2300 MILES UP THE AMAZON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 4 June 1909, Page 4

2300 MILES UP THE AMAZON

BRITISH I'UUISIvK'S UXIQUK TRIP. A memorable and unprecedented voyage was brought to a successful close on Monday, ">th April, by the arrival of the British cruiser Pelorusat Plvmouth.

Commissioned nearly three yeani ago, she :h:is spent over two years on tne Capo station. In November she was ordered to South America. where ut Monti* Video she joined the second cruiser squadron. On ihe departure uf that squadron for Kngland wag ordered up the River Amazon. ,She reached Para, at the mouth uf thy Amazon, on 11th January. An enLhuniastic welcome was given Im there, no British warship having visited that port for years. Leaving I'ai'a on l!)lh January, the l'elorus, which is a twin-screw protected third-cla*s cruiser of 2133 tons, steamed :WOO miles up the. Amazon, right through Ihe heart of South America to lijuitos, less than 500 miles from the Pacific coast. Nearly a month, including i>toppages, was occupied in voyage. At Tara the Amazon is nearly a mile wide, hut tile river gradually narrows until at hjuitos it is less than IUUOft in width, or about three times the ship's .length. Xo chart of the river exists, and tlu* only assistance t'hc olUeet's had in navigation wa= the local knowledge of a few natives they embarked at various points along the river. (Ireat care had, consequently, to be exercised by Captain Craig a ud his officers in traversing tHie ever-narrowing channel of the great river, and all the •way.up the precaution was taken of anchoring at night. Beyond, however, the uncertainty and element of risk incidental to the navigation of uncharted waters, no difficulty was encountered. Manao*, <)l)i) miles' from Para, was reached on 2(it'h January. There a stay of ten days was uiade. The Jh'azil-iVvu frontier at Ta'batinga was. parsed on Uth February, and 'the vessel arrived at lijuitos on the Kith. At every place at which the Pelorus stopped, particularly at Jquitos. a magnificent reception was given to the ship not only by the little colonies of British settled on the river, but b\- the native authorities,

Only twice before, it is said, lias the Amazon been navigated by warships—once by an American, and" .many years ago I'V an Italian. But both these ves.sels were small river boats. Xo 'warship approaching tin- size the l'elorus has ever before been seen so far up the riyer, and the astonishment and enthusiasm of the natives at. the night of the vessel were boundless.

Although drawing 17ft of water, the l'elorus found an ample depth of water right up to lijuitos. Her stay there and at .Wanaos and Para was marked by a brilliant round of festivities, for tile white ensign, displayed iu those waters was ■warmly greeted.

On tbi> return voyage the IVlorus left bptilos nn 2,'lrd February, ami witli a live days stop at Alanaois, I'ara was readied on lltli March. With the current in her favor, the l'elorus made a 'l'lieltcr voyage down, aud below Mauaos. as the waters she steamed at night. Ihe health of the crew 'was remarkably good, although they suffered from excessive heat, .particularly at nig'M.