The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-20
End of Weary March-Explortrs pO Days
In the WOods-Height Of Dividing Ridge
76S Fset-Mceting Of Surveyors on
the Summit-FaCts Lstab.
liShed By the Expedition.
Wreck Of the Resacas Twelve-cared Launch on
the Coast Man Devourea By sharks-Loss
Of the Mails and spscie-sufsrings of the
Crew-Heroic Conduct Of the Officer.
The Tuyra-Atrato Route and It's
Characteristic Features.
sS Bo,Rp UNITED STATES STEAMER RvsAcA.

fhe operations OF the expedition arc drawing to
close. Delays and disappointments have protraeted
the iabors or the explorers far beyond expectation,
and since the rainy season set In progress has been
extremely slow. The surveying party on tho Pacific
side viii arrive on board the Resaca In about eight
days when that steamer Will at once clear for
Panama. Indeed, all the work has oecn accom-
plished with the exception Of five miles OF llne
being the remainder OF that drawn from the mouth
of the Paya river TO Pnogana But enough Is already
known OF the character the country and its sur.
roundings to induce the opinion that the feasibility
OF the Tuyra.Atrato route for ineroceanlc canal
is not so favorable as 1t hitherto has been. After
months OF labor the most dificult and hanassing-
labors accompanied By peril sickness and privaton
get prosecuted with a zeal that must win admiration
Of the communicable dividing ridge has at length
been arrived at. A careful thorough ana reliable
survey shows its altitude to be
SEVEN HUNDRED AND srxTY-THRrE FEET.
THIS differs considerably from the elevation found
by Commander Seridge wnen making his recon-
nosance in January last, but tie surveyors In this
Instance Kept more 10 the southwark Howbeit, that
Is the height OF the .dvIde,r determined by the
expedition Bearing In mind that TO obtain the
most feasible cheapest aud most expeditions route
was the great OBJECT lii view it is not improbable
that those whose knowledge ana experience in this
on the subject-and there very few belonging to
that cass-would at once pronounce against this
route, owing to the mountainous barriers, the vast
expense that would be Incurred in cutting and the
great distance from ocean TO ocean. To decry any
project is matter Of no difficulty, but to prove its
prac,icabllity requires substantial facts. The COM
mander OF the expedition, low that the survey has
been almost completed, does nos claim success for
the undertaking, nor vet admits failure in the dis
covery OF a route. The matter, he contends, mu st
be worked out until tie end, aud then only can
a anal judgment be expressed. 1t Is evil
dent, however, that the earnest anticlpatons which
were formed q few months since have not been
realized, either IN regard 30 the height OF the
'dviden or the natural features OF the country. In
fact, the route from Capica Bay to the Atrato by
way OF the Napp, surveyed III April, Is thought to
be much superior TO the Tuyra-Atrato route for the
purposes intended. Either the surveyors have not
carried out TO the letter the instructions given them
or the previous knowledge OF the country conveyed
for the guidance OF the expedition was Incorrect
which is very probable. Cer,a:n 1t Is that the result
of the long and weary Investigation through regions
comparatively unknown has not fulfilled the bright
hopes cherished At the start The survey must
speak for ITSELF lis accuracy cannot be questioned,
ana in case the route should be declared impracti-
cable no future surveying expeditions will ever
since the undertaking commenced. As pre-
vlousy mentioned not once but many times, IL q
canal route existed at all IN this direction this ex-
pediton would surely find II. Establishing the fact
even that II did not exist must be regarded as
AN IMPORTANT RESULT,
as 1t dimnshes the field for surveys that may take
place in time come Now 1t Is easy TO chronicle tue
altitude OF the "divlde'-an announcement for which
the entire members OF the expedition ana all inter-
esed in Its progress have waited in patient expec
lion tor months-it IS TO mention II as The result
of severe and troublesome survey but now the
explorers reached IT. connecting the line from the
Atlantic to The Pacinc what painful anxiety the en-
terprise engendered, what su1erinRs were endured
In the progress OF the work, matters which few
pause TO consider. The operations throughout have
not been devoid OF interest, and while hardships
have been undergone with the greatest Willingness;
while paiIes have pushed forward through the
woods under circumstances the most adverse and
depressing, few regret having accompanied the ex-
petition, Tor the experiences which 1t created were
rare in the extreme. Inc party from the
Cuff OF Darien has been nearly five months IN the
woods, and the explorers on the PACING have been
gone since the middle OF February. When they first
started the survey it supposed that 1t could
be completed within six weeks; but the rough cna-
or tie country and the difficulty experienced
the progress OF Tie work. For weeks neither party
was heard from. Al one time the bends Of the river
were followed up; then again the parry would strike
directly INTO the woods and 80 II was oftentimes
difficult 10 mention the exact locality III which
lDe laoors were being carried on In previous let
ters me entire route and It's characteristic features
have been ully described. Now that the survey has
been nearly Completed, il WIN only be necessary to
feler 10 Lle circumstances In connection Win the
MEETING ON THE DIVIDE
OF the two parties ana the result OF the investiga
ton OF The summit. IL VIII be remembered that tWo
M.
cue river to tue temporary hospital erected at the
Soca Paya He, however, In company with Ensign
Cue until they came within i've mies OF the dividing
ridge. This was IN the middle OF April, ana III pur-
engineer who had charge OF the surveying party on
the Atlantic side, MI. Eaton and the Others con-
NAMED In waiting for Mr.. Barnes. -Four days
passed aud nothing more having been heard from
him, the provisions meanwhile rapidly giving
out, Mr.. Eaton deemed II advisable TO push for.
ward at all hazards. The ratIons had dwindled
down 10 q few biscus day and the prospects were
gloomy In the extreme. letter from MIR. Couden,
who accompanied Mr. Barnes, Informed them OF the
way I'D whicn they should proceed to reach the
journey, III the course OF which the men were
REDUCED To GREAT EXTREMITY,
MT Eaton assembled the divide and arrived at
the camp IN question, where he found botn Barnes
and Couden Frustrated with fever, which, OF course,
mao prevented their proceeding: Barnes and Cou-
NAMED to connect tue lines, winch Mr. Eaton
accordin,gy aid Joining his with that on the AZ
There being nothing further 10 detain them Mr.
Barnes party commenced their return to the Gulf
Of Darien, though by different way from that
along which they had reached the 'divide.U Mr..
Eaton then struck down the mountains on the Pa
cific and met officer OF his party surveying up
making the line thirty three miles from the mouth OF
the Paya river. fiis party had now only one DAYS.
naif rations left anu having walked about twelve
miles 1m the base Of the ridge struck of towards
the Indian village OF Paya. Fortunately the Iuuians
were extremely friendly and extended every cour-
tesy TO the weary travellers. Having passed a com.
for ~ i'm n lie IN ~ Irh Int
their disposal, the party entered canoes which were
Padded by TIE INDIANS
10 the mouth or the Paya, where the encampment
had been previously erected for the sick In charge
Di Dr. Russell. According TO the orders issued by
Commander Selfridge, a line was to be drawn from
the mouth OF the Paya 10 Pinogana, distance by
the Iuyra river OF about thirty-hye miles, but In
direct course through the WOODS only about twelve
miles. That work was commenced at the end OF
posed 10 occupy but short time, still when II -
known that on.y half a mile can be accomplished In