The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-14
THE DARIEN EXPEDITION.
Arrival Of the Guard at the Gulf Of Darlen-
The Proposed Misunderstanding the Expedi


Arrival Of the Guard at the Gulf Of DarIen--
Tho Proposed HOute-startlng the ExpedI-
tioDs.
U. s. SHIP GUARD, MOUTH OF THE ATRATo
RIVER, Jan. 1t is now nearly month since
the United States Exploring Expedition, under
the command of Thomas o. Selfridge com
mander U. 8. N, sailed from New York on the
Guard for the purpose of deciding whether 1t is
or is not practicable to divide the Isthmus of
Darien by canal through which the
largest vessels may pass from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Ocean. 1t will be recollected
that the Guard was used last year for similar
purpose, and that the San Bias and other routes
then examined and surveyed were found to offer
insurmountable obstacles to the construction of
the proposed canal. Leaving New York on the
Sd of last December, the Guard made quick
passage of fourteen days to Cartagena, the
capital of Bolivia. There, through the courtesy
of Mr. Hanaberg, the American Consul, Com
mander Selfridge succeeded in engaging sixteen
of the most trusty nldchetteroS. These men be-
come exceedingly vigorous and hardy by passing
more than half the year in the woods hunting for
rubber. Thus they are well fitted to act as
guides, and to cut such lines as it may be neces-
sary to open during the survey. While at Car
tagena, the naval officers and civilians of the
expedition gave ball on the Guard in honor of
the inhabitants. The President of Bolivia, the
foreign Consuls and most of the elite of the city
were present, and the entertainment passed off
in most enjoyable manner. On Christmas day
delegation gave the officers of the Guard a
formal invitation to a grand ball, to be given
IU6m Oh Tue lOllOWlOR HlSuJ Oy LuO ClliZ 5US U
Cartagena. The invitation was accepted, aud
from the fact that the boats used by exploring
parties have since been named Rapherania,
Anita, and Colombia, it would seem that the
young officers we're more than pleased with their
fair entertainers.
When anchor was again weighed days run
brought us to our present anchorage IN the
Gulf of Uraba. We are just inside the en-
trance, about two miles off the Isla de los Muer-
toe Osland of the Dead. The topography of
the country in the immediate vicinity of the
shore-line is exceedingly monotonous. This
land, formed from the deposit of the Atrato
river, is low and marshy, and covered with q
luxuriant growth of tropical vegetation. The
beach is everywhere of fine sand, destitute of
shells, and runs off very gradually to deep
water. There is no lack of anchorage, however,
for vessels of the largest size.
From information furnished by guide who
has passed his life in gathering caoutchouc on
the banks of the Atrato River and its tribu-
taries, Commander Selfridge feels confident that
practicable route for ship canal across the
Isthmus of Darien will be the following: g:-Enter
the Atrato by Cano CoquAto one of the thirteen
arms through which its waters flow into the sea;
follow the Atrato about fifty miles into the inte
rior to the Cacarica River; follow the Cacarica
up until reaching the Indian trail which
leads across the ''divide" between the
Atlantic and Pacific slopes to; the Village
and river of Paya; go down the Paya river to
it's junction with the Tuyra, and down the
Tuyra to San Miguel Bay and the Pacific
Ocean. 1t is said to be less than dozen miles
from the head of the Cacarica to the head of
the Paya, so that we have at once continuous
connection of running water between the two
oceans, with the exception of single break
| caused by q range OF hills described as
not much higher than the masts of our ships.
Yesterday morning the first exploring party
| left the ship under the command of Master A.
r. Conden, U. s. NJ, in charge of the boats and
men, and James Barnes, ESQ.,, Chief Engineer
of the expedition ia charge of the survey, as
sisted by Mr. A. D. Beach. This party is
ordered to proceed as soon as possible to the
junction of the Cacarica with the Atrato, and
| to carry the survey from that point up the
| former river to the Paya trail. Tomorrow
Commander Selfridge will start in the steam
launch and make a rapid reconnaissance of
the entire route as far as the village of Paya on
the Pacific side. The report given by him on
his return will of course be waited for with the
livelest interest, as it will almost decide the
practicabiity of the ginantic enterprise. An
other surveying party win start cut tomorrow
under the direction of A. Leslie Davoll, assist
ant engineer to the expedition. He will make
q preliminary examination of Boca and Cane
Coquilo, and run a line of levels to the junction
| of the Cacarica with the AtratO.