Preparations and Equipment. 69 



about So feet high, the main topmast was 50 feet high, 

 and the crow's-nest on the top was about 102 feet (32 m.) 

 above the water. It was important to have this as high 

 as possible, so as to have a more extended view when it 

 came to picking our way through the ice. The aggre- 

 gate sail area was about 6,000 sq. feet. 



The ship's engine, a triple expansion, was made with 

 particular care. The work was done at the Akers 

 Mechanical Factory, and Engineer Norbeck deserves 

 especial credit for its construction. With his quick insight 

 he foresaw the various possibilities that might occur, and 

 took precautions against them. The triple expansion 

 system was chosen as being the most economical in the 

 consumption of coal ; but as it might happen that one 

 or other of the cylinders should get out of order, it was 

 arranged, by means of separate pipes, that any of the 

 cylinders could be cut off, and thus the other two, or, at a 

 pinch, even one alone could be used. In this way the 

 engine, by the mere turning of a cock or two, could be 

 changed at will into a compound high-pressure or low 

 pressure engine. Although nothing ever went wrong with 

 any of the cylinders, this arrangement was frequently used 

 with advantage. By using the engine as a compound one, 

 we could, for instance, give the Frani greater speed for a 

 short time, and when occasion demanded we often took 

 this means of forcing our way through the ice. The engine 

 was of 220 indicated horse-power, and we could in calm 

 weather with a light cargo attain a speed of 6 or 7 knots. 



