The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-25
THE ATRAr0 EXPEDITION.
snterostirg Report of Lieut.. N. Msehier, In
Charge sf the Typographical Party

N>rY>o.NoJNoDo~~o~<~>O>-
htercstleg Report of Lieut.. N. Hlishicr, in
Charge sf the Typographical Party
fuGBc, OR Vrls, ON THE gu. OF DAMks,
srAwor Cnooo, RKrvmIo oy Ssw GRANADA,
March =, 1903
Aos. Isaac ToCCKY, sEcBksARy THE NAvy;-
AHI have the honor to report TO You the return from
We "AGate Expedition of myself and entire party, and
Of safe arrival board the United States schooner
varna anchored Off the mouth Of tho Atrato; the sd-
vanced reached the vessel the 10th February and tho
Ast section under my immediate direction on the even
Dg Of .he Sd ult the morning. Of tho 4h OF March
Lieut. Craven and party arrived at this place on As
10Th Of February Of which fact presume he has already
advised you.
with much pleasure and satisfaction that am able
announce 70 the Navy Department the termination OF
Ae AbOrs Of my party in the Held-a complete topo-
graphical survey having been made across the country,
between this gulf and the Pacific Ocean, Of the proposed
vosse interoceanic ship canal With your perms
si will submit you brief account Of the survey in
Ae Neld the information Of those Interested in its
ccess The prscticAbity Of the route can only be do
dstermDed upon after the completion Of the necessary
snamnss,On Of the results Of those abors.
IN the nrst place let premise that the line examined
Mes IN the State Of Choco, Of the States Of New
Granada that the Arato section Of the entire route
x the object of the survey intended, is the least in
III
undertaking; and that the title Auato Expe-
attion " is misnomer the survey being more
pYopery entitled "the Choco Expedition in oon!radis
tse.on other similar works. The expedition left the
GGh the 9th of December and the Atrao
"a MusncS rivers u o1ss, mssDa,ng posso,e 70 ,eacn
vey and there establish the first permanent camp and
aep0s Of supplies.
hAeel consequence Of the distractions caused by the
fallen trees along that part Of the rraAndo called by the
natvee pdlisddo II decided the 23d Of the
month that the barquena La Concha, river boat
~ transport most Of the officers, men and their private
Effects Also proysiors camp equpage and instrumens,
soald tot ascend any higher, that would be mpos
sibe for her 70 reach the falls. camp was
therefore established short distance above the point
she bad reached, beng the frat time the parties had
saoamped of their b,aIs since leaving the CUFF The
ground a the point pitched upon seemed 70
nrnness and was in fact one of only localities
hind reached the boat abe 10 Along the
whole distance the banks Of both rivers, from the Cuff
NJ, possess but little stability, osing to frequent over
Rows and scarcely aDyw offer . firm fOOlhold.
This camp, twenty and half miles below the falls
ssl;os o, the Truando, was named Camp Toucey, in
hsser Of the distinguished head Of the Navy Depart
On The 2eh the Concha was discharged and started the
sane DAY on her return to CSrtAsenA On the 2sth !
eonmeLced the survey of the river rruando.
IAes Craven started at the same time to ascend it,
nding 70 push on as fast S ne was able, 10 move
country 70 the Pacific and there make
graphic survey Of the coast At the western terminus Of
he proposed route On the 9th or January the last Of
ny party Camp Toucey and moved up the 'Choco'
village Of "Tocome," three miles and q half above.
Daring this time distance Of six miles below had been
surveyed, ana our camp moved In consequence OF
having but life boat and at my disposal
being compelled TO employ them both for toe purpose OF
carrying the work, as we'll a. N transport our effects,
tedious dfncut the extreme, scarcely averaging
mile per day The river full Of distractions from
sssrc. Svus 70 se nsny channels INTO SSch the MAIN
stream B divided by clusters OF small ISLANDS, dense
grovhs Of timber line each bank and heavy cuttings had
10 be made TO be able 70 OF the instruments.
Heavy rains would also deluge and II times only few
inches OF rise would have flooded every portion OF
camp. These obstacles seriously affected tney
Aehyed the survey three days Above rooome
work the Tuando still continued very difficult
~ ~ ns head OF tn, "fasado" distance lance Of three
Ae weather became favorable AMI has continued 20
sp ths da.s During ine REMAINDER iof TIC survey u
rivers also began and reached much lower stag
q water tbsn tnsy have done for many years back
Absve the PALISADES the rusndo became broad and beau
s All these circumstances tended 70 advance the work
Iy the sssstapos Of the indiana, with their canoes,
ny my a y own %
camp the foot Of the falls, eighteen miles above so
By the ed Of the month the survey had reached that
psst Also and all stores and heavy Instruments were
there safely deposited.
he fails frequently alluded TO are three miles IN
tsnt being succession OF rapids and falls caused by the
river forcing is way through aspur OF The mountains
Here We strike the Cordleras for the hrst bmc, and
Nave behind us the mmeuse delta OF The Atraio On The
17h the survey OF the nuando was discontinued, ~ .
psnt about three miles above the mouth OF the Nercua,
end about FIVE miles above the head OF The falls Depart
ing from the uando the line Of work follows up the
ser TO the mouth Of the Hin DOR dntance OF
fourteen miles The survey however, carried short
way above this 70 TAmbo a village OF Choco Indsns,
vhsh place reached on The morning OF the 10Th. On
the day previous Lieut. Craven had passed tae party he
ing already completed hk hydroSraphcai work on that
coast
Leaving the Neroua the route follows up the Hin N dor
the point where the Indian trail from the Nercua 10 tho
INcnc fret intcrcepts that stream distance OF about
three miles and quarter Along thus section are two
vi
Sails OF the Hin ga dor about three miles above It's
mouth. They are grand and romantic, and equal IN
height and beauty 70 many OF those in our country
which elicit the admiration OF all lovers OF magnificent
scenery The indian trail referred TO- upon leaving the
valley OF the Nercua rises at once upon high spur OF
she mountains the ascent being both steep and difficult
IRON The Hnga dor the line folio this tral ths
Cordlerss until reaches the river pouma Descending
the bed OF the las, named stream " lis mouth, there
estuary called Esto de Ia Boca del Potu-
mia and also island called Ia Playa de Ia Boca del 70
sumn he distance from the great falls OF the Hrgs dor
the Potuma eight miles, striking The former short
distance above the falls The trail 81 nrst continues along
~ valley, crossing ,be stream three different times,
and also two smaller branches emptying into II; then
reached.
many lies Of wandering, It's waters find their course
through other channels into the Atlantic Leaving IT,
vak of but two miles over the summit Of the mountain
bripgs you a creek running towards the southwest,
which the nrss drain encountered along the leai
Pssioc scarcely mile beyond The ChupArador Is met
also flowing into the arasuchichi then short distance
broad beautiful stream, the Chupipi, forced and
lille further And two OF s branches all tributaries
uf the river. The Paracuchch bears their united
waters towards the great outlet, and in few hours
they mingled with and lost among the oceans waves
The hne Of survey from s point the Potuma 20 its
mouth three miles and half and s only haifa
nile farther across the estuary and sland 70 the Pa
Gas
Retaining With two Of my assistant nesrs sshmd,
md Campbell and one Of my third assstants ". Wood,
remained behind the surveying party several days the
fAlh Of the ruaDdo for the purpose Of determining the
absolute longitude Of that locality BY ansI,s OF the moon
and eliminating stars On the 30th Lieut. Craven
arrived the falls and et the day way down
Me Truando. On the day, with my small party
started ovcrake the advance which object we accom-.
psbed the 9Th Of February between the Chuperador
and Chupepi. Prom the commencement OF the survey
had placed Mr. De Camp in charge OF the party running
che line OF lcvcs he assisted by Messrs Smith Her
rick and Hawey tho former making sketches Of the route
selinestne ~ Typographical features The camp At the
Nocs of the ias OF the rruando MADE Q depot for
heavy instruments and a effects that could be e be-
hnd One OF my ASSISTANTS Mr. DAser len In charge