Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-05-18
CRUISE OF THE WILMINGTON
Her Exploring Trip Up the
Amazon River.
A FINE RECEPTION At IQUITOS
Entire Population Wanted to
See Her.
No Cause Known for ths AntI-Ameriean
Demonstration at dassos-Ihs czpi.iz
and orner Onlesrs of ths Gua5oat DId
Everything Ineumbsnt Upon Them.
rev York ZINES.


Everything Ineumbsnt Upon Them.
Ssr roFk Zines.
Manaos, Cprsr Amazon, Brazil. April |
% I'm March last tine United States /
gunboat Wilmington was sent By the |
United States government to Brazil On
a mission to cultivate friendly political
and commercial relations, 10 ascend the
Amazon as far a. she could possibly
GO. and 10 explore the region above
MansOs, which il 100 miles above the
sea. Information about the character
and appearance Of the people and the
animal life Of this region and it, enor-
nous natural resources, as yet undeTel-
oped. is haZy, scarce and unreliable.
Il is to be presumed that the United
States government made all necessary
arrangements with the Brazilian gov
eminent in order that the commanding
officer Of the Wilmington might carry
ont his orders, the nature and scope Of
hich had been published 10 the New
York newspapers, ard which had duly
been learned In Brazil, where they APP
parently aroused no angry feelings or
opposition. In fact, the Brazilian
papers published full accounts Of the
EeFera. official dinners and other enter
tainrnents in honor Of the officers Of the
Wilmington, ard also the cordial
speeches made upon those occasions.
Manaos, with population of 6O,00o,
is beautifully situated on the Rio
Negro, 10 miles above its junction with
the Amazon. II taps the richest rub
Der district 10 the world from which
the State Of Manaos. BY a tax on all
rubber exported, receives "a larger reve-
nue. than il can spend. Extensive and
costly improvements are being made 70
beautify tho city, among which may
be mentioned grading and repaving tha
streets with asphalt blocks and Install
4 ing large electric plants for the electric
| light and street railway systems and
/ the new water works, 10 all Of which
American engineering, capital and
machinery arc largely employed.
4 1t appeared to the Americans in
| ManaoH that the captain and other
| officers Of the Wilmington were doing
everything incumbent upon them in a
social and official way TO carry out
their mission. The Americans heard
Of no other difficulty than that Of pro-
curing coal and pilots, without either
| Of which the ascent Of tho Upper ANA.
zon is impossible. Finally. procuring
both, the Wilmington left for Iquitos,
Peru. Wednesday, April 9Th, and no
comment or excitement was noticed
until Sunday, April 9Th, on which day
the American consulate was stoned and
the consular coat Of arms torn down
and destroyed by mob. The Office Of
tho Amazon Steamship Co., an English
concern, was also attacked because the
agent, an Englishman, had. after much
difficulty, procured pilots for the vii.
mington. The absence OF the consul
and the agent avoided the commission
on the part Of the natives Of any per
sonal injury or outrage.
The Wilmington returned to this
place on April 22d, and is now coalinl
here. Her captain had carried out ms
orders, and gone to Iquitos, nearly 3. 00f
miles from the Atlantic. and only j0t
miles from fhe Pacific. Shortage o
coal prevented the gunboat from goinl
200 miles further on tine Upper Amazon
BY Iquitos papers received here il
; appears that the entire population o
. that place welcomed tho Wilmington
and that her officers were feted a
official and private receptions.
Iquitos, Peru, April II. Tho Unite
j States gunboat Wilmington has at las
! arrived at Iquitos, Peru, ON the Uppe
! Amazon, 1,200 miles above Manaos
Brazil. and nearly $500 miles abov
the rivers mouth. While so distan
$ from tho Atlantic. however, Iquitos j
D only about 500 miles from the Pacific
& Situated near the base Of the Andes
i. that mighty range interyenes betwee
it and Lima, Callao, and other ports c
Peru, communication with which !
L infrequent, and is made by means {
nd
n and in canoes. The scenery Of noun
tain, lake, and river here is inexpress
:. bly, grand and beautiful.
- A strong current of four miles a
I hour runs down the Amazon, increai
/ ing in strength as tho headwaters al
approached, ard against which I'll
Wilmington had to steam, thus real
Is making the distance trayersed from I'll
> Atlantic to this heart Of the vast, silei
= and mysterious Amazon Valley near
q 1900 miles. Tho valley is silent on
u as regards man, but not so with regaI
1T to the animals of tho tropical iungl
10 During tho day hours, however, Il
"a dense forests are silent and the a
!. calm; only the turgid Amazon move
2 its swift current cutting away Il
o. bnnka in large slices Of matted cart
Z, which move down stream as yeritab
it lSland5, Wnlcn are dangerous 10 ascen
ia ing steamers. Lower down stream tn
- become tho unseen shallow ban
VI equally dreaded by the navigator al
or the skilful Indian pilot.
The people and officials Of Iquit
have been immensely pleased and col
d. plimented by the visit Of an Aineric
MT man Of war, and nearly the entire po
a. ulation OF 10000 persons have stopp
- their occupations to watch the W
hu mington, whose electric lights,
ies machines, condensers, launches, raj
y, fire guns and other modern appliant
to are source of unceasing wonder a
- enjoyment.
wilmington soldier Reported Killed.
Kirk McCready, corporal in
we Twelfth United States Infantry, is
nm ported to have been killed last Frid
" or Saturday near Manila. His parel
- in this city have received no news
'o tho subject and it is not known wheti
eat it is truo or not McCready Y
'ey formerly a member Of Go. +, Fl
ial Delaware Regiment. Frank 0'Donn'
another. Wilmington boy, is also
,an.4aI Do haya ham xuoItnlp6 in