The Start of the Motor Sledges

Tuesday, October 24.—­Two fine days for a wonder.  Yesterday the motors seemed ready to start and we all went out on the floe to give them a ‘send off.’  But the inevitable little defects cropped up, and the machines only got as far as the Cape.  A change made by Day in the exhaust arrangements had neglected the heating jackets of the carburetters; one float valve was bent and one clutch troublesome.  Day and Lashly spent the afternoon making good these defects in a satisfactory manner.

This morning the engines were set going again, and shortly after 10 A.M. a fresh start was made.  At first there were a good many stops, but on the whole the engines seemed to be improving all the time.  They are not by any means working up to full power yet, and so the pace is very slow.  The weights seem to me a good deal heavier than we bargained for.  Day sets his motor going, climbs off the car, and walks alongside with an occasional finger on the throttle.  Lashly hasn’t yet quite got hold of the nice adjustments of his control levers, but I hope will have done so after a day’s practice.

The only alarming incident was the slipping of the chains when Day tried to start on some ice very thinly covered with snow.  The starting effort on such heavily laden sledges is very heavy, but I thought the grip of the pattens and studs would have been good enough on any surface.  Looking at the place afterwards I found that the studs had grooved the ice.

Now as I write at 12.30 the machines are about a mile out in the South Bay; both can be seen still under weigh, progressing steadily if slowly.

I find myself immensely eager that these tractors should succeed, even though they may not be of great help to our southern advance.  A small measure of success will be enough to show their possibilities, their ability to revolutionise Polar transport.  Seeing the machines at work to-day, and remembering that every defect so far shown is purely mechanical, it is impossible not to be convinced of their value.  But the trifling mechanical defects and lack of experience show the risk of cutting out trials.  A season of experiment with a small workshop at hand may be all that stands between success and failure.

At any rate before we start we shall certainly know if the worst has happened, or if some measure of success attends this unique effort.

The ponies are in fine form.  Victor, practically recovered from his wound, has been rushing round with a sledge at a great rate.  Even Jehu has been buckish, kicking up his heels and gambolling awkwardly.  The invalids progress, Clissold a little alarmed about his back, but without cause.

Atkinson and Keohane have turned cooks, and do the job splendidly.

This morning Meares announced his return from Corner Camp, so that all stores are now out there.  The run occupied the same time as the first, when the routine was:  first day 17 miles out; second day 13 out, and 13 home; early third day run in.  If only one could trust the dogs to keep going like this it would be splendid.  On the whole things look hopeful.