The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-14

SaB0 Ou INC Mining SVsi
Wit and Humor-Coolies
for South Carolina.
lhe United states storcship Guard whose delay IN
THE, Gulf OF Danen gave rise to many various
speculati0ns, arrived al Aspnwail the oath june
rive days she set sail for New York, conveying
all the members OF the surveying and exploring ex-
pedition, excepting Commander T. o. Selfridge and
Messrs Duval and stokes, civil engineers. who, with
the HERALDs special correspondent, reached this
city yesterday by the steamship Rising Star. Alt
anxiety respecting the apparently unaccountable
absence Of the Guard was quickly dispeed when the
advent OF that vessel was reported. The oficers
surveying on the Pacific side had remained at Pana-
ma nearly month waiting for her coming. ana IL
was with small amount Of qualification that the
joyful intelligence was received. The cause Of the
detention was surmtsed In my last despatch
namely, that the party surveying on the Atlantic
side had pursuance OF orders, returned TO the Id
vide" for the third time to search for lower
elevation than that discovered in April last 1t may
be mentioned that the second ascent was marked
by extreme difficulties, the most unfortunate cir
cumstance being that on reaching the crest the
instrument was found to be broken and 30 nothing
remained for party but to return to the vessel
1t bong necessary. however, to carry out instruc
tons party commenced the ascent for the third
time, reaching the 'divide' ABOUT the Goth Of Nay
Nearly fortnight was spent in examining the
ridge, which had previously been explored. but no
smaller depression than that nrst found (7es fee)
could anywhere be discovered. Provisions falling
the party compelled to resurn though not before
having made thorough mination OF the crest for
ten miles to the northwRrd and southwark, and
they accordingly arrived board the Guard on the
18Th Of June. The day following that YES.
sci got under way for AspinwalL SO much
has been already written about this Tuyra.
Atrat0 route In connection with the expedition
and Its characteristic features and all the details OF
the surveys and explorations having been set forth,
t will unnecessary to refer to 1t at any length
Az o canal route It Is admitted to be utterly I'm
practicable not merely because Of the height Of tile
dividing RIDGE but more particularly account Of
Ibe
NsURMouNTABLR PHYSICAL DIFFICULTIES
which the line on the Pacific side presents This
important fact was not discovered until the line
was drawn down the Pacific slope. along the Cue,
and thence to PIn0gana, from the mouth OF the
Paya River. The last survey completely annihrated
all hopes OF canal In that direction. Now the dis
covery Of the lmpractcaby OF this route Is one OF
the most important points achieved by the expedi
tlon; for, however much may be claimed by some or
pretended by others. comparatively nothing
was known OF the surroundings OF the Tuyra
River prior 10 the advent OF tins remarkably well
organized enterprise the lsthmus. Great credit
due the expedition for establishing certain facts
previously only surmiscd. indeed, great ignorance
long siuce prevailed in reference to TINS part OF
the country. and most or the works written uhon the
subject are clearly enuslon Of imaginative minds
In all probability that portion OF the Isthmus sur
veyed by expedition was never crossed By human
beings before Not remotest traces Of civilixa.
ton could anywhere be seen ia the vicinity Of the
Cue River or approaching the divide, ascending
which, every inch Of the way had to be cut by the
macheteres The crest was thoroughly explored
and surveyed two different occasions, exclusive
Of the observation taken by Commander Seliridge
in January last. and mad by him with pocket
barometer, and the nit mas been that no lower
elevation than 1853 feet could be found. cheap,
feasible expeditions route for an interoceanc canal
was the great object with which the expedition set
forth. Hopes were confidently entertained that
careful survey Of tho AtratO-Tuyra line would
result In the discovery of tnat great BOOM And
The preliminary "Reminiscences strengthened the
idea that an interoceanic canal was feasible iu-
the direction referred 70. When the United States
storeship Guard anchored la the Gulf Of Darien hav
ING sailed from New York on the sd December. no
time was lost commencing operations. The
knowledge OF the country, as already lntmated, was
very scsnty, the natives employed to cut the way
and paddle the canoes knew little or nothing of It's
features or geographical position. 1t remained
therefore for the explorers themselves TO ascertain
and inform the world upon
TIE TRUE CHARACTER TUE ROUTE
through which they passed. In January Comnian-
ter Sefridgc. accompanied by Mr.. !. r. CowdeD,
master and six seameD, left the Guard IN the lit!e
steam launch which acted tender To the ship ami
proceeded fifty miles up the Atrato River, arriving
at place known as the Iona de CacarIca. Owing
10 the density OF the gramalote, or noatinx grass,
the steam launch could not force passage, SO the
party commenced 70 ascend the river Ca
carica in After three days Jour-
ana suffering. the summit was reached. the Indian
village OF Paya beng then scmc twenty-five miles
distant. it at this portion OF the "dIvide' Com.
mander Seliridge maue hts Darometrical observa-
uon, estimating It's height at 500 feet. subsequent
reconnolssanccs showed The Parancm'a kvcr,
which also branchcd or not far from the Iona de
Cacarica, to be q much easier way OF approaching
s np s e the ~ the Of
February, assembled the Arato ana Paranchita
Rivers and then to the ''dvldcn ITSELF the provisions
being forwarded from the ship As regularly as pos
sIble. Meanwhllc The United states steamer Nipsic,
Lieutenant Commander wilson, arrived In inc
Gull 10 assist IN the operations. A lew days
after the departure Of the surveying party
No the Atrato Commander seIridge, With
few engineers. proceeded 10 Asninwal IA
The steamer Nipsic, anu crossing over ny rail 10
Panama joined tue United states steamer Rcsaca,
the Pacific side aud thence to the settlement Of
Chlpagano The Two lariies were now thoroughly
ruyra River with Instructions to commence oncfa-
tons az me mouth CT the cue ana ihchce To the
'hivide,n the Intention bong That Dotn cxpOrag
parties should meet ON tue summit and there
SEARCH ron rygK rowEsT DrrRFssIoN
u Ia unnecessary 10 ctpituaie here wasr was 20
,ully described In the HsnaLr. The surveys on
both Sides were characterized ny great suffering
sanity maintained an attack, which caused mo1e
annoyance ano real torture than all the other hard.
ships oombiued. sleePess nltsts and suliry
murmur bnt with a sci.sa.T incIng en-.
snranee which IN Itself was noble: and 1t ~