The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
He VIII Curtail His Alaskan Trip in
Order to Return I'm Time to
Attend the Meeting.
CRUISE OF THE WILMINGTON
REMARKABLE TRIP OF A YANKEE
GUNBOAT IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Ascended the Amazon River and Trib-
utaries Well Into Peru, Within 400
Miles OF the Pacific Ocean.

WASHINGTON, May T7.--As the result
of a conference held at the For
egn Office in London between Lord Sal
isbury, Sir Julian Pauncefote and Ambassa-
der Choate, the latter acting under direct
instructions from Secretary Hay, it can
row be predicted that the high joint COM
mission to adjust issues between the United
States and Canada will be reassembled dur
ing the coming summer or early fall. This
outcome is not yet positively assured. but
Mr.. Choate's reports of the conference at the
Foreign Office certainly convey great en-
couragement to the officials here and war
rant the expectation that negotiations may
be again taken up with some prospect OF
reaching an agreement between the two
branches of the commission.
| Senator Fairbanks. president of the Amer
| lean branch OF the commission, was at the
| State Department to-day in conference with
| Secretary Hay respecting the outcome of
the London meeting. and is now convinced
| the commission can be reassembled on
! new basis He was recalled from New York
for the purpose of holding this consulta-
ton and has changed his summer plans
| to suit the changed prospects. He will still
make his intended journey to Alaska, but
L
by the middle of next July. little in ad-
| vance of the date the commission adjourned
to last winter. The projected modus vivendi
has become involved in the negotiations
now proceeding in London and its consum-
| nation is entirely dependent on them. II
Mr.. Choate succeeds in arranging the pre-
lminaries to the meeting Of the commits
| sion, as now expected, the two govern
ments will proceed Immediately to arrange
| a modus vivendi to govern conditions in the
| Klondike during the coming summer and
fall.
The negotiations have taken a new turn
by the suggestion that the Alaskan bound
| ary question be submitted to arbitration in
| dependent of the other Issues involved, thus
| leaving the commission free to resume its
| work on the many other pending ques-
tions. The boundary question is said to be
the main obstacle to an agreement, so much
SO the. commission took its last adjourn
ment because OF manifest inability to come
together on this point. Since then the two
governments have tried to settle the ques-
tion and some progress has been made. A
final agreement does not appear to be in
sight and temporary adjustment by a
modus vivendi is still open. In the circum-
stances the officials concerned in the nego-
tiations are favorably considering arbitra-
ton as a means of settling the boundary
matter If that plan could be effected 1t is
said the commission would not only be sure
OF reassembling. but 1t would meet with
every prospect of winding up all the out
standing differences between Canada and
the United States. While the plan Of arbi-
tration is most favorably entertained by
officials 1t is not known how far II has
gone i'm the way of negotiations with Lord
Salisbury. sss
Secretary Long has received from Com
mander Todd, OF the Wilmington an
account Of the remarkable voyage of ex-
ploration up the Amazon river made by
that vessel in April last. The Wilmington
was instructed by the Navy Department
to push up the great river and ascertain
how far it was navigable. Captain Todd
reports that he ascended to Yuquitos, In
Peru. which is about 2,1OO miles up the
river. This voyage was made, as he says,
against an adverse current, averaging three
knots for the entire distance. Manaos, at
the junction of the Rio Negro with the
Amazon, has heretofore been regarded as
the head Of navigation for steam vessels.
and from that fact II has grown to be a
prosperous city of 10000 inhabitants Con-
to ascend the river above the point caused
CONSERVATION, and. in the end, as revealed
by subsequent reports led to some adverse
demonstrations against the American con-
sui and against the native pilots who as
sisted the Wilmington's commander to make
the voyage. Captain Todd succeeded, not
withstanding these obstacles, in ascending
the Amazon for 1,000 miles above Manaos
end, had IL not been for lack of fuel. he
could have steamed about 300 miles further
he believes. AS IL was, the 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 back down the river.
The possibilities of the successful naviga-
tion of the vast and hitherto unknown in
terror Of South America, revealed by Cap
tain Todd's voyage. will. 1t is believed, be
of the greatest commercial Importance.
Captain Todd shows that the Amazon. like
the Mississippi, is so changeable in its
channels not TO permit of successful
charting, so that expert pilots will always
be required.
The Wilmington left Manaos, in Brazil.
April s. for the upper river and arrived at
Yquitos on the 18th of April. Commander
Todd proposed to make a trip up the great
tributary, Rio MADEIRA, before leaving the
Amazon. -
Col Z. p. Pearson. Tenth Infantry. serv-
ing in Cuba, and Major Hugh Brown,
Twelfth Infantry, have been placed on the
retired list on their own applications, after
thirty years service. These refiremenfs
have resulted in the folloWing promotions
Lieut.. Col. Z. p. Ewers, Ninth Infantry. 70
be colonel Tenth Infantry; Maj. Charles A.
cooiridge. Seventh Infantry. to be ieuten-
ant colonel Third Infantry, and Capt. WI.