In April he learned that the navy was unable to provide a supply ship to accompany Jeannette northward, a decision which, he thought, left the fate of the expedition "hanging by a thread".
I april lærte han, at flåden ikke kunne levere et forsyningsskib, der skulle ledsage "Jeannette" nordpå, en beslutning, som han mente, forlod ekspeditionens skæbne "hængende i en tynd tråd".