62 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



tively employed in the countless details of his work. 

 He was in constant communication with his officers at 

 San Francisco, with the Department at Washington, 

 and with Mr. Bennett in Europe. He followed every 

 step of the work on the ship, using the greatest tact in 

 removing the obstacles, some of them very serious, 

 which frequently arose ; he made the arrangements for 

 the ship's stores and their transportation ; he arranged 

 for the choice of officers and other members of the ex- 

 pedition, and gave close attention to the selection of 

 instruments for use in the scientific observations, and 

 answered good-naturedly and promptly the numberless 

 applications and inquiries which were made. 



The choice of his companions was a matter of the 

 greatest moment, and he was fortunate in having his 

 wishes deferred to by the Government and by Mr. 

 Bennett, who absolutely refused to make any appoint- 

 ment for friendship's sake, and supported Captain De 

 Long in his determination to confine the party to those 

 who were qualified for the arduous work of the enter- 

 prise. We have already spoken of Lieutenant Chipp 

 and Master Danenhower. The friendship which sprang 

 up between Captain De Long and Lieutenant Chipp 

 during the boat expedition of 1873 was never inter- 

 rupted ; and the very earliest hopes which Captain De 

 Long had of the Jeannette expedition were shared with 

 his old comrade, who was then stationed in the Ashuelot 

 at Full Chan, China, from which place he wrote June 

 21, 1877 : " Many thanks for your assurance that if the 

 expedition goes I shall go with it, and I will keep my- 

 self prepared at all times to join you upon the shortest 

 notice. I regret that we have been disappointed in 

 getting away this summer, but I sincerely trust we shall 

 be more fortunate in 1878." He made his way to San 



