The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-08-11

Since the discovery of the lsthmus
OF Panama, or Darien, as 1t was at
first called, there Is hardly a spot on
earth that has attracted so much at
tention. Balboa, the Spanish nayiga'
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 ana
cruelty. The Spaniards slaughtered
the Indians as they did the inonenslVe
Caribs The buccaneers under such
monsters as Hawkins and Morgan
committed crimes against the span
iards that appear almost incredible.
The sack of the old City OF Panama
is one OF the darkest pages In the MS
tory of nations. II Is a 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
every effort had been made fifty years
ago to find a suitable route for snip
canal through the Cordlleras. An
Irish romancer wrote a book descriD-
ing such a route, and English capital
lists sent out an engineer named Gis-
borne to make survey. He returned
with maps and figures and wrote
book describing an alleged practicable
route. All were false and 1t Is doubt
ful If he ever penetrated the isthmus
at all, On his statement that there
was gap of only $50 feet In height
above sea level. company was
formed with a capital OF $4,000, 600
to construct canal. Osborne
falsehoods were speedily discovered.
but an English party sent UP the
Savanna river in 1853. after penetrating
few miles, returned In despair.
minus four men killed by the Chn.
duanaqua Indians, u fierce tribe OF the
Interior
Sought Through Route.
The idea at the time was to discover
route from Caledonia bay, on tlS At
lantic, to Darien harbor. on the Pa.
ciiic. To this end the United States
steamship Cyanne WAS sent with an
exploring party to Caledonia bay,
while u British ship. the Nirago. went
TO Darien harbor TO give assistance II
needed The Cyanne's party consisted
of Lieutenant Isaac c, Strain. in com.
mand Passed Midshipmcn Charles
Latimer and William T. Truxton. First
Assistant Engineer j NJ Maury, Mid
shipman II. NJ. Garland. volunteer
from the Cyanne; A. +, Boggs, ), II.
Kettlewell. j. Stcrritt liollns, who
were assistant engineers. and DIR. ].
G., Bird, surgeon, Mr. Maury was "a.
tronomer and secretary. Seniors Cas-.
tilla aud Polanco went along as repre-.
seutatives OF New Granada, In which
state the proposed route lay The bal
ance of the party of twenty seven con.
sisted Of tried seamen of the navy
Misled by Gisbornes maps and
statements. the party took only ten
days provisions. but was amply sup
piled with arms and ammunition. OF
that party OF twenty seven men that
left the Cyanne. on January Il, 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
donia river. they were soon forced tc
take to the land. where progress could
hNE h,x
through the dense foliage The Indians
fled before them. FIRST burning their
tents and canoes. The explorers We're
speedily immersed In the appalling
difficulties of tropical country, az
gravated by steep prccipices and deer
canons llolcomb, Winthrop, Rollins
DR.. Bird and Roscoe straycd from thu
column on January 20 and were never
heard of again. Deeply as Strain felt
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 tha
time aud said he would guide them Il
the Savanna. one and half days
march He later encountered banl
of Chuquanaqua Indians and aban
doned the explorers. They finally
reached the Sucuteu river, trlbu
tary to the ChuQuanaQua, which runs
into the Tutyra. and the latter into
parien harbor by most circuitou.
route. ChuQuanaQua is said 10 be tn,
most tortuous stream known to geo
graphers, as the unfortunate explorers
were soon destined TO learn Ii is sale
10 take course double its own direc
length.
On Wearisone Journey.
The party struggled along the rock
strrvn bed OF the Sucuteu. beNeNin.
II Ia be the savanna. which would leai