The Voyages of Captain Scott | Page 8

English whaler type designed to sail the high seas and
push her way through the looser ice-packs. And a brief consideration of
southern conditions will show which of these types is more serviceable
for Antarctic exploration, because it is obvious that the exploring ship
must first of all be prepared to navigate the most stormy seas in the
world, and then be ready to force her way through the ice-floes to the
mysteries beyond.
By the general consent of those who witnessed her performances, the
old Discovery (the fifth of her name) of 1875 was the best ship that had
ever been employed on Arctic service, and the Ship Committee
eventually decided that the new vessel should be built on more or less
the same lines. The new Discovery had the honor to be the first vessel
ever built for scientific exploration, and the decision to adopt well-tried
English lines for her was more than justified by her excellent qualities.
The greatest strength lay in her bows, and when ice-floes had to be
rammed the knowledge that the keel at the fore-end of the ship
gradually grew thicker, until it rose in the enormous mass of solid
wood which constituted the stem, was most comforting. No single tree
could provide the wood for such a stem, but the several trees used were
cunningly scarfed to provide the equivalent of a solid block. In further
preparation for the battle with ice-floes, the stem itself and the bow for
three or four feet on either side were protected with numerous steel
plates, so that when the ship returned to civilization not a scratch
remained to show the hard knocks received by the bow.

The shape of the stem was also a very important consideration. In the
outline drawing of the Discovery will be seen how largely the stem
overhangs, and this was carried to a greater extent than in any former
Polar vessel. The object with which this was fitted was often fulfilled
during the voyage. Many a time on charging a large ice-floe the stem of
the ship glided upwards until the bows were raised two or three feet,
then the weight of the ship acting downwards would crack the floe
beneath, the bow would drop, and gradually the ship would forge ahead
to tussle against the next obstruction. Nothing but a wooden structure
has the elasticity and strength to thrust its way without injury through
the thick Polar ice.
In Dundee the building of the Discovery aroused the keenest interest,
and the peculiar shape of her overhanging stern, an entirely new feature
in this class of vessel, gave rise to the strongest criticism. All sorts of
misfortunes were predicted, but events proved that this overhanging
rounded form of stem was infinitely superior for ice-work to the old
form of stem, because it gave better protection to the rudder, rudder
post and screw, and was more satisfactory in heavy seas.
Both in the building and in the subsequent work of the Discovery the
deck-house, marked on the drawing 'Magnetic Observatory,' was an
important place. For the best of reasons it was important that the
magnetic observations taken on the expedition should be as accurate as
possible, and it will be readily understood that magnetic observations
cannot be taken in a place closely surrounded by iron. The ardor of the
magnetic experts on the Ship Committee had led them at first to ask
that there should be neither iron nor steel in the vessel, but after it had
been pointed out that this could scarcely be, a compromise was arrived
at and it was agreed that no magnetic materials should be employed
within thirty feet of the observatory. This decision caused immense
trouble and expense, but in the end it was justified, for the magnetic
observations taken on board throughout the voyage required very little
correction. And if the demands of the magnetic experts were a little
exacting, some amusement was also derived from them. At one time
those who lived within the circle were threatened with the necessity of
shaving with brass razors; and when the ship was on her way home

from New Zealand a parrot fell into dire disgrace, not because it was
too talkative, but because it had been hanging on the mess-deck during
a whole set of observations, and the wires of its cage were made of
iron.
[Illustration: Outline drawings of 'Discovery' and 'Fram'.]
The Discovery was, in Scott's opinion, the finest vessel ever built for
exploring purposes, and he was as enthusiastic about his officers and
men as he was about the ship herself.
The senior of the ten officers who messed with Scott in the small
wardroom of the Discovery was Lieutenant A. B. Armitage, R.N.R. He
brought with him not only an excellent practical seamanship