South with Scott | Page 6

magnetic observations in the Solent, after which
many officers were entertained by Captain Mark Kerr in the ill-fated
"Invincible." We were royally looked after, but I am ashamed to say we
cleared most of his canvas and boatswain's stores out of the ship.
Perhaps a new 3 1/2-inch hawser found its way to the "Terra Nova";
anyway, if the "Invincible's" stores came on board the exploring vessel
she made good use of them and saved them their Jutland fate. We left
the Solent in high feather on the following day.
The "Sea Horse" took us in tow to the Needles, from whence H.M.S.
"Cumberland," Cadets' Training Ship; towed us to Weymouth Bay.
This was poor Scott's last Naval review. He had landed at Portsmouth
and busied himself with the Expedition's affairs and rejoined us at
Weymouth in time to steam through the Home Fleet assembled in
Portland Harbour. We steamed out of the 'hole in the wall' at the
western end of Portland Breakwater and rounded Portland Bill at sunset
on our way to Cardiff, where we were to be received by my own Welsh
friends and endowed with all good things. We were welcomed by the
citizens of the great Welsh seaport with enthusiasm. Free docking, free
coal, defects made good for nothing, an office and staff placed at our
disposal, in fact everything was done with an open-hearted generosity.
We took another 300 tons of patent fuel on board and nearly 100 tons
of Insole's best Welsh steaming coal, together with the bulk of our
lubricating oils. When complete with fuel we met with our first setback,
for the little ship settled deeply in the water and the seams, which had
up till now been well above the water-line, leaked in a way that
augured a gloomy future for the crew in the nature of pumping. With
steam up this did not mean anything much, but under sail alone, unless
we could locate the leaky seams, it meant half an hour to an hour's

pumping every watch. We found a very leaky spot in the fore peak,
which was mostly made good by cementing.
On the 15th June we left the United Kingdom after a rattling good time
in Cardiff. Many shore boats and small craft accompanied us down the
Bristol Channel as far as Breaksea Light Vessel. We hoisted the Cardiff
flag at the fore and the Welsh flag at the mizen--some wag pointed to
the flag and asked why we had not a leek under it, and I felt bound to
reply that we had a leak in the fore peak! It was a wonderful send-off
and we cheered ourselves hoarse. Captain Scott left with our most
intimate friends in the pilot boat and we proceeded a little sadly on our
way.
After passing Lundy Island we experienced a head wind and the gentle
summer swell of the Atlantic. In spite of her deeply-laden condition the
"Terra Nova" breasted each wave in splendid form, lifting her toy
bowsprit proudly in the air till she reminded me, with her deck cargo,
of a little mother with her child upon her back.
Our first port of call was Madeira, where it was proposed to bunker,
and we made good passage to the island under steam and sail for the
most part. We stayed a couple of days coaling and taking magnetic
observations at Funchal, then ran out to the north-east Trades, let fires
out, and became a sailing ship.
Whilst lazily gazing at fertile Madeira from our anchorage we little
dreamt that within two months the distinguished Norseman, Roald
Amundsen, would be unfolding his plans to his companions on board
the "Fram" in this very anchorage, plans which changed the whole
published object of his expedition, plans which culminated in the
triumph of the Norwegian flag over our own little Union Jack, and
plans which caused our people a fearful disappointment--for
Amundsen's ultimate success meant our failure to achieve the main
object of our Expedition: to plant the British Flag first at the South
Pole.
Under sail! Quite a number of the scientists and crew had never been to
sea in a sailing ship before, but a fair wind and a collection of keen and

smiling young men moving about the decks were particularly
refreshing to me after the year of fund collecting and preparation.
We learnt to know a great deal about one another on the outward
voyage to New Zealand, where we were to embark our dogs and ponies.
The most surprising personality was Bowers, considering all things.
Officers, scientists, and the watch worked side by side trimming coals
and restoring the 'tween decks as cases were shaken and equipment
assembled. The scientific staff were soon efficient at handling, reefing,
and steering. Every one lent a hand at