The New York herald., 1871-02-14
TEE DARIEN EXPEDITION.

The First Omcial News from the Expedition.
WASHINGTON Feb. 13. 1871.
The first intelligence OF the Darien expedition by
mall reached here to-day. A letter from Panama
that the six midsnpmen sent to San Francisco
to JOIN the Saginaw, which had been ordered to CO.
operate with the expedition, but was wrecked, had
been ordered to Panama, where they arrived In the
latter part OF January and were, at last advices,
awaiting orders from commander Selfridge.
The United States steamship Resaca, which has
been ordered to take the place OF the Saginaw in the
expedition arrived at Panama on the goth Of Janu
airy, seven days from Caao. 1t was expected that
as soon as Commander Selfridge arrived at Panama
the expedition operate the Pacific side OF the
lsthmus would proceed TO Gulf san Miguel and COM
meuce the survey OF the Tucyra river.
The Resaca reports the Mohican at Guayaquil; all
well on board The NIpsic arrived ut Aspnwall on
the Goth OF January and, receiving urgent orders
from Commander Selfridge, sailed for the mouth Of
the Atrato river the 2Sth OF January. On the 25t
OF January the Severn, flagship OF the North Atlantic
squadron, was at Kingston, Jamaica; all well on
board.
Commander Selfridge was expected at Panama on
the 5th Of February.
On the 22d OF January some Indians came up from
Paya, bringing a sick sailor from the surveying ex
| pedition and letter from Commander Selfridge
announcing that he had discovered an lnteroceaniC
canal route, with short intervening ridge Of only
| 800 feet elevation, and that the expedition was
| complete success Another letter, dated on boarC
the Guard OF Carthagena, December 20, 1870 says:-
1--WE had very prosperous passage, experiencing nc
real heavy weather, and made the run from New
York to CarIhagena In fourteen days, which is re-
garded as a remarkably quick passage. One OF
the objects in coming to Carthagena was to
secure party OF Macneta men, who will be used in
T
will leave here on the $50 Of December, and COM
mence the survey on the 2eth OF December. The
general health OF the expedition excellent although
the weather is very warm, the thermometer being
lis degrees in the sun. From Information received
since arrival mere Commander Sellrdge is led to
the belief that the expedition viii be entirely
cesslun
On the arrival OF the Guard at Carthagena TIE
officers or the vessel gave grand ball, which was
attended by all the elite Of society that place, the
citizens OF Carthagena returning the compliment by
an ovation on shore.
The following Is correct list Of the officers of the
expeditions
Connander-m. 0. Selfrdge, commanding expedi-
Commander-E. p Lull, commanding United
States ship Guard.
Lieutenant Conan,ander-G. C. Schultz.
Mdsters-John S. Merrill, A. II. Conden, j. Sui.
liven, Alfred Elliott and j. NJ. Hawlev.
Passed assistant nldsta1-Frank Bissell.
Passed Assistant Surgeon Ii. q. Eckstein.
Acting Passed Assistant Sur0eon-Linachus
FusSel.
Second Assistant Engineer-J. W. Hollihan.
Mtdshipmen-R. G. Peck, J. J. Hunker, J. G. L.
Saltes, q. p. Cunhard and J. ii. Bull.
acting BOdtsCGtn-J. w. Simmons
Commanders Cle7'E-B 7. Stokes.
Coptasn's Cle,k-Charles V. Tucker.
PdyTnaSter's Cler,k-TheodOre Berry.
The civil officers are-D. J. A. Mack, naturalist;
A. Rohlcss draughtsman; T. Blake, astronomer; A.
L. Duval assistant clvll engineer; A. ID. Beech
sstant civil engineer, and John Moran, photo
9rapher.