CHAPTER XVI

The Voyage of the “Fram”

By First-Lieutenant Thorvald Nilsen

From Norway to the Barrier.

After the Fram had undergone extensive repairs in Horten Dockyard, and had loaded provisions and equipment in Christiania, we left the latter port on June 7, 1910.  According to the plan we were first to make an oceanographical cruise of about two months in the North Atlantic, and then to return to Norway, where the Fram was to be docked and the remaining outfit and dogs taken on board.

This oceanographical cruise was in many respects successful.  In the first place, we gained familiarity with the vessel, and got everything shipshape for the long voyage to come; but the best of all was, that we acquired valuable experience of our auxiliary engine.  This is a 180 h.p.  Diesel motor, constructed for solar oil, of which we were taking about 90,000 litres (about 19,800 gallons).  In this connection it may be mentioned that we consumed about 500 litres (about 110 gallons) a day, and that the Fram’s radius of action was thus about six months.  For the first day or two the engine went well enough, but after that it went slower and slower, and finally stopped of its own accord.  After this it was known as the “Whooping Cough.”  This happened several times in the course of the trip; the piston-rods had constantly to be taken out and cleared of a thick black deposit.  As possibly our whole South Polar Expedition would depend on the motor doing its work properly, the result of this was that the projected cruise was cut short, and after a lapse of three weeks our course was set for Bergen, where we changed the oil for refined paraffin, and at the same time had the motor thoroughly overhauled.

Since then there has never been anything wrong with the engine.

From Bergen we went to Christiansand, where the Fram was docked, and, as already mentioned, the remaining outfit, with the dogs and dog-food, was taken on board.

The number of living creatures on board when we left Norway was nineteen men, ninety-seven dogs, four pigs, six carrier pigeons, and one canary.

At last we were ready to leave Christiansand on Thursday, August 9, 1910, and at nine o’clock that evening the anchor was got up and the motor started.  After the busy time we had had, no doubt we were all glad to get off.  As our departure had not been made public, only the pilot and a few acquaintances accompanied us a little way out.  It was glorious weather, and everyone stayed on deck till far into the light night, watching the land slowly disappear.  All the ninety-seven dogs were chained round the deck, on which we also had coal, oil, timber and other things, so that there was not much room to move about.