St. Tammany farmer., 1906-08-25

Since the discovery of the 1sthmus
of Panama, or Darien, as It was at
first called, there is hardly spot on
earth that has attracted so much at
tention. Balboa, the Spanish naviga'
tor, was the first to cross the divide
and saw the Pacific on September 25,
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 inofensive
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 his
tory Of nations. 1t is a relief to turn
from these subjects to history OF
suffering supported by the dictates OF
duty and patriotism rs 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 suitable route for ship
canal through the Cordilleras. An
Irish romancer wrote book describ-
ing such a route, and English capital
lists sent out an engineer named Gis-
borne to make a survey. He returned
with maps and figures and wrote
book describing an alleged practicable
route. All were false and 1t Is doubt
full 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 capital of $75,OOO.0OO
to construct canal. Gispornes
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 ty the Chu-
quanaqua Indians, fierce tribe OF the
interior. 80
Sought Through Route. A
The idea at the time was to discover
a route from Caledonia bay, on the At
1antic, to Darien harbor, on the Pa
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 c. Strain, in COM
mand; Passed Midshipmen Charles
Latimer ana William T. Truxton. First
Assistant Engineer J. M. Maury, Mid
shipman III. M. Garland, volunteer
from the Cyanne; A. T. Boggs, s. H.
Kettlewell, j. Sterritt Hollins, who
were assistant engineers, and DR.. ].
C. Bird, surgeon. Mr.. Maury was as.
tronomer and secretary. Senors Cas-
tilla and Polanco went along as repre-
sentatives 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 Gisborne's 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 II, 1854,
only eighteen ever saw the ship again,
the other third having perished 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 to
take to the land, where progress could
only be made by hewing path
through the dense foliage. The Indians
fed before them, first burning their
tents and canoes. The explorers were |
speedily immersed In the appalling |
difficulties of a tropical country, ag-
gravated by steep precipices and deep |
canons. Holcomb, Winthrop, Hollins, !
DR.. Bird and Roscoe strayed from the
column on January 20 and were never |
heard of again. Deeply as Strain felt |
for them, he was obliged to push on |
after firing repeated signals for them
to return. They found an Indian guide.
who appeared to be honest at that |
time ard said he would guide them to |
the Savanna, one and half days |
march. He later encountered band
of Chuquanaqua Indians and aban. |
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