The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Richmond Calamity.


WASHINGTON, April 2S.-A committee left
Alexandria last night to attend to the wants of
the wounded and take care of the remains of the
dead in Richmond. f tbs nIY I..
T. A. Breivis, of Alexandria, ,one of the killed,
was prominent merchant of Alexandria. A
report reached here this morning that his wife
died during last night from excess of grief at
the sad fate of her husband. .
The Pacific cFIeet-Composition of the Squadron
Special Despatch to The Epening Telegraph
WASHINGTON, April 28.-Rear-Admiral Tur-
ner, commanding the Pacific fleet, took his de-
parture from the Navy Yard (Mare Island) or
the 11th ultimo, in the Saranac for Mazatlan,
Panama, and the South Pacific, with his chief of
staff, Commander p G. Johnson in command of
the ship, Captain Sartori having been tempo
rarily detached and placed in charge of the
Lackawanna, which is undergoing some repairs,
as is also the Admiral's flagship, Pensacola.
The efficient naval officer, Commodore w.
Rodgers Taylor, commanding the North
Squadron of the Pacific fleet, left San Francisco
on the 21st instant in his temporary flag ship
Mohican, for cruise to Victoria and Puget
Sound, to look after American interests in that
quarter of his command, steam only being used
after reaching Cape Flattery in order to get up
the straits to Esquimal, which is the naval sta
ton for the English vessels on the Pacific. San
Juan was visited and general cruise of the
sound is expected to be made, after which he
will return to San Francisco about the middle of
May, at which time the Ossipee, the Commo-
dores regular flagship, will have completed her
repairs, he will then transfer his flag to her and
sail for the South Pacific her destination being
Callao, Peru.
The Cyane still remains at sitka The st.
Mary's has nearly completed repairs and is
fitting up for a cruise. The jamestown is on q
trip to the Caroline Islands, with orders to stop
en- route at Honolulu and the Mulgrave Islands.
The Saginaw is at the Midway Islands, superin-
tending the contract for deepening the entrance
to the harbor at that place, which is to be used
| by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's YES
sels well naval vessels, for coaling depot,
| etc. The Saginaw runs to Honolulu about once
| q month for supplies. .
| ThePre esiden and the Darien Canal Scheme.
1t is matter of great doubt whether General
| Grants eager desire for an interoceanic canal
across the Darien Isthmus will be fully realized,
| as the numerous reports both of official and
| private nature, from the Government surveying
| expedition now there are no very encouraging.
II is considered by many that the best course
| to pursue will be for the United States to aid
| Roberts at its head, which has q concession
| from the Mexican Government fora canal across
| the Tehuantepec route, but 1t is also matter
| of doubt whether the Government would be
| willing to divide the honors of such an UNDER
| taking with private company.
The great objection to this route has been a
sand-bar in front of the outlet into the Gulf of
| Mexico, on which there was only about thirteen
feet of water. 1t has, however, been ascertained
| that below the bar Is the muddy bottom of the
harbor, and experienced navigators, including
Admiral Porter, are of the opinion that the sand
bar can be removed by digging.