The evening times., 1899-05-18
EXPLORING THE AMAZON.
An Interesting Report ON the Cratss
of the Wilmington.

An Interesting Report ON the Crufse
of the Wilmington.
The following report from Commander
Todd. of the gunboat Wilmington. de-
scribing the recent voyage Of exploration
made by that vessel up the Amazon River.
has been received at the Navy Department:
"Yquites, Peru. April 13.
Il have to report the arrival OF the ves-
sci under my command at this port today
having left Manaos. Brazil. April 5. In
order not to lose valuable time, on the
trip up the river and to ecOnomize fuel,
Of which there is great scarcity in these
regions. l employed two pilots SO as to be
able to run, weather permitting, day and
night. Leaving Manaos, l proceeded up
the Solimoes River toward this point. stop
ping only twice. once to procure fresh meat
for the ships company at cattle ranch
about 800 miles above Manaos and again
200 miles higher to procure green food for
the living animals now on board, causing
only a stoppage Of about one hour at each
place. Owing to the rapid rising of the
river at this season of the year. and the
three continents, Purus. Jura, and the ia
vary, emptying their waters into the Soli-
NOES. as far as Tapayinga, 900 miles from
Manaos. a large amount of driftwood. logs,
ETC., was encountered. and II required a
very careful lookout and navigation to
avoid injuring the propeller. To this end,
the commander and the executive officer
took the night watches, with the two junior
watch officers to assist and in cases OF
emergency TO act. The navigator's duties
in taking photographic notes during the
entire day precluded his assignment to
these duties. Very full photographic notes
have been made by the navigation officer
Lieutenant Carter. which will be forward
ed in due time to the Department when
collected.
No charts exist OF the waters between
Manaos and Yquites. Rough plans show
ing the track of steamers at the time of
publication of these plans were obtained
at Manaos. They contained no hydro
graphic information. and were found to be
wholly useless. and cannot be considered
OF aly value. although they will be for
warded with the photographic notes taken.
In fact. II may be stated that charts is
sued three months after being made are
OF no value in these waters, owing to the
very rapid changes that occur. and must
necessarily occur in such a rapid current.
in such great body of water, assisted by
immense continents pouring in from both
sides. Islands in existence at this season
disappear before the next, and others are
formed. entirely changing the channel. and
only frequent voyages OF the pilots. them
selves giving Information to their fellows
at either end of their trip. can they KEEP
tne run Oh tDe navigation OF the stream.
While not less than seven fathoms OF wa
ter can be found on the trip from Manaos
up. the pilots explained that at the rising
period of the river. as at present, so great
changes occurred between their trips that
the frequent use of the lead at various
points was imperative. So conclude that
except for general information at the pres
cnt time. the photographic notes taken,
and the corrected plans forwarded. will
prove of no value for navigating purposes.
The general character of the river from
Manaos to Yquites is practically the same
as from Para to the former point For the
first 500 miles above MaDaos. but few peo-
pie were settled along the banks. From
that point onward the number gradually
increased as We approached Tapayinga.
within thirty miles Of which the land
above high water was quite thickly popu-
lated. Nothing like so much high land
was encountered between Manaos and
Yquites and was found between Para and
Manaos.
Approaching the Brazilian boundary at
Tapayinga at 1880 D. m. the 11th instant
the Wilmington passed into the waters of
Maranon and stopped at the Peruvian from
tier station, five miles above to notify
the officer in charge Of the purpose of the
Wilmington to proceed into Peruvian ter
ritory. At this point, Laticia, is stationed
a lieutenant of infantry with a small squad
CT Peruvian soldiers as a frontier guard
All vessels ascending the river are ex-
pected to stop and be boarded. The COM
manding officer was found to be absent
thirty miles down the river. but one of the
soldiers came off and was informed of the
purpose intended. and offering no objec-