Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-12

= r - 4 igss7tEs s2T--a asaar= y
tain, almos regretted thst had not yield
ed te their solicitations TO accompany them
My solitary guide now rebelled, and ! was
obliged TO bribe end even threaten him. to
induce him to accompany me. Up, up, fer
what seemed an age, we clambered over the
fields of frozen snow. The ascent had be-
come more and more difficult, as, breaking
the ice at every step, we progressed slowly
and tediousiy. Once more l turned 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 everything and, recoiling from the
sight. looked down no more. To go on for
more than eight or ten PAGES without stop
ping to take rest was impossible, 50 rarifed
had the air become. AT one time, after an
extraordinary exeTtion to- reach my guide,
fell exhausted. and for some moments was
unconscious. The blood gushed from my
nostrils. Checking it.with the frozen snow,
ralliedSed ssshbered on. Ny gaide, more
isureds Ps, Bad nbv got fsf-abead.
The sickening sensation had at FIRST ex-'
peri eRced returned with redoubled force
AS again sank exhausted on the snow
heavy weight seemed pressing upon me,
and every thing appeared to grow dim again,
when was aroused by loud shouts from my
guide, as standing high above me he shouted
"the crater the crater G' Up, up, again
climbed. clinging to his foot prints; one
long, painful struggle more. and san ex-
hsusted upon its brink.
What spectacle Ths ineessant toll of
eight hsurs, hunger and cold were alike
forgotten, as, lying down upon the snow, |
drank in, like refreshing draught, the sub
Unity of the scene. The huge Greater
yawned in horrible vastness at my feet
sulphurous odors issued from every side.
An awful stiffness pervaded rvery thing, and
| looked into its depths with a feeling /
never before experienced. Before me stood
the southwestern side, dark and gloomy;
huge rocks rose from its depths craggy and
precipitious, while far below the golden hue
of the burning sulphur added to the pictures
que 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
a map beneath me; to the south and west
lay the TERRA Csliense, its hills red in the
setting sun. A misty rim of silver showed
the Gulf of Mexico fare to the eastward, and
the frosty top o: Orizaba rose grandIy from
the purple landscape. Though conversant
with nature, had never before beheid her
in such nagniicence. To remember that
sight must ever be glory; to forget it can
only occur with the general decay of the
faculties.
1t was fast growing late, and, planting
my snow spear, hung up my barometer.
| looked around for my guide; he had fallen
asleep. Arousing him to sense of his
danger, he implored me to descend or we
would be lost. Not foot would he return
in any direction, as, deaf to my entreatis to
assist me to enter the crater, he protested
and threatened TO leave me. | descended a
little distance into The crater for some
specimens of lava and basalt,, and returned
to again Grouse my guide, who, exhausted
from his efforts and overcome with the in
tense cold, had again fallen asleep. 1t was
now highly dangerous to stay any longer,
and, carefully taking my baromctrical and
thermometrical measurments, | prepared
to dessand One more look at the abyss,
black and dreadful in the deepening shade,
one more longing gaze at the glorious pros
pect 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 if suddenly, the whole mountain had
become sheet of ice. II WIS this that my
guide had feared. The sun chad now set,
and darkness was fast coming on ard our
danger increased at every STEP My guide
lost me. and had to make my dangerous
way alone. The ice had now become So
hard that it was almost impossible to break it,
and it was with great difficulty that my
snow spear sustained my weight. Striking
it in ia advance Of me-, slid down gently
to its foot, and sustaining my weight as best
could while ] struck into the ice in advance
of me. Il was on the edge of great baracca
or ravine. Excited by the peril of my stu
alton, progressed rapidly on. | know not
how sng was in decendiug. At last the
black ashes appeared beneath me, and |
heard the loud shouts of the guides sent to
look for messby my friends, who thought ]
was LIST.
One more slide and was upon the earth
The nervous excitement that had so long
sustained me was now an exhauSting depres-
sion followed. My guide again Joined me,
and we took our way towards the rancho.
Near La Cruz I met my horse with the
guides that my thoughtful friend FearH had
sen. Ia search of me. In a short time
| was among my friends, and with s.hearty
supper around blazing fire my tolls were
forgotten.
Very respectfully, yours,
& w CRAWFORD