Ship Jeannette Expedition

pandora, cruising in smith sound during 1 arctic voyages under allen young

as no suitable ship available in united states, de long went england, found young s pandora on offer @ $6,000. vessel s arctic pedigree made seem ideal, young s hesitancy selling delayed purchase until late 1877. @ bennett s instigation, congress passed legislation gave navy department full control on expedition; fly american flag, crew engaged navy, , subject naval discipline. bennett remained responsible financing enterprise, , undertook reimburse government costs incurred. meanwhile, de long released active duty, oversee pandora s refit in england.

in june 1878, after thorough overhaul @ deptford on thames estuary, pandora sailed le havre in france where, on july 4, renamed jeannette, after bennett s sister performed ceremony. on july 15 ship, manned de long , small crew, sailed le havre begin 18,000-nautical-mile (33,000 km) voyage san francisco, port arctic expedition sail. arrived on 27 december 1878, , transferred jeannette mare island naval shipyard undergo further work in readiness prolonged journey in arctic ice.

de long spent of part of 1879 in washington, d.c., promoting expedition among officials, searching appropriate crew members, , harrying navy secretary richard w. thompson practical support. requests included use of supply ship accompany jeannette far alaska. among less standard equipment acquired de long experimental arc lamp system devised thomas edison, supposedly provide light equivalent 3,000 candles , transform arctic winter darkness. having undergone sea trials, on june 28, ten days before scheduled departure, jeannette formally commissioned u.s. navy uss jeannette.