The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-18
THE NICARAGUA CANAL
The Interoceanic Commissioners on the
San Juan River.
FEASIBILITY OF THE ROUTE.
The Bar at Observation-Disclosures
ing Experiences.
TRINIDAD, SARAPIouI RIVER, |
NICARAGUA, March IL, 1874. !

TRINIDAD, SARAPIQUI RIVER,
NICARAGUA, March II, 1874 !
DESPITE innumerable delays incident TO trip mp
the San Juan River at this season. the inseroceanic
Canal Commissioners are still prosecuting their
Iabors with every possible despatch. They win
prohably reach the naroor OF Brto on the Pacific
side by the end OF the month, when, accompanied
by Commander SeIfridge they will proceed to Chm
Chin in the United States steamer Saranac and
determine the relative merits OF the Arrato route
by way OF the Napipi. after which they will rejoin
the Gettysburg in the Gulf OF Daren and start for
home.
In previous letter said that the harbor was
almost completely shut IN by the accumulated.
ridge of sand at the mouth OF the San
Juan, and that all vessels coming to Grey
town must anchor out in the open road
stead. and II they had any cargo to give
or take it was question whether 1t was ever de-
liyered. owing to the dangerous experiment of
crossing the Aforesaid bar. Ishoud have added that
this bar oiciates jail wall for the residents OF
Greytown. Occasionally few OF them escape.
True, one OF the royal mail steamers comes here
every month and drops her freight and passen-
gers, II she have any, into sternwhee, light
drsught steamer, with acrobatic tendencies. The
unfortunate travellers are shut in pen In dlmen-
sions about twelve feet by six, and from the mo-
ment they leave the mail steamer until they touch
the classic shores OF Greytown they reluctantly
behave toward each other like deadly enemies.
entertained the impression that the Nicaragua
packet was most OF the time bottom
up. The style in which the breakers washed
over that craft was something least OF
all suggestive OF canal She was
whirled about like q chip, and hearing
that we were about to cross the bar all hands held
hafr braa pptt ho dor ,,itat rpa huci-
ness and every inch OF the ground to boot, and
the scores Of playful sharks that revealed in the
boiling foam failed to divert him. And now as we
approached this terrible bar all hands clutched
something's beam, door handle or fellow pas
senger. Up we go on the crest OF a .'comber" and
with . "whoop" from the man at the wheel the
packet shoots over as II she had been fired from
a cannon. We were told moreover, that good
weather prevailed that day and that it was I'M
usually smooth, and did not wonder so much az
terward when l learned that the residents Of
Greytown did not often go outside on fishing ex-
cursons. OF late years not only is the depth OF the
harbOr decreasing, but Point Arenas has SO
rapidly advanced TO the westward as to form
complete blockade except to the class OF vessels
| have mentioned and canoes, and the trips that
even these make are always attended with peril.
saw it stated somewhere that the governme 1t
had secured loan OF S. OO0 00U in England part OF
which is TO be devoted to harbor Improvements.
II one-third the money it will now take to over
come the engineering difficulties had been judi
ciously expended few years ago, the streets OF
Greytown would not To-day be covered with grass.
Should the Nicaragua route be selected as the more
feasible for an interoceanic canal this harbor OF
which speak must claim an important share OF
attention. The estimated cost OF its improvement
is set down at s91s, 525.
1t may require q much larger amount to bring
about the desired result 1t certainly cannot take
less. Greytown has about 1900 Inhabitants, OF
whom a dozen or so are foreigners, who make all
the money. There are good many rubber
hunters among them, who like all other Central
Americans in that business. work for fortnight
and keep drunk the balance OF the month, always,
or course, coming out on the debit side OF their
employers books. Greytown boasts OF some pretty
wooden structures and is altogether picturesque
little place: but that noise Oh the bar sounds Ike
its death knell
THE ASCENT OF THE SAN JUAN.
had heard great deal OF the San Juan River,
OF its tributaries, its majestic now and general
surroundings. and anticipated its ascent with
mingled feelings OF pleasure and curiosity. Mr..
Romeo Freer the American Consul, who had in
many ways assisted the expedition, assured me
that there would be little dimOulty in overtaking
luc PAL W III tnCuly-ioul Houio, ~ nuCu
ado canoe with two paddlers was engaged and
or we started. And now as l look back to that
bright mornng--it is not three days ago, though
1t seems an age-a feeling OF regret comes over
me that / did not hire a couple OF
goats and light wheelbarrow as a
means OF transportation. There was little or no
water Ia the river anal am now informed that in
week or so we shall be able to retrace our steps
on foot. The captain OF the canoe-his name was
Caesar, ana I may as well state at once that no
envious Greytown Casca will ever make a rent in
his garment owing to the limited character OF
his wardrobe-and his friend did wonders with
the paddles for a. couple OF hours or so, and then
the misery began. Here and there broad, thirsty
looking patches OF sand began to appear in the
river, and whatever.water there was came down
at a rate that made the poles bend like reeds
against the shoulders OF the canoemen, whose
ebony backs glistened with myriads Of crystal
drops in the brolng sun. Poor fellows, the sin OF
our first parents was certainly visited on them, if
earning a crust hard be retributon. When
asked Cesar il could not get out and walk on the
bank his grin assumed proportions suggestive OF
good appetite. then became aware OF the fact
that on each side Of US was an almost impene-
traole Jungle wherein the feathered tribe In
countless variety maintained q conversation such
as can be heard only in the tropics Cesar knew.
the river well, and his knowledge derived from
long experience, compelled him to describe sew
eral important propositions in order to 60 ahead.
Sometimes a clear space for mile or two ap-
peared, but the current strong in the centre
that the canoe was Obliged to keep well under the
banks, over which at times huag the most lux
uriant foliage
TROPICAL FEATURES.
At nightfall we drew up on sand bank for
supper, aching and fatigued, principally from ex.
ertIon, so far as was concerned, in entertaining
wasps and hornets. special attention was paid to
large yellow flies, which we're quite adept in the
knack OF drawing blood. Suddenly a strange
noise broke upon the ear, like the rumbling OF an
express train over distant bridge. In twink
ling large, heavy drops OF rain began to ial and
before we could scramble to the canoe we were
thoroughly soaked. mention the fact simply be-