#poor guy. imagine already losing your mind from isolation and vitamin deprivation

[anza-redstar]

Through the First Antarctic Night:

The work and the resulting fatigue had been so great that Tollefsen, who had joined us at the last moment of our departure, fainted twice after he reached the ship. Poor fellow! his brain has for a long time been unsteady as a result of the unbroken daylight and hopeless isolation. We thought this jaunt would do him good, but it has had a contrary effect, for his mind is now permanently deranged.

This same excursion described in Madhouse at the End of the Earth:

“Without hesitation, Amundsen dropped to his knees, slashed his knife across the animal, lay down alongside the carcass, and placed his mouth against the laceration, sucking warm blood from the wound. Even though the seal had been killed hours earlier and left on the ice, its thick coating of blubber had kept its insides from cooling down. Once he had drunk his fill, he offered his place to Cook, who let the metallic-tasting substance trickle down his parched throat. His beard dripping with gore, the doctor turned to Tollefsen. Aghast, eyes darting between the knife and his bloodied shipmates, the boatswain said that he would prefer to die of hunger than to partake in such a hideous feast. Still famished, Cook and Amundsen carved out slices of meat, which they devoured raw and which the first mate declared “delicious.” Tollefsen then watched in disbelief as Amundsen cut off the seal’s head to keep as a trophy. He was surely convinced that they were the madmen.”