Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-07

Of the snow, which bad dazzed during the
and the dark abyss which, upon climbing the last few feet
ya"ned suddenly before U.S. striking in the degree
In the clear atmosphere Of these elevated regions diff
cult 10 form by the eye alone estimate of the dis
tances and apparent dimensions of objects which are all
remote from us not strange, therefore, that the impress
sons made the minds of the different individuals compos-
ing the party should in respects differ For this
Will give only my opinion Of the dimensions of the
Understanding that my estimates are as small as any which
were made by the rest OF the party.
The crater be formed of three cylindrical surfaces
OF about the length, but slightly unequal diametes
having common vertical axis. The lower section Of each
cylinder connected with the upper section of the below
by an Irregular concal surface while the Debris Of the
broken masses Of rocks falling from the sides and top of the
crater have formed similar surface connecting the lower
cylinder with the bottom that the general form Of the
crater is that Of an inverted usrum of whose
very distant from its base The right section of either OF
the cylinders would not materially differ from circle. The
p OF the crater following the decviy of the mountains
an irregular ptca figure whose longest diameter is in the
direction vertical section through the summit Of the noun
tsln This diameter, think, does exceed quarter of
mile in length The depth Of the varies from perhaps
four HUNDRED to six hundred feet the difference Of depth in
different places being caused by the slope of the mountain
which is SO slightly removed from the highest part of the cir
cumerence that may be regarded forming point OF
the lip AT the time reached the edge Of the crater the
smoke was issuing in constant stream from creyice near
the eastern side Of the bottom nearly opposite the point where
we Stood well occasionally from other parts Of the in
eor. Considerable quantities Of sublimated sulphur had
been deposited on the bottom and interior conca surfaces
and the quay of suphureed hydrogen gas evolved from
the crater highly offensive and injurious The first OF
the party seeded in reaching the summit of the mountain
the highest pin Of land with single exception, North
America, at Ten minutes past ten o'clock A. NJ At twenty
minutes past O'Clock, having attached small flag
Of the poles which had been used in the ascent planted
the stars and stripes firmly the highest peak Of Pope
ca'ePet overlooking the dark crater which smoking
below
The viewom this point unsurpassed in extent and mag
ncence. The eye looked every direction far as human
vision extend, upon almost boundess of diversified
and enchanting prospect To the north, and below US was
the white summit Of Iztaccihua shrouded in clouds Be-
yond it, and to the LETT eposed the magnificent capital Of the
Aztecs, amidst the beautiful plains and placid lakes Of the
valley, shut in if by enchantmen by chain OF lofty noun
ans which concealed its beauties from the surrounding world
To the south extended the fertile valleys Of Axco and Cuer
navaca, and the distant plains Of Oaxsca, enclosed between
mountain chains which appeared beyond another until
lost in the rising mss of the TERRA cQene In the west
hone the snowy top Of the Nevada de Touca and further
he north were the distant plains of Morea Mchoa-
an To the east lay the city and valley Of Pueba the cele
'rated pyramid of Choua amidst the ruins Of the ancient
y, and at the base Of the Malnche the mountain country
# the Tascaans Further off the elevated table
ands of Perote, and the remarkable "Coe above them
While but short distance from the eashore the hoay
lead of ozava, gteng in the bright beams of the morning
ight As the day advanced, the atmosphere which had
list been uncouded oppressed with the It's which were
athering far below II indeed beautiful and singu
sight look upon the white clouds rising from the valleys
housands Of feet below us and rolling their vapoy
eecy folds around The base ohe mountain and the dis
plains and dsrkening with their moving shadows vast
the surrounding country while the blue sky above US
vas uoobscured by single cloud.
On account of the very rareed of the atmosphere and
be sickenng vapos which constantly issuing from the
raer, found necessary descend much than
esiIed Leaving the summit about eleven O'Clock A. NJ
eraced steps until reached the head of the sandy
alley which had entered after passing the Pco del Frae
md following down it, leaving the Fraie right, we
ssiy arrived after descending several miles, its issue from
he rocky ridges which enclose it, Turning then our right
md moving nearly horizontal direction around the base OF
he immense cone passed the lower termination Of the
ist ridges had encountered in the ascent and entering
the upper edge Of the Forest the pathway had then
made the sand and snow, returned camp about
me O'Clock p. NJ.
As nearly can estimate the distance aosg the sur.
Of the mountain, from the limit of vegetation the top
about three four miles, The extended on this
lay about four thousand feet in vertical line from the sum
nit The thermometer at half past o'clock A. NJ stood
1t 26o Fahrenheit the summit On the 7'h Of April il
90 Fahrenheit three thousand feet below that point
The altitude Of the summit, according geomecal mea-
uremen ty Baron Humboldt IL 756 feet According to
barometcal measurement by Mr.. Gennie, 1886 feet
similar by Mr. Ainsle il is IL, ,s52 feet
Seventeen thousand eight hundred feet the usual estimate
or It's height above the level Of the ocean.
The following the Of the persons who succeeded
n reaching the summit Of the mountain
Lieut.. Z. P. Stone, Ordnance Department; Lieut. s. b.
3uckner 9Th Infantry Lieut. X. II. Anderson I'd Dragoons
lieut. f. w. Krkham, 9Th Infantry, Capt. j. v. Bomord
th Infantry; Capt ). II. Fowler 5;h Infantry; Mr.. T.
,aggay English gentleman residing Mexico and Pro-
In the National Academy Of Arts and three soldiers
the escort.
Our task being accomplished out from camp on
morning othe 2h and descendngin the distant valley
rosed again the beautiful country the base Of zac
husd, and reached the city Of Mexico the morning Of
he l4th, after an absence Of twelve days.
Wherever future wandernss may lead US il will be no
considerable source Of qualification know that we
the FIRST Americans who stood upon the snowy peak
the Smoking Mountain, and planted our national color
thin the tropics in cline Of eternal winter over reg on