The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-08-11

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Since the discovery OF the lsthmus
of Panama, or Darlen, as II was al
first called, there Is hardly a spot on
earth that has attracted so much at
tenuon. Balboa, the Spanish nayiea'
tor, was the first to cross the divide
and saw the Pacific on September 20,
1913. Its history during the nearly
400 years that have since elapsed is
filled with stories of bloodshed and
cruelty. The Spaniards slaughtered
the Indians as they did the inoffensive
Caribs, The buccaneers under such
monsters as Hawkins and Morgan
committed crimes against the Span
iards that appear almost incredible.
The sack of the cid City OF Panama
is one of the darkest pages In the his
tory Of nations. 1t Is relief to turn
from these subjects to history OF
suffering supported by the dictates OF
duty and patriotism as enrolled In the
archives OF the United States naval
department at Washington.
From Tehuantepec to New Granada
oTery effort had been made fifty years
ago to find a suitable route for ship
canal through the Cordilleras. An
Irish roinancer wrote book describ-
ing such route, and English capital
lists sent out an engineer named Gis-
borne to make q survey. He returned
with maps and figures and wrote
book describing an alleged practicable
route. All were false and 1t Is doubt
full IL he ever penetrated the isthmus
ut all On his statement that there
was gap of only $50 feet in height
above sea level, a company was
formed with a capital of $75,OoO,OOO
to construct q canal. Gisbornes
falsehoods were speedily discovered,
but an English party sent up the
Savanna river in 1853. after penetrating
a few miles, returned In despair,
minus four men killed by the Chu,
quanaQua Indians, fierce tribe OF the
interior.
Sought Through Route.
The idea at the time was to discover
route from Caledonia bay, on the At
lantic, to Darien harbor, on the Pa.
cific To this end the United" States
steamship Cyanne was sent with an
exploring party to Caledonia bay,
while British ship, the Virago, went
to Darien harbor to give assistance II
needed. The Cyanne's party consisted
of Lieutenant Isaac G. Strain, In com
mand; Passed Midshipmen Charles
Latimer and William T. Truxton, First
Assistant Engineer J. M. Maury, Mid
shipman II. M. Garland, volunteer
from the Cyanne; A. T. Boggs, S. Ii
Kettlewell, j. Sterritt Hollins, who
were assistant engineers. and DR.. j
G. Bird. surgeon. Mr.. Maury was as
tronomer and secretary. Seniors Cas-
tilla and Polanco went along as repre-
sentatives of New Granada. in which
state tho proposed route lay. The bal
ance of the party Of twenty-seven con
sisted of tried seamen OF the navy.
Misled by Gisbornes maps ant
statements, the party took only ter
days provisions, but was amply sup
piled with arms and ammunition. U
that party of twenty.seven men tina
left the Cyanne, on January II. 1854
only eighteen ever saw the ship again
the other third having persisted miser
ably in the depths of the tropical for
es, or after the rescue OF the party.
Advancing up the bed OF the Gale
donna river, they were soon forced t
take to the land. where progress could
only be made by hewing patti
through the dense foliage. The Indian:
fed before them, first burning theil
tents and canoes. The explorers were
speedily immersed in the appalling
difficulties of tropical country, ag
gravated by steep precipices and deer
canons. Holcomb, Winthrop, Hollins
Dr. Bird and Roscoe strayed from the
column on January 20 and were never
heard OF again. Deeply as Strain fell
for them, he was obliged to push or
after firing repeated signals for then
to return. They found an Indian guide
who appeared to be honest at tina
time and said he would guide them t.
the Savanna, one and half days
march. He later encountered a bant
Of Chuquanaqua Indians and aban
doned the explorers. They finally
reached the Sucuteti river, tribu
tary to the Chuquanaqua, which runs
into the rutyra. and the latter into
Darien harbor by most circuitous
route. Chucuanaqua is said to be the
most tortuous stream known to geo.
graphers, as the unfortunate explorers
were soon destined to learn. II is said
TO take a course double It's own direc,
! length.
on Wearisome Journey.
Tho party struggled along the rock
strewn bed OF the sucuteti. believing
/. IL to be the savanna. which would lead