Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-18

EXPLORATION OF THE AMAZON.
GunbOat Wilmington Goes Zoo
Niles Up the River.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Navy De-
partment has just received from Com
mander Todd of the Wilmington, an in
teresting account of the remarkable Voy-
age of exploration up the Amazon river,
made by that vessel In April last. The
Wilmington was instructed by the Navy
Department to push on up the great river
and ascertain how far it was navisable.
Captain Todd reports that he assembled
to Yquitos, I'm Peru, which is about Zoo
miles up the river. This voyage was
made, as he says, against an adverse cur
rent. average three knots for the entire
distance.
AIanaos. at the junction Of the Rio
Negroes with the Amazon, has heretofore
been regarded as the head Of navigation
for steam vessels, and because Of that
fact has grown 10 be a prosperous city
of 1000 inhabitants. Consequently the
intention Of Captain Todd 10 ascend the
river above that point caused consterna-
ton, and, IN the end, as revealed by sub
seoueut reports, led to some adverse &C.
monstrations against the American Con-
sui. and against the native pilots who
assisted the Wilmington's commander
to make the voyage.
WITHIN 400 MILES OF THE PACIFIC.
Captain Todd succeeded, notwithstand-
ing these obstacles, in ascending the AM
azon for 1000 miles above Manaos, and
had it not been for lack Of fuel, he could
have steamed about 800 miles farther, ne
believes AS it was. hte Wilmington
which entered the Amazon from the At
lantic Ocean. was within about 400 miles
Of the Pacific, and well into Peru before
she turned backward down the river.
The possibilities of the successful naVi-
CATION of the vast and hitherto unknown
az ln1
CAPTAIN Todd's voyage will. 1t is be-
)ieyed. be of the greatest Importance, and
the Navy Department will probably take
steps TO see that they are made known
to the maritime world Unfortunately.
however Captain Todd shows that the
great Amazon, like the Mississippi, is 50
changeable in it's channels as not to per-
nit of successful charting. so that eX-
pert pilots will always be required.
The Wilmington left Manaos, in Brazil
April 9Th. for the upper river and ar
rived at Yduitos on April 18th, running
day and night, and stopping only twice
first to procure fresh meat for the ships
company, and the second time to pro-
cure green food for the living animals
aboard. for the Wilmington is collecting
geological specimens for the National
Museum here.
THE UPPER RIVER.
The greatest vigilance was required IN
the upper-river navigation. owing to the
logs and drift brought down by the flood
waters. and the commander and executive
officer took the night watches them
selves. 1t was soon found that the ex-
listing charts were of no value, whole
islands disappearing with the change OF
q season. Not less than seven fathoms
or water was found on the way up from
Manaos. and the upper river ran through
a thickly-popuated country, the eharac-
ter OF the people changing from Portu-
guese and Brazilian Indians TO Peru
VANS and Peruvian Indians.
commander Todd proposed 10 make
,rin nm the great tributary, Rio Madeira,
hcfore leaving the Amazon. There have
beon a few mild cases Of malaria among
the ships company. yielding readily TO
treatment.