The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-01
UNITED STATES STEAMER TUscARoRA, !
DARIKN EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
CHIRI-CHIRI March Ih IaT9 i


active operations in the field were about to be
commenced. From that date to the time OF pres
ent writing the work has been prosecuted with I'M
abated vigor and much valuable Information con-
corning the country has already been secured by
the explorers. The speedy departure of the Tus-
carora upon short trip to Panama gives me an
opportunity OF forwarding this letter, in which I
will endeayor to present brief resume OF the
work already accomplished.
PLAN AND PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The first step was reconnaissance by Lieuten-
ants Eaton and Sullivan. who succeeded in discov-
ering the native trail, which here leads over the
hills to the eastward and in following 1t up
the 6rst or coast range to the head-waters OF
small river upon the other side. This Afforded the
opportunity for entering the wedge, which was
done in due form by a surveying party under the
command Of Lieutenant Collins. assisted by Mid
shipman Calf.
This party, fully equipped for It's difficult work,
began it's labors on the 20th OF January, starting
from q fixed position on the Pacific beach ana
slowly pushing Its way into the Interior and up the
precipitous hills that here skirt closely upon the
Pacific coast. After 1t had fairly started CON-
mander Seltridge nude o reconnaissance in person
ahead, going some distance into the Interior over
the native trail in order to get knowledge OF the
lay OF the land from personal observation. He
found the native trail running over very high land
with deep depressions upon either hand, aud there.
fore concluded that 1t would be unwsc to follow 1t
with the survey II . practicable road could be
found which did not cross at 80 great an elevation.
To test this question he despatched Lieutenant
Sullivan to examine the ground upon either side OF
the high peak crossed by the native TRAIL and this
officer, after several days OF arduous labor, sue
ceeded in finding a pass to the southwark that
crossed at very much lower elevation. The party
under Lieutenant Collins was therefore directed
by Captain Selfridge to carry the survey In this
direction, which was accordingly done.
HOW THE MEN ADVANCED.
TWO weeks Of most difficult labor carried the
survey over the "divlding ridge" and down the
Atlantic slope to the Tracundo river tributary to
the Cul8, which it was their wish to reach. From
this point therefore, they carried the survey down
the Tracund0 to Its junction with tho Cuia and
their abors in accomplishing this object were ex.
haustng to the last degree. Like all streams high
up among the hills, the Tracund0 is filled with
huge slippery boulders, among which our ex-
pl0rerers had to slip and scramble and pick their
ways as best they might, while In the frequent
g0rges or canyons, they picked their dangerous
path at the risk OF life and limb now cropping along
close to the water, stunned BY the roar OF tho tor
rent and drcnched by the dying spray and now
clinging like flies to the surface OF the precpice
many feet in ar where false step would be DEATH
and where the sharp hiss OF the cobra greeted their
ears from almost every creyice in the rough and
rugged rocks. Farther down the stream. where the
depth Of water was sufficient to admit OF IT, Mr..
Collins hal rude RATS constructed OF talsa wood
almost the only kind OF wood that grows in this
country that Will float and bear more than It's own
weight, and Oh these rude contriyances the house
hold goods and provisions were foated and dragged
down the RIVER and thus the camp kept pace With
the surveyors In their daily progress and an inf
had before been obliged to carry everything upon
their backs.
THE AMERICAN TAR IN A BALsA.
Upon arriving at q stretch of smooth, deep water
the Jack tar who had charge OF a balsa was In his
glory. Seated high aloH upon key of bacon
Fl s box pce Of w the sGp sSns az
Neptune, aud shout his orders ''Starbosrdi'
"Port!" or "steadyl" with as much dignity and
complacency, as though his crazy craft were line
oi-battle-ship, and he. instead Of dilapidated,
halfnaked Jack. the Lord High Admiral Of a neet
"a take When n Or Aer s Wiz
facility he adapts himself to the circumstance In
which he finds himeef and, with a days practice,
is ready to turn his hand to anything, from hand.
ling raft to building house.
ENERGETIC sCPPoRT on LAND
While the party under Lieutenant Colts was
thus pushing its way laboriously along the rest Of
the expedition were not idle; The design OF Cap
tain ssdgs WAS to have NEW party
Inns party should reach the junction OF the
psn he desired to establish az Sat s point depot
of provisions from which the party in the field
might draw as it became necessary. How
TO transport the immense weight OF stores qured
to provision the party for eight weeks, was prob
lem not easy to solve. The actual distance from
the beach to the junction OF the two rivers was but
about twelve miles by trail; but 1t was over fear
fully rough road, up the sides Of precipices and
down again into steep-sided and deep rayincs. 1t
was road to stagger a man with no weight TO
carry save his own, and to ask him to carry in ad
diion an unwieldy box or barrel Of from forty to
fifty pounds weight seemed too much.
At this juncture Captain Selfrldge directed
another reconnaissance to be made by Lieutenant
sullivan to see 4 the road by the native trail could
not be shortened, and at the Same tno the highest
Sii s es S's e length a' ssss SE va
was considered to Be an Improvement on the old
one, though no great merits were claimed for 1t In
the way OF o road. over this, then, It was deter
sixty men, under Lieutenant Hubbard. Was de.
tailed by Commander Belknap for the work
SPIRITED START.
In the afternoon they started out gayy, each man
with his box or barrel strapped TO his shoulders,
and that night was spent in camp No. OF Mr..
Collins party the distance to this camp was but
short, and the men made It with ease and passed
Ming yarns. little dreaming Of what was before
bright and early and soon saw that the task before
s sss ns i Was RorS "h The hsaS
loaded men. and one by one they would drop down
with torn clothing and bruised. limbs and
declare their utter inability to proceed Rein
vigorated, however, by O short rest they would
start up and try again, only to repeat the scene
short distance further on, the stops becoming more
frequent and OF longer duration as the day wore on
But Yankee pluck and perseverance at last won
and by four O'Clock the last stragger, tattered
torn and bleeding, brought his load into the camp
at the junction, where rancho had been erected
In which to store the provisions. After rest here
the night upon the Marindo, a small stream, about
half way between the junction and camp No. q
MAN LOST.
Here they arrived about dusk, and during the
evening II was discovered that man named
Turner mad not come In. With the earliest light
and the rest returned to the ship, from which
fresh parties, guided by natives were at once
despatched on search OF the missing man. The
place where he had spent the night and which he
had marked with small cross was found, but no
traces OF the man could be seen. Small parties