Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-15
From the New York Mirror.
Route tn the Pacific.


Route to the Pacific.
We had the pleasure day or two since, OF
meeting together, Lieutenant Strain and Colo.
mel Gray, two intelligent and gallant young
Americans who have been perilously engaged
at different points exploring the terra firma be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific, for most
available commercial routes Lieutenant Strain
returned some time ago from his exploration,
and the story Of his perils and his, for time,
reported loss, are generally known. With
party of twenty-sx men besides himself, under
government orders, Lieutenant s. explored the
Isthmian wilderness from Caledonia bay, on
the gulf, to San Miguel, on the Pacific settling
the ship canal question as animpossibility, after
some of the severest tolls and adventures on
record six Of his party dying of exhaustion
and another being lost, and himself reduced
from l40 pounds or more to 80 in bodily
weight. he is now engaged in preparing re-
port Of the exploration, which viii appear du-
ring the next session Of Congress, and will be
OF, thrilling interest. rz
Colonel Gray returned to this city by the last
California steamer, having completed survey
of the Central Pacific railroad route, in the
employ of the Walker company, from San An.
tonic, Texas, to San Diego, California. Colonel
G. had twenty-five men in his party, besides
himself He was at one time reported de-
stroyed, with his troops, by the Indians, with
whom he had repeated stirring lights, in one
instance being opposed with only ten. men to
one hundred and forty Apaches. He owes his
salvation at that time to storm, which relaxed
the bow-strings of the savages. Colonel g..
lost none of his troops, and returns with the
decided opinion that the Pierce administration
paid at least FIVE million too much for what it
got from Santa Anna; that it failed to secure
what we must have, the gold mines of Sonora
and harbor outlet on California Gull, and
that the Central route is not only the most
feasible, but the most direct, drawing. line
from Liverpool, via Halifax, to India. His
report will be soon made.
Strain and Gray are both young men, not
over thirty-6ve; both talented, brave and ener-
getic-ft men for arduous, responsible duty.
Col Gray was employed on the North Eastern
Diary Survey, and also extensively in the Lake
Mineral region. Touching the Mexican Boun-
Diary, he regards the Mesila Valley as clearly
ours-and he it was who refused to sign docu-
ments TO the contrary Lient. Strain was also,
for time, with the Mexican Boundary Com
mission, and has done stirring service in South
America, on the coast Of Africa, and in other
quarters Of the globe. He is, as is DR.. Kane,
we believe, q native Of Pennsylvania.
1t is to such men as these-Strain, Gray,
Herndon, Fremont, Kane, aud Gibbons, that
our country is deeply indebted for those explo-
ratons and expeditions that are placing her in
the front rank Of enterprising, coonizing ma
tons. All the parties above named, and many
similar whom we could name, are, We believe,
under forty years of age-modest and unas.
Stunning, but brave and glorious fellows; de-
serving to be Commodores and Generals, and
to lead in name, as well as in fact, our fleets
and armies. We doubt if any other nation can
point to SO many young men, who have won
their way to fame solely by their merits They
prove the truth of what De Tocqueville says
that Americans are as old in ability and self.
reliance at sixteen, as Englishmen, or other
Europeans, at twenty-five.