The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-27
THE NCARAGuAN SURVEYING EXPEDITION

United States Naval OAicers Survey the
Sapoa Route and Child,s R0ute-The
Sapoa Route Found To ne Impractica-
ble-The Child's Route Supposed To BE
Practicable-A Canal Between tho At
lantic and Pacific a Great Dimculty.
In March last an expedition left here to survey
the sapoa and Child's routes, rom Lake Nicaragua
to the Pacinc for the purpose Of determining q
practical route for ship canal between the Allan
tic and Pacific. The expedition, which was in
charge Of Commander Crossman, consisted Of the
following named:-Lieutenant Schetkey, United
States Navy; Lieutenant w. w. Rhodes, United
States Navy; Lieutenant Noel, United States Navy;
Lieutenant Leutze, United States Navy; Master j.
F. Moser, United States Navy; Midshipmen Hughes,
Winslow and Keller; Civil Engineer Menocal and
Assistant Civil Engineer Crowel f'e
Early in April Commander Crossman. Lieutenant
Force and four men from the Kansas, while cross.
ing the bar at GreytOwn, were drowned. This mel
ancholy occurrence was dispiriting to the expedi-
ton and considerably dampened the ardor Of all
the party. Commander Crossman was gentleman
much esteemed for his professional capabilities as
well for his personal qualities, and his death was
much regretted as loss to his comrades and on
account of the valuable services the survey was
deprived OF by his untimely end. His place was
taken by Commander Hatfield, OF the Kansas,
who continued to lead the expedition during the
survey.
After the distressful incident the expedition
went up the San Juan River, and the lake to
Virgin Bay, at which point the headquarters of the
expedition were established. The party was here
divided, one hall, under Lieutenant Noel taking
the SapOa route, and the Other,- under command OF
Lieutenant Rhodes, taking the Child route. Each
left Virgin Bay about the LIST OF May, continuing the
work until about the 18th Of June, when i became
necessary to stop owing to the heavy rains which
fall on the isthmus during this season. During
these six weeks thorough survey OF Childs route
were wer run in connection With it. child's
Las Ss'' LasSs KSeS, which runs into the lake
mus, following its course to Brto, on the Pacific.
The main feature sought for by the expedition was
route il was found that the highest elevation was
about forty-fve feet while on the Sapoa route the
lowest elevation found was about seven hundred
lay, therefore, In the Child route. The Sap0a
route Is one continuous range OF mountain peaks,
without gap anywhere. The contrast between
the two routes was so apparent and so much In
favor OF the Child route that the labor of the
petition after comparison Of the surveys of both,
In seeking still further for the lowest elevation
that part OF the expedition which had charge OF the
tle Jake, NeqtenAnt Leutze commanding in place
OF Lieutenant Noel, and commenced survey OF the
Ochomogo route, following the bed OF the Ochomo-
go River. They had scarcely gone six miles when
the heavy rains set in, and further progress was
therefore impossible. ~, -
This part OF the expedition then returned to vir-
gin Bay, where they were joined by those who had
been along the Child route. This was about the
14h OF June, and the entire expedition left Virgin
Bay on the 22d Of June, arriving at Grey
town on the Sd of July. On the 4th they
embarked for Key West on board the Kansas, and
arrived there on the 1ith bringing with them senior
Don Bernard, the Minister TO the United states
from Nicaragua, who was on his way to New York.
Admiral Lee, commanding the West India squad
ron, whose flagship, the Worcester, was then lying
at Key West invited Minister Bernard to take pas
sage on the Worcester to Hampton Roads, but for
want OF time Senior Bernard was obliged to decline,
and sailed accordingly In the City Of Austin with
the members OF the surveying expedition all OF
whom arrived at this port on Thursday morning
last. A pleasant time was had on board the Austin
on the return trip, this being especially enjoyed
after the absteml0us existence necessary for sur
GERS or the expedition dined with Minister Bernard
at the Clarendon Hotel