Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-10
THE DARIEN CANAL.
The Nipsic at AspinwaII-COndit
and Prospects of the Exploring
Party-Projects of the Com mander
Claims of Early Discoveries.

Party-Proiects of the Com mande e r
Claims of Early Discoveries.
Aspsnwall Cor. of New York Times.l
The Nipsic came to anchor off Colon
at about 6 pm. on the 9Th uit. Soon
after leaving New York some part of her
machinery became disabled and she came
down under sail, making the passage in
eighteen days. On the day following the
rriyal of our distinguished visitor, Sc
y, ere gale set in, the sea running so high
tn, 1t it was impossible for Capt. Seltridge
to communicate with the shore. One or
two boats, in attempting to get off, were
capsl zed, and one containing three men
was u, ,set after getting quite distance
from tive ship.
twas not until the morning Of the 18th
that the commander of the Darien Ex-
ploring Expedition could land, when he
immediately took the cars for Panama.
On arrivi ng there he proceeded to the
PRESIDENT al palace, where His Excel
lency, Pre- sident Correosd, received him
with due honor, and treated him with the
utmost corliality. The prei,mlnarles
for the expedition to survey the Darien
were soon arranged to the entire satlstac-
ton of all con cerned, and Capt Selfridge
returned to this city the next day. On
the 18th ult. the United States Consuls
of Panama and Aspinwall were received
on board the Nipsic with all honor due
to their position.
The President is disposed to render to
the expedition all the assistance within
his power, aud will, if the case requires
it, send military force to the scene OF
the explorations The impression that
the Government of Panama is unfriendly
to the United States Darien expeditions
entirely erroneous. President Correoso
has appointed Don Bias Arosemena, post
master of Colon, Commissioner for the
Colombian Government. Hewill accom-
pany the expedition across, making an Of
fetal report of the route, and giving infor-
nation to his Government as to the state
of civilization found among the Indians
of Darien. 1t is useless for me TO repeat
here the plans of the expedition; they
are already familiar with your readers.
CAPTAIN Selfridge is determined to lose
no time, and he will push forward the
explorations as rapidly as possible,
working cautiously at the commence
mrnt, however, penetrating the hrst
day a short distance only, allowing the
men to return to the ship at night, and
so proceed until sufficient distance is
made to establish camp. He will then
push on again, returning at night to the
caunp. until the men become familiar
with their work, and the Indians get
somewhat accustomed 70 the Yankees,
wlaen the explorers can move on with ra- /
pidity until they reach the rendezvous on 4
the Pacific coast. The plan Of tele-
graphic communication will be carried |
ont as previously stated. Some nifty /
native laborers have been engaged at
Porto Bello, whose business 1t will be to /
carry instruments, provisions, etc, but 4
should II be found that passable mule 4
paths can be formed, a continuous sup |
ply Of provisions will be kept up by
means Of asses which can be obtained at
Carthagena.
Much trouble is expected from the In
dians. who have as yet known no con-
queror; their poisoned arrows are very
much TO be dreaded However, If they
commence war upon any Of the expedi-
tions sent out, Capt Selfridge has suih-
cient force at his command to make
short work of the men Of the forest. II
is very doubtful about their being concili-
ated or bought with trinkets, as they have
never yet been known to accept anything
Of the kind.
Some years ago an American citizen,
the late Captain Hngg. claimed to have
penetrated the Darien, and crossed twice
to The Pacific, and i is said that he leit