The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-06
LENGTHY CRUISE.
The Steamer Iraquois Returns
to San Francisco.
YHE ToP0boBAMPo COLONY
A Prolonged and Circuitous Voyage
FIllea With MANY Interesting
Occurrences.

The United States steamsx Iroquois ar
rived in this port, yesterday. after al
abse nee Of nearly seven gears. In May
1881, Captain Sandsa the then com
madder of The uH-9dxeis, left the Mar,
Islah BID navy yard for 3 six years cruis,
On t he Pacific Ocean. Three years WERE
spent cruising along the coast d
Southern Asia, the east Coast Of Africa
around Australia and New Zealand.
! Captain Sands was superseded al
Auckland by Captain Sterling, who
Commended She vessel during the two
years following while cruising among
the South Sea Ieisnds and along the
coast ofrUgii and Peru. Quite alengthy
stay was made ar Callss, where the
Officers report having had an exceed
lngly pleasant time. They we're dined
on sew efal OCCASIONS by the president OF
he Peruvian Republic and wers maEe
the recipients Of numerous gifts. E&at
months ago Captain sterling was sc
ceeded by Cap'aia b b. Leary Ssh g
present commander.
THE VOYAGE NORTH.
When ordered north, last Aessmber,
the Iroquois made her first sSP at Pa
mama, where orders werea received 10
visit the colony recently in
Mexico, on the north side II the Topo-
l 10 Bay, and report {he condition
OF the original colonists, more than
l,,r tx =: II i
colony for their homes IN the United
States. bringing stories of very dis
couraging nature. The rnalcontents
related sad tale of the sufferings they
had experienced during the early days
OF the colony from disease and hunger.
Several letters were addressed to the
authorities at Washington by the ex-
colonists, who called the attention of
the government to the "disgraceful
condition o., those American people now
residing at Topolobampo. in Mexico"
An Investigation was decided upon,
and ths Iro0uois being the most avail
able government vessel for the purpose,
she was ordered thither
CONDITION OF THE coLoNIsTs.
= Regarding the visit and investigation
into the condition and affairs of the
colonists. Lieutenant A. q. Baker made
the assertion last night that, with but q
few exceptions, the 1877 people who now
compose the colony, appear the most
satisfied with their condition, surround
ings and mode of living of any people
in the world. The country about
Popolobampo Bay" said Mr.. Baker,
is beautiful beyond description. The
exaggerations of the original promot-
ers of the scheme were not as great
as might be supposed. There are
10 900 acres of the most fertile land in the
world, the soil being twenty feet deep
which is capable of raising three crops |
of almost anything during the year |
In case this tract becomes too small to |
supply the wants of the colonists, |
other large tracts of land along the La |
Fuerte River can be utilized by means t
of irrigation. The co!onists have
perfected elaborate plans for the
future of their settlement Numerous |
stakes driven into the ground mark the |
spots where, some day, as the colonists
hope, there will be Vulnerable
avenues, diagonals, streets. walks,
parks, CT Giles, quays, piers, drives, etc.
Fhe pu bile are as yet occupying about |
600 acres. At present the colouistS
have advanced as far as the completion
of two stone houses, the majority OF the
people living in tents, asserting, as they |
do, that they much prefer it to living in
houses.
The bay as harbor is equal if not
superior to that of Acapulco. The en-
trance is made through straight, deep
channel, one mile wide and nearly two
miles long.