Washington sentinel., 1854-04-04

i u
English paper, from Hon. Gerard Noel, M. p,
dated Mexico, January 2, 1854, and describing
his successful attempt to ascend Popocatapetl,
in the depth Of winter:
/ 81 returned yesterday from an expedition to
| Popocatapetl, the highest mountain in North
America, 1900 feet above the level of the
sea. believe there is no record of an ascent
before at this season of the year, although it
has been frequently done in May and June.
The first night of our ascent we slept at hut
at the line where vegetation ceases, and per-
petu4l snow commences; and at quarter past
five, the next morning, we started for the sum
mit one of the guides leading. At eight
o'clock, found myself 100 yards ahead of the
rest of the party, consisting of four !; at nine,
out of sight of the party altogether; and at
eleven o'clock, reached the crater. The
crater is vast basin, three miles in circum-
ference, and 900 feet deep; in some parts per.
pendicular, in others great masses of project.
ing rock form bold and stupendous outlines,
with enormous icicles hanging from every point.
The volcano itself has long ceased to show any
signs of eruption. | began to feel very much
numbed with cold, and my eyes suffered good
deal from the glare of the snow. | should
have been very glad of something to eat, hav-
ing had nothing but cup of coffee and
biscuit before leaving the hut, but the guide
who carried the breakfast had remained (the
ruffian !! with the others who had not come up.
Having examined the crater for about quarter
| Of an hour, ] told the guide who had per-
severed with me to lead away up to the top. The
| fellow declared it was impossible, but not in
! tending, as you may imagine, to give it up
(having come so far) without any push, l
started for the top alone. | was now only able
10 take three steps at time without stopping,
as my legs began to give way, and had op-
preston of the head and chest.
"a little after l, p. M reached the top, and
enjoyed one Of the finest views conceivable of
the great valley of Mexico, and looked down
on the twin volcano, Il forget the Mexican
name, but in English it means the White Lady,
from its top resembling woman lying at full
lengthy seemingly miles below me- but actu
ally only about two thousand feet. The cold
was too intense for me to remain more than
ten minutes at the top, and | commenced the
descent to the crater. By this time the noun
tain was enveloped in clouds, and l could see
nothing distinctly, SO | commenced a further
descent, and in a few moments came in sight
of the pole of Mr.. S., Zone of my compa
gnons du royage,) and soon after of himself, ly
ing down, black in the face, and wishing to be
let alone to die. A little lower down | saw
Mr.. Cd, rolling about like drunken man,
but still, with undoubted pluck, struggling to-
wards the summit at the rate Of about yard
in three minutes. However, after a little rest
and encouragement they both rallied, and
/ returned with them as far as the crater, but no
human effort could get them any higher.
attribute my being able to reach the top to my
wind never felt want Of breath at any time,
while the others blew like porpoises. In our
descent from the crater we encountered the only
real danger.
Sat first the snow was coed walking, but as
we came lower, where the sun makes sheet
of ice of the surface Of the snow, it became so
slippery that we frequently lost our footing,
and if, after slip, you get SO much impetus
that you can't stop yourself, the certainty is
that you arrive at the bottom in much the same
condition rs the man who jumped off the mon
/ ument. At one time l almost gave myself up
However, no accident did happen, though it
makes me creep to think Of the slide took.
At 5, p.m., with my hands cut to bits, my nails
worn to the quick with holding on, / reached
the hut, and there got my breakfast, glad to
think it was over, as hungry as fourteen hours
abstinence and battling with seventeen thou
sand feet of mountain snow and ice could make
me. One of my eyes is completely bunged
up the other just enables me to see to write
this. My face is mass of raw flesh and bis
tiers; but have the satisfaction of having
perched upon higher mountain than exists in
Europe, and climbed two thousand five hun
dred feet nearer to heaven than Albert Smith" !"