New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-08
4 Eor.anats salelaal Attempt.


We sometimes hear of good coming out of evil"
but il is very rarely we believe that suicidal at
tempt results in large fortune to Che man attempt,
ing ID as in the following instance
Many years ago. wealthy German merchant, resi-
ding ID Mexico, became embarrassed in his affairs
through speculation, and after an honorable strug
gle, he failed This reverse of fortune appeared to
him irrepaiabe consolatory hope was to be seen
on the horizon Of the black desert of his future life.
He desRalfed, His existence had become an insup-
portable burden to him. and he resolved to be rid OF
j.. Still heshfank from casting the disgrace of sui
eide on name borne at home by honorable relations;
SO he devised q plan which would accomplish his
purpose without casting suspicion of his having had
suicidal intentions,
Oyer the crater Of Popocatepetl hangs dense
cloud Of sulphurous vapor, which issues in volumes
from the depth of the abYss. ANY near approach to
the brink Of the crater produces sufIocating sensa.
tion on every one who has assembled SO far. de.
scent into the crater therefore, was considered to be
certain death, all this was well known to him j, so
he mentioned To his friends his intention to have
trip up the mountain, and he set ont for it.
On the various slopes OF the mountain are some
villages Of the aboriginal Indians. From the last Of
these be took two guides with ropes and poles and
other articles used In tile ascent and SO reached the
summit. There he ordered bis guides to plant two
poles crosswaya on the brink of the crater, as he
wished to explore the interior In vain they tred.to
dssuade him. He merely told them to wait for him,
and on bis signal to haul him up; then shutting his
seended by the ropes into the yawring ehasms
His senses were in Whiri, his brain reeled and
the oppression on his respiratory organs made the
terrots Oh death papabe. Still he perseyered and,
entching the rope convuisvely, he continued his
descent, when 10, on a sudden, all oppressgeness
vanished he iet it To be in pure respirable atmos-
pheTei aud ia few moments more be stood on firm
ground
He opened his eyes, and here indeed he was in
another world. An immense dome of glittering vel
low crystals, forming figures OF infinite variety was
lit up by innumerabe blue flames, Pickering from
eorheesy from arabesqnes, and from deep recesses or
playing ~ Increasing and decreasing Jets on the walls
Of this unearthly hall, whose dome was propped by
huge lnted columns Of q CLASSY polish, resembling
great bundles Of reeds.
For moment our hero, stupefed and astonished,
doubted the evidence OF bis senses for moment he
thought he bad entered on another stage OF his exist
eaeej that all around him was unreal shadDwy a
delusi0a Of his Yhiring brain But dim glimpse of
tne distant opening above him. through which the
white yapors whifled in ascending splas, aud amid
which, az moments the clear sunllt atmosphere sb0ne
like diamond, reminded him of thu world above, and
he then understood the world around him.
He now slw that he was IN cavern of sulphur
formation, an iueNhausthe mine OF sulphur crystals
and ft9rdeoEgfre. His speculative spirit revived
tor he perceived at glance what immense wealth
could be derived from what he nov saw around him
a bpundtss horizon or hope now expanded in his
heaft and while his eyes tled with tears OF gratitude
10 his torgivng God he gave the signal to be hauled
up.
He now perceived TINT only very near the mouth
OF tae crater the papoFs became compressed ana
sat0eatng aud that Immediately below there was al
atmosphere perfectly pune and salubriOus, This mine
q sulphur soon yielded him an immense fortune aud
ne returned 70 MS owA country richer and perhaps
This mine Of sulphur is worked to this day, and ap
pears q be e&haustless, At the brink OF this crater
Where me nero 81 our tale descended are still TO be
seen t6e two efosspoats BY means Of which he ef
teeted bis escape