds team coupled together with mine draws one of the boats, succeeded by 14 men on another boat. As there are ten sledges. The five teams return for an additional relay. The Coupled team (15 dogs) dragged the boat more effectively than an equal number of men.
1 Mon November
Shot a seal tonight & had a seal hoosh. Seals are both food & fuel as the blubber provides the necessary fire for the flesh & everything is sodden & wet owing to the high temperature. Snowing heavily & light atrocious. Sir Ernest, Wild, Worsley & self who comprise a directive committee climbed to some adjacent hummocks. The prospect was frightfully rough & the surface so soft that we sank to our hips. Under these conditions with boats & large party further travelling is impossible & the quorum unanimously agreed to erect a permanent camp on the floe having selected one unlikely to crack up & await the breaking up of the ice we will then navigate the leads with the boats.
Spent day taking team to & from ship for salvage. Salved canvas True milk & case [indecipherable]. Have now in camp food 1lb per diem per man for 180 days. Hacked the side out of refrigerator etc to try & salve negatives & bared from head to waist probed for same by the mushy ice. The cases which fortunately were zinc lived & soldered & containing the negatives in soldered tins I located submerged beneath 3 feet of mushy ice & practically all were intact. Returning team startled by killer breaking through ice only about 20 yards ahead. 3 seals killed.
November 3 Wed
Lat 69.3.5, long 51 57W
Temp at midday + 15breaking cutting away the ice from port amidships & breaking open the lower deck which is covered 2 feet deep in mushy ice in the hope that stores floating may be recovered.
Put wooden floor in our tent which keeps it drier It is hard to realise that we are camped on an ice floe with over 2000 fathoms of ocean separated from us by only 6 feet of ice.
Dog I ran to ply to & from ship bringing to camp ice covered cases. Party break through the deck and recover about 3 tons miscellaneous stores. The breaking through,dis abled by [indecipherable] cooking water & onions next popped up a case of sugar amid loud cheers after much prodding with boat hooks through the flooded hold & deck: a keg of soda followed by jellies was greeted with groans & It was an exciting game of lucky tub fishing with the poles big case after case buoyantly arose to the surface . The dog teams have worn a glazy track to the boat. Each team averaging 5 loads during the day & my team did seven. Some loads averaging 110lbs in dog weather.
calm & sunny, lat 69.1.10, long 51.57, temp + 3
5 Fri
Party work at ship & fish up practically all the stores from the billabong through the hole cut in the deck & we have now ample stores to last with seal & penguin about 9-10 months & started constructing a galley range from the ash chute from the wreck. The chute is made of mild steel Ό in thick -the chipping of4 holes 15 inches in diameter with a blunt flat chisel is a somewhat arduous undertaking. The range is designed to consume blubber & camp is assuming the appearance of a Yukon gold rush camp
6 Sat
& I often expect to see at times Indians & squaws coming to visit us. An enclosed confine (20 feet X 11 feet) of canvas & spars has been constructed in the centre of the camp & in which myself assisted by Kerr & Pattinson worked during the day finishing the blubber store which now awaits erection. I pity the cook who has been making hoosh all day in a rough shelter at times hidden by blubber smoke & snow drifts. A condition of things which have made him extremely grimy. Whilst washing his face the hooch got burnt which brought for much abuse from the boss & the rest of the camp Furthermore the bottom fell out of the hooch pot at lunchtime, through having too big a fire. So we
7 Sun 23 aft Trinity
had frozen tinned beef for lunch. Strong SE wind with snow drift & high temperature +23 ° F, lat 68.50, long 52.27
Tues 9
The blizzard has been responsible for another drift of 10 miles nth since noon of yesterday. Temp +7. Inside tent + 38. At midnight zero. 4 teams go out on seal foraging expedition. Wild returns with the equivalent in meat from the wreck. McIlroy captures three Emperor penguins, one of which made a delicious hoosh for dinner. Selected the pick of my negatives about 150 & owing to the necessary drastic reduction in weight had to break & dump about 400. The cook manufactures with great success "flap jacks" on the blubber stove. Erection of a lookout about 20 feet high in camp & Vincent alters our sleeping bag to make some warmer & we add an eiderdown. Quilt each to our temporary sleeping equipment. Weather delightful and sunny. Four teams go respectively ENST&W. Crean & I strike luck & I shoot a bull cow & calf Crabeater Seal. Crean during the afternoon shot another two & plenty of meat in camp now for man & dog 10 days. The blubber stove continues its expedient work producing wondrous loaf & edibles. Breakfast we had haddock kedgeree. Lunch 2 flapjacks & 1 tin of [indecipherable] to each . Tea a fine thick hoosh made from emperor penguin. Lat 68 34 long 52/12. Warm in bunk reading Ancient Mariner.
Thurs 11
Unkindest cut of all. Buried Ό plate Graflex & all my results. Weather dull- bearing navigation. Camp arise at 8 am breakfast excellent grilled seal steak on bannock - tea, wholemeal flower & water baked on an iron plate on the blubber stove routine duties engaged in by hands clearing up camp etc till 1 oclock. Lunch suet roll with [indecipherable] idle afternoon excellent hoosh made from seal liver & ham with cocoa for tea at 5.30. Turn into bags immediately after & sleep till 8 next morning
Broken by an hours night watch each alternate night. Discover that practically all tins except those containing liquid have been damaged in some degree we [indecipherable]entering them.
Just retired to a clean sleeping bag This beautiful lingerie was intended to line the interior of sleeping bags for the cross country . They are knitted from finest wool with silk ribbon & fastenings which contrast strongly to my face & hands unwashed for a fortnight encased] in the lingerie. I recline on a reindeer skin covered by an eiderdown quilt. Warm & replete after an excellent lunch read Keats without arises the strains of Masters Voice singing the old folks at home [indecipherable] on the banjo and we are shipwrecked adrift on an ice floe! Temperature +33 during the
Sat 13 November 1915
All day & everything in a state of high thaw. Discussing the probable route across station land to Wilhelmina Bay during afternoon. Temperature exceptionally high causing surface of the floe to become mushy & wet +33. The ice is evidently on the loosen as patches of water sky are visible in almost every direction. Been cobbling all day making spiked crampons (from sundry bits of iron & screws) to be used for crossing as we hope to Wilhelmina Bay. Sir Ernest has just been reading to Hudson James & self while we lay comfortably in sleeping bag extracts from Browning. I have also been reading to my camp notes Keats. Shore party & sailors are assembled in the billabong in Caneth.
Spent morning altering cleaning & dumping odds & ends from our tent
Afternoon Wild & I went across to the wreck. The ice between our camp ("Our camp") & the former we found much broken up with cracks & small leads. The remains of the vessel are pitiful in the extreme. The ship has gone down by the head with the result (caused by) the ice has over ridden the fore deck. Snapping off the shattered formast at deck level. The ship is cocked high in the air & the decks buckled, twistered & broken. One cannot conjecture that the mass of tangled wreckage was once the Endurance.
Mon 15 November
Took 2 photographs. Weather dull with unfavorable drifting wind from N.W.
Finished 2nd pair of crampons. These are manufactured from screws cut off at shank & pointed. The countersunk heads being clamped in small washers to the number of 10. They are scattered of the sole & heel, being secured by leather bars. Temperature continues high, the floe being very wet & on the thaw. Water sky is visible to N & E & many leads are opening in the [indecipherable] floes. In spite of recent adverse winds our position is favorable being lat 68.37 long 52.23. An edict of emergency being issued to be effected in the event of an unexpected cracking up of the ice.
Finished additional 2 pairs crampons. Dogs very pugnacious all day the whip being freely administered. A discussion re 3rd boat. Count matches & find we have ample for 12 months. Very anxious however to reach snow early this season so go to avoid wintering another year on the Antarctic. Day party crossing Grahams Land. We should probably fall in with whalers at Wilhelmson Bay & failing to receive the whole party in season could at least let the world know of our whereabouts & so direct[x1]
Wed 17 November
Weather continuing warm + 32. Dead calm but confined to the floe on account surrounding thinner ice breaking up. Blubber stove had to be resupported, owing to thawing out of snow, allowing supporting stanchions to sink. All cheerful & hoping for a SE wind to open up the ice. Lat & long same as on 15th.
Lunch Lax & 2 bannock + tea
Tea luscious fried seal steak bannock & tea
Fri 19 November
Completing pump. Parties out seal foraging two seals brought in one by Wild one by self a third waddles into camp personally. Also Emperor penguin secured by McIlroy.
Lunch cheese & bannocks
Dinner a hoosh that would tickle the palate of an epicure made from seal & compressed vegetables.
on Qsld to Sir Ernest ,Hudson & James.
20 Sat
Finished pump for whale boat. Cook continues turning out culinary trumps on the blubber stove. Bannocks & hooshes etc excelling his ship efforts. Wind during day light SE to SW resulting inmany large leads forming. Floe very sodden continuous wet feet otherwise comfortable. Memorized to part 3 Ancient Mariner
Sun 21 25 Nov
Seal waddles into camp. Went with Wild, Crean, Hudson, Lees, McIlroy to the ship. Cut boards from sides of motor boat for strengthening boots. Rescued drills etc. from lathe & whilst at ship the floes began swinging carrying the ship with them. The character of the sea is rapidly changing leads & pools opening everywhere. A dissipation owing to high temperature is evident. At 5pm a movement in the ship observed from camp lookout. The funnel collapsed & the stern after rearing high in the air disappeared below the ice the last of the crushed hull of the Endurance. From the time the ice opened she sank in 10 minutes.
Fair wind too dull for observation. Lat 68.38 long 2.27. Packed album in brass case & find blubber keeps soldering iron clean. Ice continues dissipating & bergs that were frozen in during winter rapidly altering position. Discussion with Boss re weights in crew & boats . Take lenses out of mounts and solder up with film. Calculate sledging provisions to be taken in boats 3 tons (inclusive of cooking gear).
Tues 23 Nov
Lat 68.35 long 52.29W. 7pm retiring to bag just engaged in hilarious persiflage. James cutting toenails odours. 4 seals (crabeaters) secured make wooden spoon from bit of oar owing to verdigris forming on others. Start making additions to blubber stove for use in boats from an ashbucket belonging to ship. Boss an excellent tent mate & related his southern journey to Hud & self after tea. Favorable winds.
7PM Lat68.28 long 52.29W A useful 7 miles drift northward owing to favorable winds & spend morning making blubber stove. Afternoon Wild Machin & self went to the site of ship. Found it very much broken up & had to bridge from one floe to another with sledge most of the way. Found no remains of ship except jettisoned odds & ends & dirty ice. The immediate vicinity altered beyond recognition. On returning to camp a lead opens & Sir Ernest watching from camp noticed our dillemma & came to assist towing us across on a small floe by means of rope. Macklin visits tent. Dogs singing
8.30pm Thurs 25 Nov
Good wind from WSW continues. Nearly finished portable blubber stove.
Lat 68.21 long 52.14 W Beautiful day. Completed blubber stove for boat. Great success boiled 2 ½ gills water from ice ½ hour. Blubber in place on tray & fine shredded strips on plate B. A is small vessel holding tablespoon napther or spirits. Lighting A-B becomes heated volatalizes shreds & ignites heating the main supply in C which drips through small holes onto B volatalizing it bursts into a fierce flame the stove rapidly becoming a furnace. Smoke exits via chimney. The arrangement I made from an ashbucket
Sat 27 Nov
Lat 68.18 long 52.24. Favorable wind. Discussions & calculations re weights for Cross Country Sledging. Refinements on blubber stove. Wrote names on boats. Crews allotted thereto boat christened. James Gaird, Dudley Docker & Stancomb Wills what names!
Lat 68.115 Long 52.24 Dog exercise morning. Dogs very fresh needed whip afternoon reading, Encyclo Brit geography 3 seals
Lunch tinned currants cream
Dinner jugged hare bannock
Mon 29 Nov
Beautiful sunny day. Lat 68.75, long 52.23 W Mag Dec 14° E Floes close up due to wind probably. Photographing during day. Snow very soft. Parsiflage re bannocks. Sleeping bags 7pm. Discussion re. Panama Canal. Boss admiring himself in handmirror.
Lat 68.75 long 52.23 W Renovate large blubber stove. The fire bars & lining having been burned out by great heat. Much fun at meal times re. various shapes of tongues for hooshes 2 crabeater seals & 1 Weddell & 2 Emperor penguins. The seals are a godsend as we are able to reserve our concentrated foods. Made pair of scales using hacksaw frame & the bottoms of 2 reflected primus stoves. Book practically finished & only await an opening of
Wed 1 December- Birth of Queen Alexandra
68. 1Lat Long about same. Carpenter finishes the Dudley Docters improvements our 2nd book & I made boat hook.
2 Emperor Pengs secured this evening for larder. Midnight sun observable for the 1st time this season (on my hour watch) just skirting the horizon at midnight.
Thurs 2 Dec
Shifted camp during morning. Killer whales blowing in an adjacent lead. The ice opening or loosening. Four seals secured during afternoon. Started renovating sea tools.
Shakespeare & Bob eat up my new [indecipherable] leather whip leaving only wooden handle & thong chastised them arduously. Had concert in our tent invited wild worker McIroy. Very pleasant evening old favorites rendered to Husseys banjo.
Fri 3 December
67.56 Lat no Long sight. Went to ships grave with teams Wild, McIlroy & Marston. Salving odds & ends which have since ablated from the drift snow in which they were buried. Several heterogeneous collections of miscellaneous blankets, garments & sundries.
Not the least pleasant time of the day to spend in sleeping bags from 7 pm to 8.30pm when we indulge in varied discussions. Sir Ernest is ever, interesting & I enjoy listening to his many weird [indecipherable].
Sat 4
Lat 67. 83.5, Long 52.29 Temp midday + 36. Weather sultry and warm in tent rising to + 75! surface of floe rotten & soft. Sinking up to thighs. Repairing boats interesting geographical discussions embracing unknown lands & Boss makes ready mustard plaster he having an attack of rheumatism.
Sun 5 December 2 in advent
Strong sthy W wind all day & lazing day in tent reading Encyclopaedia on Borneo Sumatra & Australia & geographical discussions interestedly absorbed. Boss recovering from light attack rheumatism. Put on him mustard plaster last night. Amusing episode directing its position( long lat) in nautical terms.
Lat 67.46.5 Long 52.18. One of the finest sunny days we have enjoyed. Exercised dogs around floe this morning with dark surly snaps at Crean who nearly kills him luscious seal stakes this evening excelling the finest undercuts. Interesting discussions on Malay peninsula in bags of 3 seals 8 bottlenosed whales blowing
Tues 7 December
Position + 1 mile nth. Lazy day in camp discussion during morning Boss Wild, Worsley & self regarding our position of drift etc & re future arrangements now 220 miles from Snow Hill 26m from Paulett Island as we are living on fat of the floe (seals) position favorable. During evening in bags engaged in interesting game of cross examining. Any sentence is arranged unknown to one person who by a process of eliminating questions solves it. Amusement a hoosh by telepathy thing by a hidden string.
Wed 8
Put J Caird in a lead during the morning placing therein 6 sledge loads of essential sledging rations weighing 2 1/2 tons inclusive of 11 men leaving over (leeboard). The experiment was highly satisfactory. The JC. is and enlarged whaleboat (about 2 feet having been added to the original gunwhale) 25 feet by 5 fulbeam. Mast & [indecipherable] with whaleboats.Indulged in game of chess exams in bag wind N to N by E
Thurs 9 December
Weather dull no observation. Repacked kerosene into more portable cases. During afternoon strong wind from E sets in & during evening develops into mild blizzard. Temperature high & wet snow. Got up 8 am(watch) & had a bath, first or over 3 months. Sir Ernest been laying up today to recover wholly from his rheumatism a wise procedure. Amused ourselves this evening a game of guess eliminations.
Fri 10 Dec
All hands in team today. Bleak drifting snow mild blizzard. Wind very erratic veering from N to W by S. Hoping the lee will be loosening. Boss hauls cook over the coals for making doughy bannocks. Played guessing game afternoon & in bags. Feeling very bilious from Hoosh this evening which was too rich being made from the dog Pemmican .
Sat 11 December
Boss and Budlen arguing on OMPL (over mastering power of love).
All hands in tents. Blizzard conditions continue. Whiled away day reading out of Encyclopaedia (paper ordinance). This magnificent work is the greatest save from the ship, for without it time would indeed be monotonous. Streaks of water sky are showing overhead N sky and we are looking forward to a general opening up at the subsidence of the blizzard. Just returned from beakers Martin who has been breaking the nights silence by backing up a straying penguin which has just strayed into camp.
Rebottomed the cooks boiler Strong veering wind from SW with drift & occasional snow squalls. Ice opening up. 2 adelie penguins make appearance at camp. 5 Antarctic petrels observed. Spent time reading encyclopaedia. Rope etc[x4]
Mon 13 December
Cold S & W wind with intermittent drip all day. All hands under canvas although weariesome & uncomfortable we are thankful for this favorable wind which must be drifting us at least 12 miles daily northward. Many are the speculations as to where we shall eventually defrost. All are cheerful. Passed day reading encyclopaedia.
Fair wind continuing though much subdued. 1. Saw 1 crabeater during the morning. Hudson & James break through into water. 2. Young crabeaters this evening. Wish the ice would drift more rapidly or open up. Time hanging through having very little to do.
Wed 15 December
Observations Lat 67.8 ½ Long52.3W, Now 2.34 miles from Paulette Is. Having drifted 120 miles from shipwreck. Last blow has given us a drift of 36 miles in a favorable direction. Sea remains densely packed with ice & at present there seems little hope of any immediate opening up. Still as long as we drift north & our floe remains intact we are not doing so badly. As only reserve stores are being requisitioned & sledging rations remain untouched.
Thurs 16 December
Exercised dogs during morning. 7 times around the floe aggregating 9 miles Lat 67.4S Long 52.85. Went for walk around floe with Sir E, discussing plans for the forthcoming expedition. I have great affection for the Chief who is one of the finest characters I have met.
Life uneventful diving in hope of an early breaking up of the ice. Though it seems an improbable order another 2 degrees N. 1 fat Weddell seal also 1 crabeater
secured. Played, game of Guess during afternoon - a splendid intellect exerciser.
Fri 17 December
Drifted 5 mile Nth 46E for 24 hrs ending 12 noon. Morning went across floes with Sir E in direction of berg NW. Found the ice jammed up with occasional mushy patches. Had very interesting discourse on polar & expedition matters. I heartily enjoy these jaunts from which I learn much of Sir Es excellent personality. Repitched tent. The floor having sagged very much through thawing very warm in tent. Temp rising to 78° Husseys banjo resounding from his tent gives a homely atmosphere to surround all cheerful, contented.
Foul wind from NE all day bleak & all in tents. During evening invited Wild & McIlroy into our tent & had musical entertainment, which we enjoyed fully. Day passed more speedily than usually due to the absorbing interest of Nicholas Nicholby which I am now reading interspersed by discussions on cotton etc with Sir E who is digesting the encyclopaedia.
Sun 19 December. 4 in advent
Lat 67.10 long 52.9. Foul wind from NE drives us 7 miles south. Discussion re marching. Brought about by the apparent improved surface & abundance of seals which renders it possible to feed our dogs without carrying extra weight. Furthermore a decided improvement would result on our position if we made 60 miles or so westward, allowing for the natural drift of the ice for the northing & Sir E is favorably inclined. Four crabeaters secured today & we are very thankful fresh meat is ever at our door.
Lat 67.11.5 Long 52.22
Sir Ernest, Wild & self journey with my team to Pinnacle Berg some 3 miles W of camp. This being a scouting excursion to investigate the nature of the ice pressure, surface & to see especially if the floes are not too broken & mushy to allow the whole party to travel over & found the surface & conditions good. There being about 75 % of splendid going. The remainder will require some small casting away to render the path satisfactory for boats altogether things appear more opportune for travelling than when we were forced onto the ice some 24 weeks ago.
Tues 21 December- St. Thomas
Sir E addresses all hands this evening informing all of his intention to advance. Sir E on Wilds sledge & Crean on mine journey out W 6-7 miles to further examine the ice surface & the floes were very promising, so much so that it is decided that a start be made on the 23rd inst. The surface & considering the season we found to be all that could be expected. Many floes were over 1 ½ miles across without large hummocks except at the functions with their adjacents. It is proposed that Sir E will scout out a route with Wilds team & I follow, then six sledges drawn by dogs. Then the Jas Caird drawn by 18 men. The dogs will return to relay sledges. Wild & mine will take on the Slavmembr Wills.
Midsummer Day. Christmas kept up as we move tomorrow morning all hands keen to be on the march. A day of revelry & assiduous gorgie supofluous stores, dainties & tinned stuff at free disposal which was duly taken advantage of (Many hands this evening complain of flatulence). Ley (in charge of stores) seemed delighted with the unrestrained issue & all tents were filled with game, hare, pies, canned vegetables sweetmeats etc.
Repacked my sledge & overhauled gear harnesses etc. Menu breakfast tinned sausages boiled ham, bannocks & coffee & lunch potted anchovies. asstd game & fancy biscuits cordial.
Thurs 23 December
Dinner special jugged hare.Heinz onions, canned peach, canned cream & butterscotch - golden syrup Shackleton Tabbards Gates.
Called at 8am. Sir E, Wild & self set out to mark road but found new leads & cracks barring way. It was decided to remain at present camp pending the closing of the ice. Wild & I subsequently went into the deserted "ocean" camp & brought up an additional 7 days rations. During the afternoon hiked out to the open cracks (a distance of some 2 miles) & found them closed. On returning Sir E & self revisited them & marked out the walk by means of flags. We anticipate starting at 3am try surface
Sat 25 December. Christmas Day. Bank Holiday.
My 5th Xmas in Antarctica. 1st Xmas just only escaped wrecking at Macquarie Isle Xmas. Half starved on the plateau. 3rd Xmas blizzard in Commonwealth Bay lost motor boat & today driving dog teams & hauling boats for dear life around 2am. Morning foggy & dreary. Delayed 3 times in the mile on account of cracks opening up. Strenuous time cutting through hummocks & filling in small lead gaps. Covered 2 Ύ miles surface atrocious. (Dogs do excellent work) Continuous wet feet for all. Temperature +34 spied out track this evening for two miles ahead. Wind favourable & hauling boats assisted by hoisting sail, 1 seal secured. Called 12 midnight. All under way by 1am.
Beautiful morning 1 Ύ mile covered. Held up to find a road. Sir E having preceded the party & unable to find road owing to broken up lee & water. Subsequently the party camping Sir E & self, Wild & Crean with teams prospected & discovered suitable path journeyed to and climbed small berg & had magnificent view over the sea ice. From horizon to horizon was on [indecipherable] almost unbroken field of [indecipherable] plain & in 12 noon intending to be on [indecipherable]
Monday 27 December
Tuesday 28 December
Went out with Sir E. after camping time & plotted out track for tomorrow. Turned out 8.15pm. To sleep 9 am. Its a relief to have dry feet or rather to change into dry socks after the days march. Covered 2 ½ miles. Surface slight improvement on yesterday though to make up had some bad roadmaking. Cutting up through big hummocks & bridging cracks with ice blocks. The latter gave us an anxious time as they bobbed when the heavy boxite sledges navigated them .Ice conditions seem altered as we now pass over large plains of diatom coloured ice-very thin and which is rotting under the warmth of Summer. One is in constant apprehension of breaking through. Climbed small berg to prospect track with
unassuring falls owing to the softening of ice. 1 Weddell seal secured 2 Emperor penguins
dogs gorged.
Turned out 7pm last night. Breakfasted 8 pm. Seal steak. Owing to rotting ice decide to return ½ mile to solid floe. Turned in again 10 pm last night & slept sound till 8 am. As ice began to break up in the vicinity- again retreated on to large floe where we lunched yesterday. A decision has been arrived at to remain camped here so long as our floe is intact pending the break up of the ice. Sledges repacked in readiness with only essential food for the boats should a lead or crack open. Now 10 miles from Ocean Camp in satisfactory position scouting parties.
Thursday 30 December
Secure 1 Weddell 2 crabeaters. Discovered a small crack in our floe during my nightwatch-which ran through the middle of camp. Called Sir E. It was decided to shift camp further into the centre of floe which was forthwith done. Parties sent out during the day for seals. Six secured of which I found and killed three. The arrangement of camp is as under:
Dog teams and sledges [diagram]
Wild just visited us & talking of his ideal of a meal.
Temp + 32. 1 Weddell 1 Crabeater
Friday 31 December
Many sweet memories crowd on me as I lay in my bag meditating he last day of the year. Home & faces and places & of our present position that one cannot altogether regard as sweet. Drifting about on an ice floe & 18.9 miles from nearest known land.Snice to apply our old sledging motto. It might be much worse. Inside the tent all is comfortable. Sir E. is thinking- Buddha Daydreaming & Glenroy solving magic squares. We have plenty of good grub & with the coming warm season& gustatory dissipation of the ice are enabled to greet with cheery aspects 1916 of New Year resolutions we have none to make as there is nothing to make them for- unless it be to resolve to keep our hoosh pots and faces cleaner. I am now appointed to the official post of fire kindler-my motto being 1 match mortal.
Jany 1st 1916
Jan 2 1916
Lat 6657 S 52 48 Long
Playing a game of wait almost wears ones patience We seem to be waiting for the ocean to melt judging from the aspect one observes from pinnacle berg. The leaks of yesterday have closed up considerably yet the ice is still in an advancing stage of dissipation.
Beautiful afternoon all gear put out to air & dry. First sunshine for a fortnight.
Cook manufactures enormous bannock for lunch. Good to the eye but wafer like to the appetite. Sir E. supervises dolling out of morning dosh- his generosity resulted in our tent being minus. But score by substituting 1 bannock & 3 semicooked & large lump suet. For tea hoosh made of Seal Seal Brain Seal Tongue Suet & flour & onion flavour. Hoping for a S.E.Wind to free us.
Hussey just playing Waltzing Matilda on banjo.
Jany 3rd 1916
Went for usual scouting run to Pinnacle berg & observed conditions of little alterations, opening up in places & jamming up in others. Where these jams occur slight pressure has been formed. Exhibiting diatomaceous & rolling ice & on return crack opens across track 3 feet wide - which we circumvented.
Anxiously study the panels of our tent which belly in with wind pressure, to ascertain the wind pressure and Hussey has a busy time answering meteorological questions. Every veer in the wind is minutely studied it now being a contrary N.W. Went out on ski afternoon found additional opening going on. Secured three seals. Difficulty in bringing them in owing to moving ice. Wild officiates the serving of Hoosh. "Whacks " will be more uniform
Jany 4th 1916
Confined to tent all day being very raw without- Misty snowing & raining with strong adverse winds. Spent day writing up back days omitted from diary & talking of various places to try & while away time. Wind now dropping & hoping it will veer to South.
Breakfast Seal steak.
Lunch Boiled doughboy & sugar Dinner Tea Hoosh of seal to which we added a lump of suet. The amount of pure fat one can consume is amazing Temp. 34
Lot 67 2 and 1/2 Long 52 32 temp 35 Wind succumbs but has drifted us 6 miles backwards- Went scouting with Capt . Worsby & riding on the sledge- surface in very bad condition from yesterdays rain & high temperatures. Sinking in up to thighs. The dogs
have a bad time pulling being belly deep in slushy snow- could not scout more than a mile as the floe is opening up & badly decayed & in places pools of water are showing through the surface in which swam Euphrasia & diatomaceous scum. The ice itself is very honeycombed. Many small pools are reflected in the sky as dark patches & in the NW a lengthy lead is symbolised thereby. Returned to camp after capturing 1 Crabeater.
Weather now very foggy typical of fringe pack weather. In hopes of a wind from the South.
Breakfast- fine Hoosh concocted of pemmican Lunch Boiled rice & milk with Cold Seal Steak (Ambrosial) cocoa
Tea Curried Seal Hoosh cocoa.
Jany 6th 1916
Cracks open up around our floe but close down again toward Evening. Cook indisposed. Vincent Chef. Acquits himself honorably. Excellent Seal Steak breakfast with Bannock stale.
Lunch 2 Stale bannocks 1 Tin of [indecipherable] as we could not eat all the latter at lunch we have been dipping our fingers in the tin during the afternoon at frequent odd times. Sir E. at present time dipping, smoking & reading Epicurus [indecipherable]
Tea, Vegetable Hoosh & good cocoa.
Casually mention Seal Steaks are eaten from the fingers- toothpicks are permissible Etiquette also [indecipherable] sounds
Jany 7th 1916
Most notable event is a change in the direction of the Wind to the S E. We are entirely dependent on wind & current to free us. The change is gratifying & may it long continue & grow in force- The surface is untravellable owing to its softness & being broken into small fragments
Lat 67 Degrees 0.40 Long 52.28
Jany 8th 1916 Saty
Weather stagnant calm. Went out on ski during morning to ascertain the length of a lead adjacent to the camp. Followed it for 2 miles. Meandering among broken up floes & found it a succession of pools connected by brash ice Navigable for a ship but too heavy for oars & small boats. Found a large Weddell & took my team out for same. Surface extremely soft, dogs
Sinking deep & with difficulty hauling, myself having to practically wade in the slushy snow. Numerous young Adelie penguins invade the camp the dogs set up a continuous barking & are duly potted. They made an excellent hoosh for dinner. Had monthly face wash
January 10th Monday
Lat 67 &-1/2 Long 52-17w
Experiencing great difficulty in crossing 67th Parallel having returned thereto by baffling winds for the 12th Time. This afternoon however a mild SE has sprung up & we earnestly pray for the Continuous. Our small floe is now insular & it is with difficulty we are able to leave it. Being surrounded by brash ice & narrow leads. Spoke much during the day on life in our country & played patience with Sir E during afternoon. Breakfast Seal Steak Lunch Bonanza Bannocks- Evening thick hoosh of penguin & seal flavoured by slightly Burning.
Hussey & Marsh serenading, Vocal & Banjo and now re- reading Keats & Browning
11th Jany Wednesday
Went seal scouting & observing on ski this moring. No game observed ice packed together due to SE wind. 2 Emperor penguins & 4 Adelie invade camp & are secured . Wind dropped to calm Play patience with Sir E afternoon.
12 Jany Wednesday
Customary Skiing Scout of Circum-jacent floes. Left camp 9am returned 1 pm. Covering about 9 -10 miles. An amazing dissolution has taken place with the pack during the past few days many of the diamoteaceus tinted plains are now exhibiting signs of decay- pools forming therein whilst an inundation is taking place around the fringes. It appears that where pressure ridges form during the winter a line of weakness is formed in the floes which disintegrates during the summer- Climbed two bergs
but no seals in sight of Extensive leads. Had to return on old tracks being cut off by new lead forming some 5 feet wide. Whilst away a squad of Penguins invade camp are surrounded & 13 out of 14 secured (Adelies)
Played Patience with Sgt E during afternoon. Helped to pass the time time very pleasantly. Sir E & Hendon now argue on religion.
Position 66.57 S
As the surface is most untravellable & having decided on our boat journey the dogs are of no further value. Therefore the sooner their meat supply is placed in reserve the better. Favourable wind all day.