The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-01
NEWS or THE YANKEE DITCH DIGGERS.
The Preliminary Work on the Canal
Vigorously Prosecuted.
Pleasures Of Picnic on a Reef Re-
lated by a PIcnIcker.
President Miller and His Party Tramp
over the Route.

NEW YORK, April 3O.-Ex- Congressman
Clinton L. Merriam, who was one Of those
who went with ex-senator Warner Miller to
Greytown. Nicaragua. and who was wrecked
ON Ron Kador reef Ia the Caribbean Sea, re.
turned to New York yesterday. He tells an
interesting story Of his experience, which he
described as one OF the greatest ''picnics" he
ever had, although he has been constant
traveller for over quarter of century. Mr..
Merriam said:
When the Aguan struck on the reef we were
scarcely aware Of It, she went on on gently. The
captain tried TO back OF, but the vessel would
not m0ve 1t was about o'clock 10 the morn
ing. came on deck, but when l saw that we
were fast on the reef went back to my bunk.
Watrons, who is an old whaler; w. f.. Simmons,
John Il. Spear and Mr.. Rapalye helped to get out
people ashore. They all labored hard and in a
short time we were made comfortable on the reef.
Inc frst mate and so some oi ne crew went on IN a
women In the party and afterward put them in
some small huts that we found, which had been
erected by turtle hunters who come regularly to
1t was very amusing to see the small crabs
there. They stow themselves away in empty
shells, thus being covered as with an umbrella,
and they crawl over you as lively as sand bags at
Coney Island. We had the Bishop OF Honduras
with US and a colored minister. The colored
being transferred to the reef: Had we net bet
ter pray?" "This is not the time to pray; this is
the time to work." replied the Bishop and he
helped as much as any one.
We remained on the reef five days, and then we
were taken TO Greytown. We had plenty to eat
and to drink-about 20,000bottles Of Apolllnaris,
besides Jamaica pop and something stronger
were DISPOSED Of: II was one Of the pleasantest
picnics l ever had. We had several sheep on
tnrning them out to feed on the grass on the bot
tom Of the old steamship. 1t was very pleasant
think the work on the canal will be success.
The dredges used at Panama were purchased for
an enormous sum OF money. The cost OF trans
and the work Is going on night and day, with the
regularity Of a steam engine. The w0rkmen are
People Ths Sey esya empy %SegG
was there. have every confidence In the sue
cess of the work.
Capt. Davis, general manager of the Mica
ragua Canal Company, received cablegram
yesterday from ex-senator Warner Miller,
president of the company. The message was
dated at Greytown last Monday. 1t stated
that the party was In good health. They left
Greytown April s. with % members Of the
railroad. 10 miles from Greytown. This road.
says President Miller. has been excellently
surveyed and carefully built. From its ter
minus they proceeded on foot 2l miles over
the line of the proposed canal TO point on
the San Juan river, where the canal line
was exceedingly arduous, but it was enliv-
ened to a considerable degree by the inter-
esting character Of the country.
Three days were occupied In the tramp to
OchOa, whence the party proceeded In the
company's steamboat to Managua, the capt.
tai, the capital, which was reached April
10. A week was spent at Managua, where,
by order Of the government, the party was
banquetted and feted every night. President
Miller says that the treatment received by
his party at the Nicaraguan capital was
"yery handsome"