New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-04
ASCENT OF MOUNT ONE TAPEG.


In the Island OF Ometapec, in Lske Nicaragua
there il volcanic mountain rising to great hight,
and forming conspicuous land mark to the voyagers
over the lake. This mountain has recently been
ascended by three Americans Of whose adventures we
have the following account for which are indebted
to w. f. s Whitman, Esq., Of The San Francisco
Erening Journal:
On The morning Of February ., Capt. A. S. Gardi-
ner accomp allied by Messrs Brooks and McPesrson.
left the steam Virgin ut the Island of OmetaDec with
The object Of ascending the mountain bearing the
saue neme The party were amply provided with
arms, ammul ton ard blanke's. rhey arrived at
the foot Of the mountain at 10 o'clock, and after pro
curing horses, commenced the ascent. For at iesst
nile their way easy and not at all t0some, the
road or beog very straight and beautifully
clothed with rich verdure. At IL o'clock they were
Obliged to oipense with their animals and continue the
ascent on foot.
The rosd now grew sleeper at every step and was
the wsy up they found it extremely difficult to ascend
on account of the ntricacy of the shrubbery, which
grew some five feet high on an average In some
places they were obliged to stop and cut 1t away, II
sos 90 iupepetrable. Proceeding two hundred yards
or InoIe they found the shrubbery OF much larger
growth The trees being twenty feet high ana ABOUT
four If ches in diameter at the base Capt Gardiner,
on taking hold Of any one OF these trees to pun him-
self ND found they would not assist bin IN the least
but uprOOted immediately
At 20 minutes past 3 p. NJ our party hsd finished
the ascent and had arrived at the top OF the crater
The, found lie mouth TO be 800 feet in diameter aud
on cesceLdpg they found it came to point, the
dtarce beng 100 feet. II bore no marks OF recent
eruption, but on tie contrary its appearance was
very inviting, II containing miniature forest each
tree having dark green moss hanging down from It's
ysrous branches, presenting luxurant appearance.
While searching for curiosities, Capt. Gardner
picked NJ two very singular ones They we're very
antique in appearsuc e and are led to believe that
they were idols On a microscopic examination, we
fouid them to be manufactured of peculiar kind OF
clay the nature Of which, as well as the period OF
their use, being wholly unknown 10 the natives on
the irlai d.
Our party found tbs atmosphere very clear and
cold As they were unprovided with the necessary
ipstrun ents they could not make any meteorological
observation ~
The view of the surrounding country wa delightful,
they being enabled without the aid OF the glass
TIE Pacific Ocean on the West the Atlsntic on the
East the mountains Of Costa Rca on the South, and
the gold mountains OF Chantts on the North. They
also saw with the naked eye the cities OF Grensca,
San Juan del Sur, ard San Carlos nesting, as 1t
were, at the base of the mountain.
At 10 minutes past o'clock they commenced the
descent aud at o'clock they reached the spot where
they had LEFT their animals They were much is
teued bat notwithstanding this, they proceeded on
their way until they arrived at the settlement Capt
Gardiner on bis arrival, in naira'ng bis account OF
the ascent to of the natives. who was l2O years
of age was informed that he was the first white man
who had ever ascended the mountain. The ns'lves
generally evlnced much establishment at Capt Gar
dir ers recital.
On etapec is G, 800 feet high. II is situated in Lake
Nicaragua ii miles distant from Virgin Bay.