The weekly Butte record., 1861-03-09
A Passage in the Andes--Perilous Dizzl.

1t makes one hold his breath to read the
following description of adventure on the
Urusayhua mountain in Peru, from an arti-
Gle in the Revue Contemporaries
At first sight both sides of the mountain ap-
peared absolutely the sane, and equally mac
cessible, but upon closer scrutiny we found
that, while to the right it presented an all but
vertical plane, the left side presented certain
reddish lines, which had much the appearance
of fight of stairs. We therefore resolved to
attempt the escalade on that side.
On the third day, we arrived at that point
of the Urusayhua which l had often examined
from below, and where vegetation having ccas-
ed, the bare rock appeared but what had
been unable to distinguish, and what appeared
to me at this moment an insurmountable OBJ
ect was the expansion of the summit, which
gave it, fifty feet higher up, the appearance of
a mushroom. We had no longer to cope with
vertical wall, but with one projecting over
our heads For a moment we stood aghas );
but, on examining the rock, remarked certain
projections, just large enough for mans foot,
and situated at intervals, so that by bold
stride, enc might pass from one to the other,
and thus reach the opposite side of the noun
tain, where further ascent might be practicable.
The distance to be got over did not exceed fifty
PAGES, but as the space was quite denuded of
bushes or limbs by which to hold, the slightest
false step must precipitate the adventurer into
the valley where the torrent Hullcamayo was
daShing on at the rate Of ten knots an hour
Nevertheless, L took off my shoes fastened a
rope around my body, giving the other end TO
Gaspard to hold and gradually reached the
third projection.
As l was trying to get to the fourth, the rope
l was dragging after me was caught by some
thing. l turned my head TO see what it was,
and in so doing my eyes encompasscd the emp
ty space below me. 1t was like a flash OF
lightning. A confused mass of verdure danced
before me- intersectcd by the Hucamayo,
glittering in the sun like a thread or mercury.
I closed my eyes to avoid the horrible vision,
but the vision remained in me, and | continued
TO see it. Then | was seized with a singing in
my ears an insupportable blast of heat rose
from my entrails to my brain then felt my
legs tremble and my wrists lose strength, as if
under the influence of an electric pile an un-
known force superior TO my will made me open
my eyes and look again at that river of liquid
silver, which seemed to writhe in the sun
dizziness, the demon of the abyss had seized
upon me, and was drawing me down.
In this last moment. when thousands of red
atoms were whirling before my eyes, | still had
strength enough left to call " Gaspard help =
The brave fellow had seen the look had iuvol-
unfairly cast into the abyss, and guessing what
might occur, had imprudently for himself, but
happily for me, the daring to follow me. AS
my hands, convulsively grasped, were about TO
lose hold, he seized me by the nape of the
neck, calling to me to take courage regain
ed my self-possession, succeeded in retracing
my steps, and feeling the ground once more
under my feet, swooned away.