The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-17

panions. was now alone with one guide,
and but half way to the summit, and cling.
ing to the ice, looked down at my retreat.
ing companion, and heard the shouts oil
those at the foot OF the mountain, almost
regretted that had not yielded to their
solicitations to accomr any them. My soli-
tary guide rebelled, and was obliged to
bride and even threaten him, to induce him
to accompany me. Up, up, for what seem.
cd I'm age, we clambered over the fields Of
frozen snow. The ascent had become more
and more difficult, US breaking the ice at
every step, We progressed slowly and tedious
ly- Once more turn to look back from my
dizzy height. One mis-step, and inevitable
destruction awaited us in the abyss below.
The stiffness Of the grave was over every.
thing, and, rccoiling from the sight, / looked
down no more. To go on for moro than
eight or TN PAGES without stopping to take
rest was impossible, so rarefed had the air
become. At one time, after an extraOrdin-
airy exertbn to reach my guide, l fell ex.
hausted, and for some moments was I'M
conscious. The blood gushed from my
nostils. Checking it with the frozen snow
| rallied and clambered on. My guide,
NOR, Injured to such trips, had now got far
ahead. The sickening sensation had ex-
perienced returned with redoubled force
AS again sank exhausted on the snow, n
heavy weight seemed pressing upon me, and
everything appeared to grow dim again,
when was aroused by loud shouts from
my guide. as standing high above, he shout
ed ''cnter the crater!" Up, up, again !
climbed, clinging to his footprints ono long
painful struggle more, and | sank exhausted
upon its brink.
What spectacle! The inccssant toll OF
eight hours, hunger and cold, were alike
forgotten, as, lying down upon tho snow. |
drank in, like n refreshing draught, the
suLlimity Of the scene. The huge crater
yawned i'm horrible yastness at my feet |;
sulphurous odors issued from every side
An awful stiffness pervadcd everything, and
| looked into its depths with feeling !
never before experienced. Before me stood
the southwestern side, dark ind gloomy |;
huge rocks rose from its depths, craggy and
precipitous, while far below the golden hue
of the burning sulphur added to the pictur-
esque, and sublime scene. looked around
me, and the world seemed stretched beneath
my feet. The lovely valley of Mexico, with
its lakes and mountains, lay like map be.
meath me to the sout and west lay the
. Terra Calientc, its hills red in the setting
sun. 4 misty rim of silver showcred the
Gulf of Mexico far to the eastward, and the
frosty top Of Orlzba rose gradually from the
purple landscape. Though conversant with
nature, | had never before beheld her in
such magnifccnce. To remember that sight
must ever be glory: to forget it can only
occur with the general decay Of the facul.
ties.
1t was fast CROWN: late, and planting my
snow spear. had hung up my barometer.
| looked around for my guide; he had fall.
en- asleep. Accusing him to a sense OF his
danger, he implored me to descend, or he
would be lost Not foot would he return
in any direction, as, deaf to my entreaties
to assist me To enter the crater, he prot sted
and threatened to leave me. | descended q
little distance into the crater for some spec.
linens of lava and basalt, and returned to
arouse my guide, who, exhausted from his
Efforts, and overcome with the intense cold,
had again fallen asleep. 1t was now high
ly dangerous to stay any longer, and, care.
fully taking my barometrlcal and therTom.
etrlcal measurements, prepared to descend.
One more look at the abyss, black and dread
full in the deepening shade, one more long
ing gaze at the glorious prospects as it grew
more lovely in the evening twilight, and !
left the scene. For awhile we descended
rapidly as we followed our ascending tracks,
but at last they had frozen; and, as il sud.
denly, the whole mountain had become
sheet of ice. 1t was this that my guide bad
feared. The sun had now set, and darkness
fast coming on, and our danger increased ut
every step. My guide lost me. and l had to
make my dangerous way alone. The ice
had now become so hard that 1t was almost
impossible to break it, and it was with great
diihculty ,hat my snow spear sustained my
weight. Striking it in advance OF me, |
slid down gently to its foot. and sustaining
nv weight as best could while struck in
to the ice in advance of me. was on the
edge of great biracca or rayine. Excited
by the peril of my situation, | progressed
rapidly on. | know no, how long was de-
scending. At last the black ashes appeared
beneath me, and heard the loud shouts of
the guides sent to look for me by my friends,
who thought | was lost.
One more slide and was upon the earth.
The nervous excitement that had 30 long
sustained me was now gone. | had taken
no food or drink the whole day, and an ex
haus,ing depression followed. My guide
again joined me, and we took our way to-
wards the the rancho. Near In Cruz met
my horse with the guides that my thought.
ful friend Fearn had sent in search for me.
In shor, time was among my friends,
and with hearty supper around a blazing
FIRE my tolls were forgotten.