The Endurance_ Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition - Caroline Alexander [52]
Although the weather was still severe, all able hands now turned to equipping the lifeboat for its sea voyage. For the next few days, as the wind raged and driving snow fell, McNish was at work, mending a hole made by the ice in the boat's bow above the waterline and constructing a makeshift “decking.” The timber available, salvaged from the freeboard of the Dudley Docker and other odds and ends, fell short of what was required, and so in lieu of an entire deck he assembled a frame to be covered with a spare bolt of canvas.
“Cheetham and McCarthy have been busy trying to stretch the canvas for the deck & They had rather a job as it was frozen stiff,” wrote McNish. The canvas was thawed, foot by foot, over the blubber stove, allowing the brittle needles to be pushed and pulled through the heavy fabric with a pair of pincers. Heavy, wet snow fell throughout the day as they worked, and Wild, of all people, was overheard to say that if the weather continued much longer “some of the party will undoubtedly go under.”
On the 22nd, McNish, working with few tools and frost-nipped hands, completed his task. The blizzard finally ceased, although heavy snow continued to fall as all able hands gathered round to look over his masterful handiwork.
“The carpenter had contrived wonderfully with the very limited resources at hand,” wrote Lees. “She has been strengthened in the hull by having the mast of the Dudley Docker lashed along her keel inside.” The Caird carried two masts: a mainmast, rigged with a standing lugsail and jib, and a mizzenmast, also lug rigged.
The bosun of the Endurance mends a net, 1915
A former trawlerman who had worked in the North Atlantic, John Vincent was physically the strongest man on the Endurance. His bullying manner had already caused friction, but he had held up better than most in the first boat journey to Elephant Island. Shackleton wanted him on board the Caird for his strength, seamanship—and to ensure that he would not cause trouble on Elephant Island.
The foul weather held over the next two days, but moderated on the 24th, and Shackleton decided to launch the Caird. Having no ballast keel, the boat was ballasted with 1,500 pounds of shingle-filled bags made of blankets, and an additional 500 pounds of boulders. Worsley believed the ballast excessive and was concerned the boat would ride low and ship water—her freeboard was two feet two inches; Shackleton's fear was that a light boat would be in danger of capsizing in the high seas he knew they would face. The Caird also carried four oars and a pump that Hurley had made back at Ocean Camp from the binnacle of the Endurance. Additionally, bags of blubber oil were taken to pour on rough water, to prevent the breaking of waves.
Two barrels of melted ice were stowed along with the provisions. According to Hurley, these included:
30 Boxes Matches
8 Galls. Petroleum
1 tin Spirit
10 boxes flamers
1 box blue lights
2 Primus Stoves & parts & Prickers
1 Cooker Complete
6 sleeping bags
Spare apparel (clothes sox, etc.)
Food
3 Cases Sledging ration = 300 rations
2 Nut foods = 200 rations
2 Biscuits—300 in case
1 case lump sugar
30 packets trumilk
1 tin Bovril Cubes
1 tin Cerebos Salt
36 galls Water
112 lbs. ice
Insts. Sextant, Binoculars, Compass, Candles, Blubber Oil for Oil Bag, sea anchor, charts. Fishing line & triangle, twine & needle. Bit of blubber for bait. Boathook, Aneroid.
Launching the Caird
The decking of the Caird was completed on the morning of April 24, and as the weather was good, Shackleton decided to get under way as soon as possible. Here the men gather around the boat, preparatory to launching her. The Stancomb Wills, which was used to ferry supplies to the Caird for loading, is beached to the right.
Launching the Caird
“Monday April 24 A fine morning I started on the boat at day break & finished at 10 AM. Then all hands were mustered