Report concerning the remaining part of the expedition. 169 
Extract from Lieutenant Jorgensen’s 
diary, chiefly with respect to the wreck of the 
“Alabama”. 
The period covered is from the 3rd of March to the 22nd of May. 
The two men on board — Lieut. JORGENSEN and UNGER — spent the 
first few days mainly in clearing up after the departure of the sledging 
parties. As early as March 8th they noticed that the “Alabama” was 
making water in the space beneath the forecastle, there being about 
35 cm of water above the keelson, but they baled it out the same 
day. In the hold itself no water was observed. 
Again on the 12th they noticed that the water had risen considerably. 
In the hold it had increased 15 cm in the course of the last forty- 
eight hours, and now covered the coals. In the space beneath the fore- 
castle it had risen to about 40cm above the keelson. Aft in the engine 
room no water was to be observed. 
UNGER went to work at once to bale out — the pumps could not 
be used — but he only succeeded in just keeping the water at the 
same level. 
Next day the water had increased considerably. In the hold it 
was 41 ст higher than on the 12th, and in the space beneath the fore- 
castle it was only 5 cm under the floor. JORGENSEN then came to 
the conclusion that baling was of no avail, as the water rose quicker 
than baling was possible, so UNGER then went to work to remove as 
much provisions and other things as possible on to the deck, where they 
remained safe for the time being. His efforts merit commendation, 
all the more as his work was done in a snowstorm with a force of 7 
(Beaufort’s scale). 
On the 14th the water rose further, so that the two men were com- 
pelled to move aft into the cabin, where the water had also begun to 
rise, but not as yet above the floor. On the subsequent days until the 
17th the water rose still higher, so that on the date in question it was 
6 cm under some cross beams in the hold, which were placed about 
60 cm funder the deck. 
In the engine room the water was up to the floor, but had not yet 
reached the cabin floor. On the same day it was noticed that the ship 
had a bulge amidships and that an iron side girder was bent, whilst the 
stern had risen about 3/, metre above the ice. 
On the 18th UNGER again tried baling, but in vain, the water coming 
in as quickly, as he got it out. Next day it rose very much in the engine 
room, about 30cm, and JØRGENSEN and UNGER came to the conclusion 
that they would very speedily have to make tracks for land, as the 
water was rising day by day in the engine room, thus approaching 
the floor of the cabin. In the hold the water reached up to the under 
side of the aforesaid beams. UNGER set to work to put up a canvas 
