Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-03-14
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH "a, 1865.

ASCENT OF MOUNT OMETAPE.-In the is
land of Ometape, in Lake Nicaragua. there is
volcanic mountain rising to great height.
and forming a conspicuous landmark 70 the
voyagers over the lake. This mountain has
recently been assembled by three Americans.
of who's adventures we have the following
account, for which we are indebted to w, E.
5. Whitman, Esq, Of the San Fraacisc9 Evs.
'lipg Journal:
0nthe morning of Februry ID, Capt. A. S.
Gardiner accompanied by Messrs. Brooks
and McPhearson, left the steamer Virgin, at
the island OF Ometape, with the object Of
ascending the mountain bearing the same
name. The party were amply provided with
arms, ammunition aud blankets They ar
rived al the foot of the mountain at 10 o'clock,
and after procuring horses commenced the as
cent. For at least mile their way was ensv
and not ut all toilsome, the road or sgUaRa be-
being very straight aud beautifully clothed
with rich yerdure. At IL o'clock they were
obliged to dispense with their ANIMALS and
continue the ascent on foot.
Fhe road now grew sleeper at every stem.
and was macadamised with lava. When near.
ly two-thirds Of the way up, they found il ex.
tremely difficult TO ascend ON occount of the
intricacy of the shrubbery, which grew some
lye feet high on an average. In some places
they were obliged to stop and cut it away, it
was so impenetrable. Proceeding 200 wards
or more they found the shrubberY of n much
larger growth, the trees being 20 feet high and
about six inches in diameter at the base. Can't.
Gardiner, on taking hold of any one of these
trees to pull himself up, found they would
not assist him in the least, but uprooted i'm
mediately.
AT 20 minutes past P. NJ, our party had
finished the ascent, and had arrived at the ton
of
500 feet in diameter, and OH descending. thew
foundet came to point, the distance being
100 feet 1t bore no marks of a recent erup-
hon, but on the contrary, its appearance was
very inviting, it containing miniature forest.
each tree having dark green moss HANGING
down from its various branches, presenting
luXurant appearance.
While searching for curiosities, Capt Gardi-
ner picked up two very singular ones. They
were very antique in appearance, and we are
led to believe that they were idols. On mi
croscopic examination we found them to be
manufactured of peculiar kind of clay, the
nature of which, as well as the period Of their
use, being wholly unknown to the natives on
the island.
Our party found the atmosphere very clear
and cold As they were unproyided with the
necessary instruments, they could not make
any meteorological observations.
The view Of the surrounding country was
delightful, they being enabled to see without
the aid of the glass the Pacific ocean on the
west, the Atlantic on the east the mountains
of Costa RIGA on the south, and the gold
mountains Of Chanlitta on the north. They
also saw with the naked eye the cities of Gran
ada. San Juan del Sur, and San Carlos, nest
ling as it were at the base of the mountain.
AT 10 minutes past o'clock they com
menced the descent, and at o'clock they
reached the spot where they had left their an
imals. They were much fatigued, but not.
withstanding this they proceeded on their way,
until they arrived at the settlement. Capt.
Gardiner on his arrival, in narratipg his &C.
count of the ascent to one of the natives, who
was 100 years of age, was informed that he
was the first white man who had ever as.
cended the mountain. The natives generally
evinced much establishment at Capt. Gard
iner's recital.
Ometape is 65OO feet high. 1t is situated
in Lake Nicaragua, II miles distant from Yir-
gin Bay.