The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912 — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 403 pages of information about The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912 — Volume 2.

The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912 — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 403 pages of information about The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912 — Volume 2.

Forward of the motor there is a large iron tank to supply water for cooling it.  In the same space are chain-pipes to the locker below and the heel of the bowsprit.  This space also serves as cable-tier.

On the upper deck we find aft, the opening of the rudder-well and that of the propeller-well, covered with gratings.  A piece was added to the lower part of the rudder to give more rudder area.

Forward of the propeller-well comes the reserve steering-gear, almost in the same position formerly occupied by the only steering-gear; the ordinary steering-gear is now moved to the bridge.  The old engine-room companion aft is now removed, and forward of the after-wheel is only the skylight of the after-saloon.  Up through the latter comes the exhaust-pipe of the main engine.  Forward of and round the mizzenmast is the bridge, which is partly formed by the roofs of the large chart-house and laboratory amidships and the two houses on each side.  The chart-house occupies the place of the old boiler-room ventilator, and abuts on the fore-deck. (It is thus a little aft of the place occupied by the chart-house on Nansen’s expedition.) It is strongly built of timbers standing upright, securely bolted to the deck.  On both sides of this timber work there are panels, 2 inches thick on the outside and 1 inch on the inside, and the space between is filled with finely-divided cork.  Floor and roof are insulated in a similar way, as is also the door; the windows are double, of thick plate-glass.  Inside the chart-house, besides the usual fittings for its use as such, there is a companion-way to the engine-room, and a hatch over the manhole to the main supply tank for oil-fuel.  The opening in the deck has a hatch, made like the rest of the deck (in two thicknesses, with cork insulation between); the intention is to cut off the engine-room altogether, and remove the entrance of this companion during the drift in the ice through the Polar sea.  The side houses are constructed of iron, and are not panelled; they are intended for w.c. and lamp-room.  On the roof of the chart-house are the main steering-gear and the engine-room telegraph.  On the port side, on the forward part of the after-deck, a Downton pump is fitted, which can either be worked by hand or by a small motor, which also serves to drive the sounding-machine, and is set up on the after-deck.  Forward of the starboard side house is the spare rudder, securely lashed to deck and bulwarks.  On each side of the chart-house a bridge leads to the fore-deck, with ways down to the workroom and fore-saloon.  On the fore-deck, a little forward of the mainmast, we find the two ship’s pumps proper, constructed of wood.  The suction-pipe is of wood, covered on the outside with lead, so as to ]prevent leakage through possible cracks in the wood; the valves are of leather, and the piston of wood, with a leather covering.  The pump-action is the usual nickel action, that was formerly general on our ships, and

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The South Pole; an account of the Norwegian antarctic expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912 — Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.