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SOUTHWARD 57 
“There was one thrilling moment in the midst of the 
worst hour on Friday when we were realizing that the fires 
must be drawn, and when every pump had failed to act, 
and when the bulwarks began to go to pieces and the petrol 
cases were all afloat and going overboard, and the word was 
suddenly passed in a shout from the hands at work in the 
waist of the ship trying to save petrol cases that smoke was 
coming up through the seams in the afterhold. As this was 
full of coal and patent fuel and was next the engine-room, 
and as it had not been opened for the airing it required to 
get rid of gas, on account of the flood of water on deck 
making it impossible to open the hatchway, the possibility 
of a fire there was patent to every one, and it could not 
possibly have been dealt with in any way short of opening 
the hatches and flooding the ship, when she must have 
foundered. It was therefore a thrilling moment or two 
until it was discovered that the smoke was really steam, 
arising from the bilge at the bottom having risen to the 
heated coal.’ 4 
Meanwhile men were working for all our lives to cut 
through two bulkheads which cut off all communication 
with the suction of the hand-pumps. One bulkhead was 
iron, the other wood. 
Scott wrote at this time: 
‘We are not out of the wood, but hope dawns, as 1n- 
deed it should for me, when I find myself so wonderfully 
served. Officers and men are singing chanties over their 
arduous work. Williams is working in sweltering heat 
behind the boiler to get the door made in the bulkhead. 
Not a single one has lost his good spirits. A dog was 
drowned last night, one pony is dead and two others in a 
bad condition—probably they too will go. Occasionally a 
heavy sea would bear one of them away, and he was only 
saved by his chain. Meares with some helpers had con- 
stantly to be rescuing these wretched creatures from hang- 
ing, and trying to find them better shelter, an almost hope- 
less task. One poor beast was found hanging when dead ; 
one was washed away with such force that his chain broke 
1 Wilson’s Journal. 
