Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-17
1000 MILES UP THE AMAZON
Commander Todd Describes the Recent
Cruise of the Wilmington.
Steamed Into Peru and Was within
400 Miles of the Pacifc-Fuel
Became Scarce.

The Navy Department has just received
from Commander Todd of the Wilmington
an interesting account OF the remarkable
voyags of exploration up the Amazon river
made by that vessel last month. The Will
mington was instructed by the Navy De-
partment to push on up the great river
and ascertain how far II was navigable.
Capt. Todd reports that he assembled to
Yquitos, In Peru, which is believed to be
about .. 100 miles up the river. This voyage
was made, as he says, against an adverse
current, averaging three knots for the en-
tire distance
Manaos. at the junction of the Rio Negro
with the Amazon. has heretofore been re-
garded as the head of navigation for steam
vessels, and from that fact has grown TO
be a prosperous city of 10000 inhabitants.
Consequently the intention of Capt Todd
to ascend the river above that point caused
CONSERVATION, and, in the end, as revealed
by subsequent reports, led to some adverse
demonstration against the American con-
sui and against the native pilots who as
sisted the Wilmingtons commander 10
make the voyage.
Within 400 Miles of the Pacific.
Capt Todd succeeded, Notwithstanding
these obstacles in ascending the Amazon
for 1900 miles above Manaos. and had it
not been for lack of fuel. he could have
steamed about 800 miles further he be
lieves AS it was the Wilmington. which
entered the Amazon from the Atlantic
ocean. was within about 400 miles of the
Pacific and well into Peru before she turn
ed backward down the river.
The possibilities Of the successful naNl-
CATION Of the vast and hitherto unknown
interior of South America revealed by capt
Todd's voyage will. II is oehefed' De 81
the greatest commercial Importance. ana
In
steps 10 see they are made known To the
maritime world. Unfortunately, Capt.
| Todd shows the great Amazon. like the
Mississippi is so changeable in its chan
nels as not to permit of successful chart
| ing. so that expert pilots viii always be
| required.
The Cruise on the Upper River.
The Wilmington left Manaos, in Brazil,
! April >, for the upper river and arrived at
| Yduttos on the 18th of April, running day
and night. and stopping only twice, first to
procure fresh meat for the ships company
and again to procure green food for the
| living animals aboard, for the Wilmington
| is collecting geological specimens for the
Geological Park here. The greatest Wig
| lance was required in the upper river navi-
cation. owing to the logs and drift brought
down by the flood waters. and the COM
mander and executive officer took the night
watches themselves. 1t was soon found
that the existing charts We're Of no value.
whole islands disappearing with the change
of a season. Not less then seven fathoms
of water was found on the way up from
ManaOs, and the upper river ran through
thickly-popuated country. the character
Of the people changing from Portuguese
and Brazilian Indians to Peruvians and
Peruvian Indians.
Commander Todd proposed to make trip
| up the great tributary, Rio Madeira, before
leaving the Amazon. There have been a
| few mild cases of malaria among the ships
| company, yielding readily TO treatment.