The Captain and Mrs. Snuppesen

Abstract

With four newborn puppies on board, in addition to the 18 sled dogs who had returned from Antarctica, the Fram makes its way over rough seas, and under heavy rains, to Buenos Aires. An accounting of the new total number of dogs involved in the entire Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, from 1910 to 1912, is provided by the author. Documented here are the remaining dogs’ activities and their effects on the expedition members, using Captain Thorvald Nilsen’s personal diary entries. Also documented is Roald Amundsen’s departure from Australia to New Zealand, where he continues to write his expedition narrative, as recorded in his diary. On May 23, 1912, Amundsen and the Fram arrive simultaneously in Buenos Aires. The ship has traveled 2-1/2 times around the world since leaving Christiania 2 years prior—and the dogs have made most of that journey with it.

Notes on Original Material and Unpublished Sources

Roald Amundsen’s expedition diary, quoted in this chapter, is in the Manuscripts Collection at the National Library of Norway (NB) in Oslo. (The excerpts quoted are translated from the original Norwegian.)

• 1. R. Amundsen Antarctic expedition diary, 17 April 1912, NB Ms.8º 1196.

• 2. R. Amundsen Antarctic expedition diary, 22 April 1912 listing in notes following the 20 March 1912 entry, NB Ms.8º 1196.

• 3. R. Amundsen Antarctic expedition diary, 2 May 1912 listing in notes following the 20 March 1912 entry, NB Ms.8º 1196.

• 4. R. Amundsen Antarctic expedition diary, 17 May 1912 listing in notes following the 20 March 1912 entry, NB Ms.8º 1196.