The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-04-29
Aigettas5&..
sorTn AllERICANlLETTEE q

From Former ClttAeu Va WA0o'
Correspondence Of the IntelligSneer)
MENDOZA, ARGENTINE REr,TgsgdLIc'
Arrived here on the 25th Of February
amer a rough Journey Of four days on the
Andes and PSmpas. With o servant and
three mules I left Santa Rosa on the 2lst
Of February. We entered the pass Of the
Aconcogua 70 mountain torrent) about :
pyfrlofi that day md III 4 o'clockreachesd
2,ha4saito saldado" or soldiers leap. The
story that gives this chasm It's name Is Is
follows: During the revolution a Spanish
soldier, being hard pressed BY a body, Of
ChIleno troops, came TO this rock and
leaned across the cliff 70 save bis Lie OF
the placo where he jumped the distance
wns seven feet and the depth $50 feet.
The Obileuos were afraid to follow and he
escsped. The chasn Is $50 feet deep, 600
feet loug, and 80 feet across the top, and Is
frlphtful looking place. We reached the
Guarde VieJo or old guard (where the
Spanish troops made their last stand OF Q
p n, and obtained o dinner, made my bed
on my montura, 0 saddle Of skins, which
makes an elega6E bed and d very eonSsh.
lent for o mountain trip, being saddle in
day time and o bed at night. Started at
1o'clock In the morning SO as to cross the
ridge early to avoid the strong winds that
prevail ia tina afternoon. The gorge now
assumes ateagiil aspect thepath . only
eisht and Ten inches wide, with awful
looking cliffs thousands of feet above and
shuddering precipices thousands Of feet
below; one slight false step, q stumble, or
slip Of the foot would have, consigped
me to eternity in o moment, but my little
mule Is very sure. footed, and threads the
narrow causewsy with steadineSs and per.
severance. Passed the 0jos de Aqua 70
place where number OF small streams
flow into the Aconcogua) at daylight,
and reached the foot Of the Cuesta or ridge
G7AM. Here found q small circular
brick building called "CoSa de Tempos
ral" These ate erected by the govern.
ments Of both Chill and the Argentine
Republic, to shelter voyagers that may
be caught in the storms that sometimes
prevail on the ridge. After taking a
lunch l commenced the ascent; in about
an hour and a hall, had reached the first
plateau. On this level Is q beautiful small
lake, clear as crystal, and cold as Ice; pass.
cd two Cosa's dc Temporal. The scenery
now becomes graud, piles Of huge noun!
talnS are seen on every side-commence
ascent Of another mountain side. This Is
80 precipitous that zigzag course Is
necessary, and frequent haltings required
toallow the mule to take breath. ] met o
great many cargo mules coming down the
mountain, their heavy loads strapped on
their backs, and the muleteers, rough
looking fellows, shouting and driving them
forward. At II A. NJ, / reached the sum.
nit, fourteen thousand Ave hundred feet
above the level Of the sea. The view I
now had was truly inspiring, all around
are seen piles upon piles Of mountains,
rough and rugged rocks, SEINE capped
with snow that cleaned in the sunlight
with dazzling grandeur. The beautiful
little lake lying in the tops ofthe noun
tains thousands Of feet below, looked like
apiece Of Furnished gold; lookiugto the,
west Is seen q magnificent pile Of granite,
whose Snow.Gapped crest rises to an i'm.
mense altitude, this iscalled the "Iglesia"
or church. To.the east Is q huge hanging
cliff, that looks as ifa touch would precipi.
tateit to the awful depths below. The air Is
so rare that great difficulty Is experienced
in respiration, and | very reluctantly,
commenced the descent. After two hours
travel downthe mountain side, reached a
small valley at the foot of the Iglesia.
TrayersiDg this valley walledin with
mountains, IreaChedthe Puelta Del Inca
about 8 o'clock. This isa natural bridge,
that spans the river Mendoza, and is a
perfect one. at thisplace j found a beau.
tiiul natural bath, composed Of sulphur,
potash and iron; and while l remained
here q party Of sixteen came from Chilli
TO take these baths. They are noted for
their wonderful cure Of rheumatism.
There beng no accommodations for pass.
ing the night here, I pushed on to Punta
De Ayoca, where l had dinner and o good
nights rest Started at "a. N, for Hus.
plata, Is leagues distant, down through q
rough gorge, following the river Mendozs.
Sometimes the path ascends the noun.
tain side, at Others along a precipice
itightful to look upon; finally reach a
plain, covered with small shrubbery. The
road now becomes good, butSthelsun Is
searching hot Alongside the path Is
seen the remains Of horses, mules and
oxen, that haveperished. The hide dried
upon their bonesy oftentimes the body Is
In half erect posture, with jaws extend.
cd and muscles strained to their utmoat,
to regain a standing position; telling the
awful tale of death by starvation and
thirst. There e no water on this plain;
and when an animal gives out he is left to
perish; reached Husplsta at s P. NJ. This
Is the custom house for the Argentine Re.
public, and here l was compelled to 20
through the formula for entering a for.
eign country; baggage was searched, and
passport examined. Alter dinner, I rent.
ed dried mud elevation for. ten cents,
and placed my montura upon 1t, and ere
long my wearied franc was in the arms
Of Morpheus. Left at s A. NJ; in two
hours had gained the sum nit Of the Para,
milo hills, and commenced the descent
through the Vile VicsncIa pAss ).
was the entire day In this rough
gorge ipt q drizzling rain that wet
me TO the skin; down! down. urging