PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION. 61 



crew to live in in winter had been built, fitted in place, and 

 taken apart and piled up. A portable observatory had been 

 made, and winter porches for the cabin doors. New sails 

 throughout had been cut and fitted, as well as an entire outfit 

 of running rigging. Coal bunkers had been enlarged and new 

 ones added, making her bunker capacity one hundred and 

 thirty-two tons instead of eighty-nine tons as formerly. The 

 new boilers were in place and connected. The machinery had 

 been well overhauled ; new pumps added ; four new propeller 

 blades cast, giving us at starting six blades, or the equivalent 

 of three propellers ; and an entire outfit of engineers' tools and 

 stores placed on board. Chronometers, sextants, compasses, and 

 charts were given ; Remington rifles, revolvers, and ammunition 

 were added ; all the rope, canvas, and boatswain's stores were 

 freely furnished ; and, finally, all the carpenters' tools and 

 outfit were thrown in. Everything that the navy yard had 

 on hand was placed at our disposal, and the only things that 

 I added to what had been already supplied were a new galley, 

 navy pattern, bunks in the forecastle for the crew, and cover- 

 ing the inside of the forecastle and ward-room with felt. . . . 



" Finally, however, all work came to an end, and the ship 

 was turned over to me. I am perfectly satisfied with her. 

 She is everything I want for the expedition, but a little small 

 for all I want to carry in her. We must remember, however, 

 we are making her do the work of an expedition that has 

 heretofore generally required two ships. We have every ap- 

 pliance for all kinds of scientific experiments. Our outfit is 

 simply perfect, whether for ice navigation, astronomical work, 

 magnetic work, gravity experiments, or collections of Natural 

 History. We have a good crew, good food, and a good ship, 

 and I think we have the right kind of stuff to dare all that 

 man can do." 



The preparation of the Jeannette was under the su- 

 pervision of Lieutenant Chipp and Master Danenhower. 

 Captain De Long left San Francisco for Washington 

 early in February, as we have seen, and did not return 

 until the end of May. During that time he was ac- 



