In 1913, Beck traveled to Buenos Aires to inspect the Fram in preparation for Amundsen's expedition to the north. The journey took him to Panama, where the intention was to go through the new Panama Canal. However, difficulties with the canal work would have created too long a delay, and they decided to go south and around Cape Horn instead. Along the way, Beck fell ill and died on March 18, 1914. Beck was buried at sea (at 33°30′ S 49°30′ W) outside Montevideo, Uruguay. Amundsen was in Norway at the time and, for various reasons, canceled the expedition and sailed Fram back to Norway, which would be the vessel's last voyage. Amundsen traveled in person to Tromsø to offer his condolences to Beck's family and he gave Beck's widow Josephine NOK 10,000.