Belgian Antarctic Expedition to South Pole

Nook version of vintage magazine article originally published in 1899. Article was written by Dr. Frederick A. Cook, a member of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition.

excerpt -

The regular routine of our work was tiresome in the extreme; not because it was difficult of execu¬tion or required great physical ex¬ertion, but because it was monoto¬nous. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, we rose at the same hour, ate the same things, talked on the same subjects, made a show at doing the same work, and looked out upon the same unbroken icy wilderness. We tried hard to introduce new topics for thought and new concoctions for the weary stomach. We strained the truth to introduce stories of home and of flowery future prospects, to infuse a new cheer; but it all failed miserably. We were under the spell of the black Antarctic night, and, like the world which it darkens, we were cold, cheerless, and inactive.

Here is the outline of a day's life on the "Belgica." Rise at 7.30 A.M.; coffee at 8; 9 to 10, open-air exercise; 10 to 12, scientific work, such as the regular meteorologic magnetic, or laboratory tasks, for the officers; and for the marines, bringing in snow, melting snow for water, replenishing the ship's stores, re¬pairing the ship, building new quarters, making new instruments, and doing any¬thing which pertains to the regular work of the expedition; 12 to 2 P.M., dinner and rest or recreation; 2 to 4, official work; 4 to 4.30, coffee; 4.30 to 6, official work (regular work during this period was sus¬pended for the greater part of the night); 6 to 7, supper; 7 to 10, card-playing, music, mending, and, on moonlight nights, excur¬sions. At 10 o'clock we went to sleep.