New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
CRULSE or THE WILMINGTON.
THOUSANDS OF MILES UP THE AMAZON
AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

SHOWING THE AMERICAN FLAG WHERE IT WAS
NEVER FLOWN BEFoRE-TTIE RUBBER
INDUSTRY OF BRAZIL.
Manaos Brazil April 4.-The United States gun
boat Wilmington has arrived at Manaos, a thou
sand miles up the mighty Amazon Here the wide
deep Rio Negro mngles It's placid black waters
with the swift yellow current OF the sealke ANA
zon thus joining the Amazon with the Ornoco.
The credit is given 10 Captain A. S. Crownin-
shield OF Washington. for the present extensive
cruise OF the Wilmington in South American
waters a cruise which was interrupted by the
Spanish war Her primary object is to show the
American flag in ports where It is seldom, II ever
seen: cultivate friendly relations with the officials
end people and encourage American merchants and
commerce wherever possible SO far the Whining
ton has visited over twenty ports, among them
being such important commercial and political
centres as Trinidad. Barcelona. Carupano and La
Guayra Ohe seaport OF Caracas), on the Spanish
Main: Las Tablas Barranca and Ciudad Bolivar
on the Ornoco Georgetown and Paramaribo. in
British and Dutch Guiana, and Para and Manaos
Brazil
SHIPS OFFICERS ENTERTAINED.
The officers Of the Wilmington have at each place
made themselves liked and respected and II has
been frequently said they must have been espe-
cialy selected for this mission. Everywhere they
have been extensively entertained, mostly at mu-
nicipal and Government expense, and these enter
tainments the officers have returned as best they
could from their small salaries The people and
officials of the various countries visited have been
greatly pleased that American man-of-war
should be sent 10 visit them. especially those OF
Venezuela and Brazil But they cannot understand
why a ship on such special mission from great
and rich country should be sent out where she
would be rendered official attentions and yet not be
prepared to return them officially. In each place OF
and hair 70
lies largely control the social. commercial and
political affairs and policies OF their country 1t
can thus be easily why the United States Gov
eminent should return in kind the attentions OF
such people and not throw the burden upon the
meagre salaries Of the officers Of the ship.
Manaos nearly a thousand miles from the mouth
OF the Amazon. is the highest point ever reached
by an American man-of-war, or. in fact. a warship
OF large size OF any nation.
PENETRATING THE UPPER AMAZON.
The Wilmington will 20 l5O0 miles UP the Soil
moens a branch Of the Amazon River, TO Iquitos.
in Peru this being nearly twenty-five hundred
miles in the interior OF South America. near the
foot Of the Andes and only few hundred miles
from the Pacific. There has always been great
deal OF mystery about the Upper Amazon. Pizzaros
followers in the sixteenth century. told many won
drous tales OF female warriors gold statues and
great mineral wealth II will be the mission OF the
Wilmington to obtain definite information about
he peoue and resources OF this ntleknown region,
and the opportunities for extending American COM
merce
The Wilmington will also ascend the Madeira
p,va- for six hundred miles to the first cataract.
near the Bolivian boundary Thus her voyage will
.onen M 10 the knowledge OF the world the great
Amazon basin the extent OF which Is enormous
and the resources Of which are unlimited. But
tho high price OF rubber to-day 81 pound for
,La crude artcle) m the United States and Europe
has stopped for the present, and undoubtedly for
MANY wears TO come. any other form OF industry
Tho Indians and hafbreeu Portuguese demand
md GET their own price for working In the rubber
Sorssfs and only they seem able TO stand the
daadIv fevers and miasma To-day the rubber IN
dstry IL both the blessing and the curse OF Brazil
though for the moment II appears 10 De the iormer
% eysry one seems be making money. ms
car he easily understood when II IL known that
the Amazon basin with its sparse population ex-
nor,s nearly 100000 worth OF rubber annuaiiy.
Tbe kew 10 this rich product and region Is Para
,hriyns rich city OF about 10000 inhaoitants
seyentv miles above the mouth Of the Ama1oon
A. e. well known the delta OF the Amazon Ior
several hundred miles Is composed OF larse low low
,slards covered with water at big river, lJuy
and August and Astounding with rubber ,ree =.
the nroduct OF which Is known commercsana a. "a
Islands rubber" and II extends three nuhs ev
miles M the Amszo to Gurupa Ihence ior , see
raj hundred miles the forest. though dense" ""'