Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-12-14
Two Well Known Phoe-
nix Journalists
Preparing for a Voyage
to the Gulf.
The Journey Will Occupy a
Period of Six Months.
The Purpose Is to DispeI the Mists
About a Mythical City and
the Bay of Adair.

Yesterday p. G. Bicknell and r. f.
l.. Robinson completed plans for a TRIP
down the Salt, ella and Colorado riv-
ers TO the Gulf The journey will be
undertaken as soon as the rise occurs in
the Salt aud ella, which will probably
be early in March. The undertaking
is a newspaper enterprise, though the
tourists have other objects in view.
Mr.. Bicknell is correspondent of the
ST. Louis Globe-Democrat and Mr.. Rob.
inson represents the san Francisco
Chronicle and other journals.
The voyage is regarded as a perilous
one and there is q difference of opinion
among men who know the Salt and
ella as to the ultimate success of it,.
Henry Morgan says that a boat can
pass the rapids anywhere between
Phoenix and the Colorado. General
O'Neil predicts certain disaster and
bases his prediction on his own expert
ence. He made the attempt seven
years ago, having an Indian ior com
panion. Shooting the rapids near the
mouth of the Aqua Fria his boat was
capsized, his stores lost and the lives of
himself and the Indian saved with great
difficulty.
Messrs. Bicknell and Robinson will
start in small boat, laden with pro-
visions, for a siX-months' journey.
They will send to San Francisco for a
larger boat, which will be shipped to
Yuma. and In which the journey will
be continued.
Another object OF the voyage is to ex-
plore the mythical ancient city on the
left OF the Colorado, in the Cocopsh
country, and it is hoped that some light
may be thrown on the shadowy tale re-
lated by the Indians OF those ruins.
That country is comparatively unex-
plored, by reason its sulphureOus vol
canic character. There is, Of course, no
absolute danger attending the explora.
ton, but there is so little to demand
one taking INTO consideration the pri-
vations and hardships that must attend
it. II is said that the ruins have been
visited by no white man in the centur-
les which have elapsed since Coronado
and the contemporary Spanish mission
aries. Even in their time the ruins were
inexplicable, and all knowledge of them
existed in Indian tradition. Accounts
OF the explorations and discoveries will
be transmitted to the newspapers and
journals which the discoveries repre-
sent.
Having reached the gulf, an attempt
will be made to explore the bay OF
Adair, or Pinarcarte, which is said to
extend back into the country TO within
seventy-fve TO ITO miles Of Phoenix.
This bay is not shown on the maps, but
earlier proSpectors are certain that it
exists. From this point the voyagers,
will, if possible, follow the eastern coast
OF the gulf to Guayamas.
Greater good than may at fret be I'M
agined is likely to attend this enter
prise. 1t is q fact, though difficult to
realize, that there is greater uncer-
tainty concerning the territory in
cluded in this prospective exploration
than now exists about Darkest Al
RIGA, exposed to the strong search
light OF recent explorations.
Messrs. Robinson and Bicknell are
adventurous gentlemen and pleasing
descriptive writers, so that much may
be expected OF the voyage.