Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-08-30
A SCIENTIFIC VOYAGE.
Plan of the Woodruff Expedition "A
Study for Two Years of the Natural
Features. Architecture, and Institu-
tons Of Distant Lands.
New YORK Tribune,


Features. Architecture, and Institu-
tons Of Distant Lands.
New YORK Tribune
One of the interesting events of the
day is the Woodruff expedition round
the world, now fitting out in New York,
and announced to sail In October. Mr..
Woodruff, the engineer of the expedi-
ton, Is member of the Woodruff fami-
~ of Auburn, \. Y He is a young
man-several years under 40-and is an
enthusiast in his great educational en-
terprise For years the plan has been
forming itself in his mind Conferences
with scientific men and men of affairs
have modified and extended it, till it has
taken its present proportions. Mr.
Woodruff came out of the war an in
valid. Fatigue and exposure seemed
permanently to have injured his con-
stitution He was ordered to Florida,
and for some years his winters were
spent there He purchased a planta-
ton, built house, a church, school
house, and established a settlement
full of northern thrift and enterprise.
There he was slowly nursed back to
health and vigor, and there, under the
orange trees, sitting as it were at the
threshold of the tropics, the thought
of this journey round the world, this
peep at the wonders and splendor of
southern lands and seas came to him.
The first plan was to take small sail
ing vessel and a few scientific men, but
with the thought of the good that might
be accomplished by the voyage, the plan
was enlarged, till it had taken its pres
ent proportions. 1t has been changed
and improved by careful thought and
consideration, by counsel and advice,
till now 1t offers a young man a noble,
manly training. 1t will give an educa-
ton In its truest sense, encourage self
reliance, and give vigor of mind and
body as well as thorough intellectual
training.
The Steamship Ontario is being fitted
up for the voyage. She is stanch and
we'll built, and is large enough to be
thoroughly comfortable, even in tropi-
cal countries She is 800 feet long and
46 feet beam, has four decks and can
accommodate 400 students with state
rooms. The students will be under the
direction and instruction of professors
selected from the leading colleges, each
noted specialist in his own depart
ment of teaching. Professors Wilder,
Schafner, Jenney, Taylor, Herdman,
Ides, Kidder, Philip Corwin, Reed and
Russell are among the faculty, and
other distinguished scientists will be adj
ded before the expedition sails. The
ship is differed from the navy. Men
who are familiar with the route, and
|
lected. To these officers the safety of
the expedition may be trusted with en-
tire confidence. Commander Philip,
who has seen much service in the Pa
cific, has been detached from the Ad-
ANS to take command of the Ontario.
The expedition is encouraged and en-
dorsed by such men as Professors Henry
Baird, Asa Gray, Newbery and Cox, by
Presidents Angel, Russell, Porter and
Anderson. It also has the support of
President Hayes, the Secretary of State,
and the Secretary of the Navy, and will
have their protection and assistance in
foreign countries
The route Of the expedition is very
interesting one. The ship will sail from
| New York direct to st. Thomas and the
Barbados. Thence she will go to the
Island of Marajo, at the mouth of the
Amazon, to Rio, Montevideo, and
through the Straits of Magellan to Val
paraiso, to the Society, Navigators' and
FIJI Islands, Australia, Formosa, Maya
saki, Yokohama and Jeddo in Japan;
the Yellow Sea and the mouth of the
River Peiho in China, whence excur-
sions will be made to Pekin and the
grand Chinese Wall. The vessel will
then proceed to Hong Kong and Can
ton, Manila, Celebes, Borneo, Java,
Singapore, Calcutta, Ceylon, Bombay,
the head of the Persian Gulf, whence
those who wish may visit the ruins of
Babylon and Nineveh. The next point
will be Alden, on the Straits of Babel
mandeb, and thence through the Red
Sea and Suez Canal to Alexandria.
From this point Cairo and the Nile, as
far as the first cataract, will be visited.
From Alexandria the vessel will go to
to Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem, to
Athens, Myen@, various ports In Italy,
Spain and Portugal. From Portugal it
will 60 to Cherbourg and Plymouth,
and from Plymouth, by way of the
Azores, to New York. Many islands on
the route have been little visited and
explored, and the object of the expedi-
ton will be to make explorations and
examinations, to do valuable scientific
work, and to make rare and valuable
collections. The expense of the two
years voyage is only $1,000, and the
payments are made as easy as those for
any college course.