Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-04-13
MARTINsBURG, VA TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 10, 1852.

Of the remainder about 20 deg. The wind
was now so furious that we could hardly
stand upright; the thermometer was at zero,
and no person who has been accustomed to
the lower mountains Of Europe can imagine
the bitter keenness Of furious wind at that
temperature about 1900 feet above the lev
ell of the sea My German companion be-
gan to spit blood, and | myself was much ia
tigued so that we agreed, though with
much regret, that it was not worth while in
curing great risk for the sake Of endeavor
ing to reach the top during such untoward
weather. At this point erdeayored to take
the height, but to my great yexation the
barometer would not act, for some reason
have not yet been able to investigate | did
my utmost to light spirit lamp; but al
though contrived shelter for it the wind
was SO violent that was unable to light any
thing, and consequently to obtain the boiling
water point.
cannot but think, However, comparing
this with the ascent of Pcpocatepetl that we
were at least II 900 feet above the level Of
the sea, and that the summit must be above
$4,000 feet high, though it is generally con-
sidered lower than the former; but the
height has never yet been calculated from
the top Certain it is that the ascent of
Porocatepetl is mere tride compared with
this both in danger aud difficulty. From
that point We plainly saw the smoke issuing
from the top, and were told by Alexandra
Doignon that it did not proceed from the
crater, but from a crack in the rock itself at
the very summit He described the crater
as being smaller than that of Popocatepetl
and stated that smoke issued from two or
three points at the bottom of it. but with no
great degree of activity much is seen to
come from one point in the very precipitous
northern side Of the mountain The same
popularity of the lower lip, being to the
south and the higher to the north maintains
in this crater, and the creyices on its sides
are filled with crystallised sulphur During
my hands became so benumed that they did
not recover their feelings till we reached the
bottom, and then with great pain
1t was impossible 20 descend very rapidly,
on account of the assures | have described
above; and that the ice was very hard and
slippery. As it was, | put my foot on
thin crust, and down | went; but luckily for
me, only With one leg for the crevice, though
deep enough for anything was not wide e.
nough for both. According to the advice of
the guide, we had taken no spectacles with
us for, as he truly said, it was necessary to
see the danger well in order to avoid it
Upon my getting back to the hut, therefore,
we congratulated ourselves good deal upon
feeling no disagreeabe sensation in the eyes;
ing to the Paso. and dining, began to feel
great heat about my eyes and head went
to bed, and half an hour afterwards the infa-
nation increased and the pain was most in
tense; cold waite. was my only remedy, but
so active was the inflammation, that the wet
rags dried up aud became hot in three or
-four minutes. For two days was quite
blind, and for two days more did not dare
to look at the light. Now | am tolerably
well, though there is still cloud over distant
objects. / believe shall recover from this
entirely but can conceive the repetition of
such an attack might do permanent injury to
my sight OF course, all the skin peeled off
my face but my German companion though
he did not suffer at all from his eyes present.
ed the most extraordinary appearance. His
face was so swollen that his most intimate
friend would not have recognized him His
checks were covered with large blsters filled
with blood. This and my blindness | attri
butte principally to the keen wind which drove
the fine frozen snow into our faces and eyes.
1t could not have been owing to our drink
ing anything strong, for we had forgotten to
take even any wine with us.-Paper By Mr..
Thornton, read to the Royal Geographical
Society.