Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-16

A Perilous and Thrilling Explsit-The First
Ascent Of the Urusayhua.

To those who love to dwell on the horrors
and ascent of Mont Blanc we would recon-
mend perusal Of the "Scenes de Paysages dams
les Andres" by M. Paul Marcoy, in the Revue
Contemporaries. Our space does not allow US
to give the entire thrilling descriptions Of the
Crussyhua, mountain Of Peru, situated in
the neighborhood of Cuzco; but the following
extract will give a sufficient idea Of the peril
Ous exploit:
At first sight, both sides of the mountain ap-
peared absolutely the same, 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 displayed certain
reddish lines, which had much the appearance
Of flight Of stairs. We therefore resolved to
attempt the escalsde on this side.
On the third day we arrived at that point Of
Urusuhaya which had often examined from
below, and where vegetation having ceased,
the bare rocks appeared; but what had been
unable to distinguish, and what appeared to
me at this moment an insurmountable object
was the expansion of the summit, which gave
II so feet higher up the appearance of a mush-
room. We had no longer to cope with a yer-
teal wall, but with one projecting over our
heads. For moment we stood aghast; but on
examining the rocks, marked certain projec-
tions, just large enough for a mans foot, and
situated at intervals, so that by bold stride
one might pass from one to the other, and thus
reach the opposite side of the mountain, where
a further ascent might be practicable The
distance to be got over did not exceed 50 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 whore the torrent Hulicamayo was dash
ing on at the rate of ten knots an hour. Never
theless, took off my shoes, fastened a rope
around my body, giving the other end to Gas
pard TO hold, and gradually reached the third
projection.
As was trying to get to the fourth, the rope
was dragging after me caught by something
l turned my head to see what it was, and in
90 doing, my eyes encompassed the empty space
below me. 1t was like a fash of lightning A
confused mass Of verdure danced before me,
Interested by the Halcamayo, glittering in the
sun Ike thread of mercury. closed my
eyes 10 avoid the horrible vision, but the
vision remained in me, and I continued to see
It Then / was seized with a singing in my
ears; an insupportsble 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 unknown
force superior to my will, made me open my
eyes and lock again at that river of LIQUID sill.
yer, which seemed to writhe in the sun Diz-
ziness, the demon of the abyss, had seized upon
re, and was drawing me down.
In this last moment, when thousands Of red
atoms were yhirling before my eyes, still had
strength enough left to call, '.Gaspard help"
The brave fellow saw the look had involun-
tarily 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 siesed me by the uape Of the neck,
calling TO me to take courage. I regained my
self-possession, succeeded in retracing my steps,
and feeling the ground once more under nv
feet, 1 sWooned away.