At the end of the meeting minutes we find a detailed “Project of itinerary for the
summer campaign 1898–1899”, signed by Adrien de Gerlache and Georges
Lecointe. The minutes of the staff meeting were signed by Racovitza, Arctowski,
Cook and Amundsen.
However as we know, Belgica’s return trip towards Europe followed a different
path. De Gerlache chose the most dangerous way back in order to avoid meeting
other ships, and the ship sailed through Cockburn channel in the Strait of Magellan.
On the 26th of March, the Belgica passed by Black Island, a conglomeration of
black rocks. Two days later, on the 28th of March, the ship entered the harbor of
Punta Arenas. It was in this harbor that the first news about the expedition’s status
were sent to Bruxelles on the 1st of April, arriving in Belgium on the 27th of the
same month.
The plan to conduct scientific research in the Tierra del Fuego (Patagonia) was
abandoned, since repairing the ship became the top priority.
The scientific members of the crew were authorized to return to Europe. Frederick Cook returned to Patagonia to complete his anthropologic research, and
Amundsen returned to Norway. Racovitza, accompanying a sick sailor, also
returned to Europe, making stopovers in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
When the Belgica arrived to Boulogne-sur-Mer, on the 30th of October 1899, all
the members of the expedition were on board the ship. They had a triumphal arrival
in Anvers in the morning of the 5th of November 1899, putting an end to a heroic
trek. That day marked the end chapter of a remarkable journey of discovery and
final point of a great scientific victory.
35 An Original Document About the History of the Antarctic Expedition « Belgica »
597
summer campaign 1898–1899”, signed by Adrien de Gerlache and Georges
Lecointe. The minutes of the staff meeting were signed by Racovitza, Arctowski,
Cook and Amundsen.
However as we know, Belgica’s return trip towards Europe followed a different
path. De Gerlache chose the most dangerous way back in order to avoid meeting
other ships, and the ship sailed through Cockburn channel in the Strait of Magellan.
On the 26th of March, the Belgica passed by Black Island, a conglomeration of
black rocks. Two days later, on the 28th of March, the ship entered the harbor of
Punta Arenas. It was in this harbor that the first news about the expedition’s status
were sent to Bruxelles on the 1st of April, arriving in Belgium on the 27th of the
same month.
The plan to conduct scientific research in the Tierra del Fuego (Patagonia) was
abandoned, since repairing the ship became the top priority.
The scientific members of the crew were authorized to return to Europe. Frederick Cook returned to Patagonia to complete his anthropologic research, and
Amundsen returned to Norway. Racovitza, accompanying a sick sailor, also
returned to Europe, making stopovers in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
When the Belgica arrived to Boulogne-sur-Mer, on the 30th of October 1899, all
the members of the expedition were on board the ship. They had a triumphal arrival
in Anvers in the morning of the 5th of November 1899, putting an end to a heroic
trek. That day marked the end chapter of a remarkable journey of discovery and
final point of a great scientific victory.
35 An Original Document About the History of the Antarctic Expedition « Belgica »
597