Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-11-28
Terrible Adventure on Volcano.

in Iceland, just before its terrible eruption
in lS45, and the following is his narrative Of
a fearful adventure which happened to him
upon that sublime and desolate elevation:
Having secured guide set Of, at an
early hour, on the morning following my
arrival in SaIsun (at the foot OF the extinct
yoicano). praying for fair weather, good
The scenery, even from the first, was 20
different from any had ever seen outside
of Iceland as 10 be worthy Of better de-
scuption than am able TO give. Suffice Il
TO say that, as you push on, ascending sum
und awful centre Of all, you find the danger,
most terribles sabllmitys sill at last, when
you do ,dnslly stand on the highest point 10
| his unliying world Of chaos, you instructive
ly pray God, with an icy shudder shivering
through your miserable frame, 10 restore
you TO the life you seem TO have LETT forever
behind you. ~ s7rq ,l..rl r.s.
o, how shall I attempt, to convey to any
mind the awful scene of desolation that sur
sounded me when at last stood more than
four thousand feet above the level Of the
sea. on the highest peak of the barren Hecla!
Six mortal hours-three on horseback and
three on foot had / been clambering up
ward from the world below AMI now.
among the very clouds that rolled and swept
around me, stood in world Of lava NOUN
tains, ice and snow-the lava, black as mid
night, the snow of binding whiteness-and
not IN all that region a tree, bush. a shrub,
blade, or even solitary living thing, ex.
cepting selfand guide. Far as the eye could
reach, when the moving clouds permitted
ine to see, was succession of black, rugged
hills, snow crowned peaks, glistening glaci-
ers, and ice bound streams, into whose in
animate solitude no human foot had ever
penetrated--a world without plant or life
the very desolationo of desolation filled with
yawning chasms, dreadful abysses and mid
night caves which have never echoed any
sound but the thunders of heaven, aud the
groanings and convulsious of earth. So
wild and terrible was the scene that felt a
strange thrill, like madness rush through
my shivering frame, and culver about my
dizzy brain, and | shouted, to break the
stiffness Of death, aud heard my voice come
dismally back in hundred echoes till it
seemed to be lost in the bowels of the un-
productive earth.
Wrapping one of the blankets about me,
to protect me from the freezing cold, aud
cautiously using my pointed stick to try every
foot Of ground before me. now began IA
move about, over blocks, and heaps, and
hills Of lava, and across narrow chaslns, and
pitfalls and patches Of snow and ice, my
faithful guide keeping near, and often warn
ing me to be careful Of my steps. In this
manner at length ascended ridge Of con.
sideraoie eievation' stuinonng my way 10
the top, ana now and then displacins rag
,nents oil lava that rolled crashing down be,
hind me. AS yet had seen no signs OF
tue mouth OF tne crater Whicn' eignty
years pelore hau vomltee Iortn Us terrl1c
and desolatlng streams OF melted black sand
looked down INTO a sort OF basin, open at the the
lower sue, anu havlhg some threeo or iour
deep seams or cnasIns IN its center, INTO
which tne melting snow ana ice on lts
sues were running 10 small streams. a
pecuiiar ana not very agreeapie oqor came
np WIN q thin, smoky vapor, ana ianc!eo
| could hear distant sound something
between gurgie ana rumble. ~,
suppose tniS IS tne original crater'
sain,' turning 10 the gu,ae. So
Inc ieilow was as pare as deatn, ana every
feature expressed surprise; allied to fear. :,
wv nat IS the matterf Iquickly demand nd
ed nave you never seen TINS SPOT beioref ;,
II have seen tins place before, master:
NO. nc repheu' put never anything iike this'
Wnen was mere ia;t there was no noiiow
here, 6ut only Level PLAIN OF snow and ice;
Indeed /! exclaimed feeling strangely
Interested what then, 90 you infer ! tha'
there IS ABOUT 70 De lresn eruption ,s.
- rear 80, master; what else can have
caused ms change! foq see tnere Is Is hsat .a
below whlcn mas tn"ited the thick giacier'
and only a few streaks OF ice now remain
upon the upper part OF the sides, While a!
the center Is gone. ...,i,.,. :,
'And the ground mere mas slight feei
ing OF warmth, 700 i'reJpined, as pen
down ana la,d my hand upon II. -,
let us leave master! returned th'
fellow, nurriediy' looking around with al
expression OF alarm 40 not IKE TO re
man here we may be destroyed at an!
moment. Let US hasten down and repor
what we have seen. ~ n'li ln L# y
May, = SAID feeling strangely interestet
and fascinated by the perllous roveIty, y
90 not think there is any immediate danger
for the snow and ice, as Is plain to be seen
have melted slowly, and before go away
never to return, should IKE 10 venture
into this basin and look down into one o.
those chasms.fn %, -" :, .
,Oh, no master !! rephed the guide
xx,sth