The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-18
From The 81. Louis Re,eill,.
I.I.EINDs or NEW MEXICO.
ny THE TATE II. {. FIELu.

tam OF dOS. y perpetual PiOOl!
hangs round it through day as wei
as night, and even when the sun i,
brightest, it assumes no livelier APP
pearance, but seems ever to be in
voIved ia shadow. When a storm
gathers, the lofty peak Of this noun
tain is soon hidden, and the heavy
laden clouds roll down its dark sides
as though poured forth from crater
at its summit. The voice Of the
storm seems to rumble within It's
breast, and the inhabitants of the val
ley peep from their dwellings at the
black mountain, with fear, and curl
osity and wonder. From the valley
the snow upon this mountain is only
seen in the winter, but in the middle
of August, when crossing a high
ridge a few miles distant, among lis
more northerly cliffs and crags, we
saw the snow glittering like molten
silver beneath the beams of the mid
day sun. The appearance of this 81
gantic black pile is eminently calcu-
lated to livet attention and excite
wonder, and, therefore, it is not sur
prising that the superstition concern
ing it should exist among the simple
minded people of the valley.
Many, very many years ago, it IS
said, the lofty summit was acccSsi-
bic, but all who achieved tIAasccn,
imme liately after became Iunatics,
and could never tell what they had
seen. The fact spread great alarm
and awe among the people, and the
opinion was soon entertained that
the black mountain was the spot cho-
sen by Alontczuma for his re-appcar-
dncc. After this no more attempts
were made to scale the summit,
Which was now held to be a hal!ow-
ed and sacred spot, until wealthy
young SPaniard in the city Of MeNi-
co laughed at the popular supcrS,i-
ton, and declared that he dare make
the ascent of the Scored WDuHt0in.
lie was carousing when the boast
was made, and one Of his compan-
ions instantly proposed him prince
ly wager upon the adventure, which
was accepted, and few days after,
in spite ofthe warnings Of the priests,
the prayers of his relatives, the en-
treaties Of his friends, and the ear
nest persuasion Of the young man
with whom he laid the wager, and
who now offered to relin1uish ii,
, the resolute adventurer babe good
bye to all, and started for Santa Fc.
He travelled to chihuahua, cross
ed tue praries and sandy plains that
lie between it and Santa Fc, and ar.
rived at the base of black mountain
in Taos. He told the people what
he meant to do, and here again he
was warned and entreated, bat in
vain. After resting two days he
commenced the ascent, followed by
a crowd Of the most daring spirits
Of the valley. The extreme summit
was reached by climbing a splintered
crag, and proceeding for some dis
lance along the edge Of dangerous
cleft which is always filed with snow,
but known to be very deep, as a man
once fell into it and his body was
never recovered. Here the people
paused, and the young Mexican
laughing!y proceeded to climb the
fearful and difficult ascent. With
undaunted resolution and iron nerves
he toilcd up the splintered pinnacle,
reached the narrow ledge, and, with
his small axe, working holes in the
ice to cling to, he disappeared slow
ly upon his hands and knees over
the high summit Of the mountain.
/ He had been gone but a few min
utes when he returned to the sight
of the people, and called to them TO
ascend, for he had Dissolved Won
der to astonish the world--a magni-
fcent cavern, through which ran in
exhaustiblc veins of gold, and lit into
the blaze Of day with the glare OF
precious stone. The whole interior
of the mountain, he declared, was
one immense cavern, down which,
from the entrance, ran winding gal
lerics of easy descent, leading TO va
rious brilliant apartments. He en-
treated some one to follow him up
and confirm lis story, or when he re-
TUNED no one would believe his
words.
Scarcely had this announcement
left the lips Of the speaker when a
whirlwind came shricking around
the mountain peak, and the young
man was seen to fall upon his face,
and cling to the edge of the rock, to
preserve himself from being blown
over the precipice.' The terrified
people called to him to descend in
stantly; but the sky darkened, and a
thunderbolt suddenly struck the pin
nacle by which he had assembled,
which fell with irightiul roar'nto
the deep cleft, and his retreat was
,,t IN c,,a,o, E;ll,J ,,;th ,o,.,o,