The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-15

VARIOUS hardships bringing, a. no has frequently said
navigation and in the construction, rigging and equip
ment Of sail and steam vessels he had Considerable
Of the telegraph expedition; "A man Of determined
energy and perseverance and with sufciel acquaint
Deal successfully with the vsrous people in hs new and
vide theatre OF operations the selection Of Captain
Hrislsy for this post was eminently sagacous Leave
and the War Department showed it, appreciation OF his
merits by letters in which his services commended
and as more substantial token has promoted him to
the rank OF colonel since he entered upon the
prise.
Colonel Buckley proceeded New York and commenced
preparations for the work. Under his direction the
purchased and loaded with telegraph material for the
Pacific coast The estimates Of the quantity OF wire,
insuafors brackets spades shoves axes and other ma
teral required were enough TO Tighten the directors Of
any ordinary company, as they involved expenditure
Of very unusual character Everything desired the
for the Of operations 1t decided that New
Westminster, British Columbia, town-or, in Western
7Srlancc, 'city-near the mouth OF Nsazcr's river
should be the initial point of tho Russian Extension Tele
graph The California State Telegraph extends from San
Francisco to New Westminster and connects at the
former point with the line to the Atlantic States An Eng
sh company propose to build lime from St Paul. Mime
s"'a ny way Q. remnna ana Fort larry on tne hed river
hope OF getting portion Of the business when the great
through line is completed Some OF tho material is on
the ground, but very little work has been done and for
the present at least, the only connection between New
Westminster and the Atlantic is by way of San Fran
CISCO
/ Having loaded the Clara Bell and Milton Badger aud
arranged for the agents Of the company in New York to
send him whatever Material was required Colonel
Buckley sailed for the Pacific Of tho 20.h
December 1854 Arriving In San Francisco in January,
1865 lie commenced the organization OF party 10
struct the first section of the line through British Co
nmba This work was put in charge OF Captain Ed.
partment of the Gulf and who known that locality
officer of skill and energy Captain Conway pro-
ceeded to New Westminster with portion OF his work
ing force, and, after engaging additional tor the
service TO lay out and construct the line from
the starting point The route lay along the banks Of
Frasers river through heavily wooded country, ovor
and among the Cascade mountains Captain Conway
was obliged TO cut trail from New Westminster Fort
Yale defiance Of one hundred and twenty miles where
tho forest very Dense the hills rough and the
very large. Much Of the timber eight ten feet
in diameter and the labor OF cutting very great
The Colonial government has undertaken to make road
along this line but will require several for Its
completion Up the present time the river been
used the route OF travel In summer and
winter route OF kind whatever, except nv
siona, Indian runner carrying light mail Major
+. i. Pope proceeded to explore the route
north OF Fort Yale towards the upper portion OF Faser
river and line of lakes known TO he in that direction.
about this portion Of British America the only expora
tons In that quarter having been pushed easerly
about to Law before the world the OF this
terra isscegnito which extended save narrow belt on
the coast nearly far north Behring's Straits.
After despatching Captain Conway and Major Pope to
the scene of their operations COLONEL Buckley prepared
At the inception Of the enterprise the directors OF the
company had applied for naval vessel to be placed at
their disposal until the line was competed but the APP
pcation refused. The Secretary of the Treasury
favorable to tho movement, and directed that
the revenue cutter Shubrc be made subject to Colonel
| Bnkley's orders the Sbubrfck being at that
| time at San Francisco. As arrange
ments for the work in British Columbia were
completed, Colonel Buckley sailed In the Shnbrick
| for Stka The passage made in March,
1 month proverbial for winds everywhere, and which
proved occasion exception the general rule
In point OF size the ,bnbrc bears resemblance
the Great Eastern and tho rough OF the North Pa
citc, reused by heavy Gales tossed her about In man
/ ALI n
arrived NJ Stka after tcnpesnous voyage and found
that her advent was altogether unexpected Prince Max
suton, the Governor of Russian America, expressed
readiness to afford all assistance 10 his power in the alb
sence q any instructions from his government, and
rave Colonel Buckley assurance that he would Nnd
the natives entirely friendly y approached in proper
spirit some of the native chiefs in sitka at the
time but II thought best to defer interview with
them until aome Subsequent visit.
After remaining two days at Sitka, the shubrick set
her return 10 San Francisco touching. while
roas at Victoria and New Westminster Colonel Bulk
eys stay ~ these points quite brief he
enterprise in the far north Az San Francisco he pur.
| chased the steamer George $. Wright and The bafks
gage aud TO purchase supplies and material that
was immeiiqtey needed. The Clara Bell, on sailing
S direct rs the eo M pe Badser ras consepsd 70
Victoria in order that her material might be used by
Captain Conway for the line through British America
The Golden Gate sent to Stka 70 take portion Of
the Clara Befs cargo to Fort 81. Mchaes, on Norton
SOUND Russian America while the latter vessel was to
proceed TO Now Westminster. From Norton Sound tho
Golden Gate proceed TO Anadyr Bay the Asia
tic coast and thence TO San Francisco by Of Petro
| paulovskL
The Palmetto with cargo OF stores and material was
sent TO Plover Bay the coast Of Asia and tho Milton
Badger after leaving par Of her at Victoria sailed
for Anadyr Bay with the remainder and with supplies
purchased in Victoria The steamer Wright with the
| proceedings at all the acce zsibls points
Immediately on taking charge OF the enterprise Of
Joining the continents Colonel Buckley din
cues that would exist in managing all the details Of the
] work. II unlike ANYTHING before undertaken;
an enterprise covering portions Of Asia and America
anglia twh md anIy .tnroA apAra
qurns the service Of considerable set FOR the trans.
portaton Of ts men aud material After due reflection
service, similar tho land and naval service Of the
United States He arranged 10 have the officers the
pany commissioned similarly 70 the officers Of The
and subject 10 discipline in the same The marine
service made 10 conform 10 the naval service Of
United States with official grades Of similar character
The officers and mon were 10 be uniformed, and tho
former 70 bear insignia designating their rank The plan
fonna to Be very both in te matter Of
discipline and In creating favorable impression among
i. under he direction Of Colonel Frank Wicker who
served meritoriously in the late war. while The marine
service Is under Captain scarumon, an officer con-
| has been detailed to the Telegraph Expedition and
allowed by the Treasury Department 70 bear the
whole organization IL controlled by the Enginecr-in
Chief TO whom all disputes referred and all reports
and other documents addressed.
Under arrangement the organization Of the srped
| Colonel Charles S. Balilsy. Enginesrin-C Chief
Colonel Frank N. Wicker, Chief
Henry p Fisher, Hurgeon-in.Chief
Scott Y Chappei Chief Quartermsstcr
George N. Wright. Adjufant
Frederick whymper. Artist.
Eugene X. Iaborne, Interpreter
J. u. Lewis Chief Drau2htsman.
Edmund Conway, Chief Of Explorations IN British
Columbp -~~<--~ - Y.
:. r. Rathrock, Assistant
J. w. Pitneld, Agent at New Westminster.
H. A. A. BALANCE, Quartermasier
robert Kenniccti, Chief u Explorations in Russian
America.
WIN " Ennis Assistant.
Thos. q. Dennisou, Qnartermasser
Major s. Abasa. Chief
George Kennon, Quartermasfcr and Secretary.
j. A. Mahood, Chef OF Explorations In Lower 81.
brra